In her idiosyncratic nun-training, Veracitude was schooled in the ideas of the psychologist, G. Stanley Hall who (in his studies on adolescent girls) was much taken with Van Rensselaer’s observation that 'women are prone... to desire what they have not, and for that reason alone they particularly need absorbing occupations, and are spoiled by idleness and vacuity of mind, which makes them lazy, phlegmatic, and unambitious'. Veracitude applies these ideas to her scheme to 'improve' Prigentia Colswain. She asks Ruham Alif, the electrician, to offer Prigentia a work experience placement. Alif doubts if a precocious twelve year old 'princess' could do much in the way of electrical repairs, but agrees, provided Ethel will supervise the girl. Ethel declines the offer.
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