It's impossible not to smile at the sound of Saoirse thumping down the stairs -- you wouldn't guess how little she was from the amount of noise she manages to make -- even though it means she's going to have to account for herself once again. And to someone who might not immediately grasp the more subtle benefits of losing.

"I'm afraid I didn't," she admits, her smile taking on a rueful slant. "But -- this means I don't have to practice anything this week. And when we all go to the film the final next weekend, we'll all be able to sit and wait together." Her eyebrows tick up hopefully. She doesn't want Saoirse to take the loss too hard, certainly not harder than Greta's taken it, herself.