Lyra asks Mrs. Coulter if she is a Scholar, to which the young woman replies, "not really." She is, instead, a member of Dame Hannah's college, but does much of her work outside of Oxford. After a short conversation about Lyra's life, Mrs. Coulter, who is acquainted with Lord Asriel, asks what plans he has for Lyra; if she is to go to school. Lyra claims that she will not go to school, and will instead accompany her uncle on his next expedition to the North. To this, Mrs. Coulter replies that she is a member of the Royal Arctic Institute and has been to the North several times. From this point on, Lyra is enamored with the scholarly woman. After the guests have left, the Master instructs Lyra to wait.....
