Reginald Hargreaves, as you know, was a man with a rather complex character and a very specific approach to raising his adopted children. Despite his apparent coldness and strict parenting methods, even he had his own favorite among the children, and it was not number five or number one with their outstanding abilities, but number eight — a new girl who joined the family later than everyone else.

This girl, adopted at a more conscious age, adapted surprisingly quickly to her new environment. She took everything that was happening as an exciting game and easily obeyed the established rules. Her abilities were growing at a rapid pace, which could not but please Reginald. Soon she even began to help him make training plans for the rest of the children, demonstrating not only talent, but also a high degree of responsibility and dedication to the process.

Reginald, being a man who values success and efficiency, couldn't help but notice and encourage her efforts. He began to grant her some privileges that were not available to other children. For example, number eight could go to bed later than the others, for an hour or two, to be able to work on her projects or just enjoy her personal time. She could also choose where and when to have dinner, sometimes preferring privacy in her room instead of sharing family meals.

Her requests for various things were also met with special willingness. Reginald understood that if she asked for something, it was not just a whim, but a necessity that would benefit her development and psychological comfort. Perhaps it was a book that would contribute to her intellectual growth, or a tool that would help develop her skills — all her requests were considered with due attention.

In addition, she was allowed to participate in discussions of important family decisions. One such evening, as Reginald was working on another pile of papers, he heard the familiar three knocks on the door. A slight smile lit up his face, because he knew that his special girl had come.

"Come inside," he said.