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Young Hilda updated 26th August
http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1590
Author:  Loryat [ Wed Nov 08, 2006 1:53 pm ]
Post subject:  Young Hilda updated 26th August
I bet someone has done this already and I suspect some of my facts might be wrong so please point them out if so! But I was just inspired with an idea for a mini drabble about young Hilda Annersely. I know the title is rubbish; if anyone can think of a better please say so!


"Can anyone explain to me why Hilda Annersley, who was one of our nicest Middles last term, has suddenly transformed into an arch-demon?"

Thus demanded Miss Richardson, the Maths mistress as she entered the staff room.

"Where have you been, Jane?" demanded her great friend Jenny Wilkes, who taught Latin. "Lessons ended half an hour ago!"
"I've been with young Hilda," said Jane Richardson grimly as she sat down in her usual seat. "She played up so abominably during the lesson that I kept her back and made her do the work that everyone else had already completed. Hopefully that will prevent her from being quite so naughty next time. I don't like to be too strict with the girls, but she really was the limit!"

"What did she do?" cried at least half a dozen people, for Miss Richardson was notoriously good natured and Hilda must have been really awful to recieve such a punishment.

"Nothing really bad - but constant naughtiness. First she came to the room early - you know they all had games and she's out of them till she's over that cold - and shared the contents of half a dozen desks among the rest. Sorting out that little lot took us about twenty minutes. Then she tied Mary Andersons' plait to the back of the chair. Then she resorted to questioning - you know. Asking a ridiculous question just to slow down the lesson. Finally it was tilting, and she fell back into the desk behind so that Kitty Evans spoilt all her work with blots."

The mistress paused, and looked around at her colleagues. "Am I the only one who's noticed this difference in the child? I know it's a new year and she's in a new form, but surely it can't make all that difference in her? We've been back three weeks now, and she's like another girl!"

"You're not the only one," said Miss Fredericks, the geography mistress. "I've had the same sort of trouble - though nothing as bad as that. What about the rest of you?"

Every mistress in the room joined the chorus of assent, except Miss Baker, who was in charge of English.

"I haven't noticed anything," she said slowly. "Hilda behaves in class, and her work continues to be excellent. Her last essay on Stevenson was really thoughtful. I was going to recommend she try for the essay prize in fact - I know she's a little young for it, but her work is well above the rest of the form's."

"Hilda likes English," said Miss Wilkes, who was Hilda's form mistress. "I've heard her say it's her favourite subject. That explains it, I suppose. But why on earth is she so difficult for the rest of us? She was a keen worker last term."

At that moment the Head entered, and the mistresses immediately put the problem to her. None of them felt that they could shed any light on the matter. When she had heard them out, Miss Graves frowned.

"Hilda's mother is ill and the family don't want her to know. She was staying with cousins for most of the holidays and I think she resents being kept out of the way, as she sees it."

"But isn't that rather - well, risky?" said Miss Baker. "Shouldn't Hilda be told what the situation is?"

"That's what I said myself," Miss Graves said. "The Annersleys disagreed. They want Hilda to have only happy memories of her mother. I cannot interfere, but I'm worried that the consequences for Hilda may be terrible."
Author:  Squirrel [ Wed Nov 08, 2006 2:33 pm ]
Post subject: 
I like the start you have made on this - and as for people already working on this idea, I can't remember if there is one or not, but the more the merrier really. Looking forwards to more when you have time.
Author:  Aquabird [ Wed Nov 08, 2006 4:27 pm ]
Post subject: 
This looks good, Loryat, may we have more please?

I did a mini drabble on young Hilda a few weeks ago, on her kitten.
Author:  Alice [ Wed Nov 08, 2006 4:39 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thank you Loryat, I'm enjoying this.
Author:  Chair [ Wed Nov 08, 2006 6:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Loryat. It's interesting to hear that she is so interested in English. I'm definitely enjoying this drabble so far.
Author:  leahbelle [ Wed Nov 08, 2006 7:50 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Loryat. This is really good. Very interesting to see Hilda at school.
Author:  Elisabeth [ Thu Nov 09, 2006 8:29 am ]
Post subject: 
Oh, this is going to have such a sad ending... :( Beautifully written so far, Loryat.
Author:  Mrs Redboots [ Thu Nov 09, 2006 3:20 pm ]
Post subject: 
This is gorgeous. Please may we have some more?
Author:  Elle [ Thu Nov 09, 2006 6:19 pm ]
Post subject: 
An intersting start! I love the fact that Hilda is described as a 'demon'! And to think what she became, poachers and gamekeepers infact.

Thanks, I am looking forwards to the next installment (is that spelt right? It looks funny to me).
Author:  LizB [ Wed Nov 15, 2006 1:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
Just found this - would love to see more :D

Thanks, Loryat
Author:  ADreamer [ Sun Jan 14, 2007 2:10 am ]
Post subject: 
LizB wrote:
Just found this - would love to see more :D


Ditto! Any more on the way?

Please?
Author:  Loryat [ Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:34 pm ]
Post subject: 
Well what with my exams and dissertation out of the way I can turn my attention back to this. Here goes.

Miss Baker scrawled a large red 'C' on Kitty Evans's latest essay and supplemented it with the comment I know you can do better than this Kitty, please try harder next time. That done, she was free to lock the whole pile in her desk and, it being just after one, she did so joyously. This was her free weekend and if she managed to catch the two o' clock train she would have time to do a little shopping for her younger siblings in York before catching the last bus to the tiny village in which her parents lived. She jumped up and was pulling on her cardigan when a clattering sound met her ears, followed by a smothered exclamation. The sound came from the games hall, which was next door, and Miss Baker frowned as she heard it, for at this hour of the day no-one had any business to be in there.

She marched through to the hall, and was surprised to find it empty. But a second later she heard more sounds, emanating from the games cupboard, and swiftly she crossed the hall and entered the cupboard, where she paused in some surprise. Hilda Annersley stood there, a paintbrush in hand, and caught in the act of adorning a school netball with a smiling face. Scattered around the floor were sundry hockey sticks, which Hilda must have knocked over and which must have caused the clattering sound. Two netballs, presumably having already received Hilda's attention, grinned at her from the shelf.

"Hilda! What is the meaning of this?" demanded the mistress. The young criminal blushed and looked at the ground. After waiting a few moments, Miss Baker realised that this was all the answer she was likely to get, and she was about to take Hilda by the shoulder and march her to the office of Miss Blake, the games mistress, when she remembered the staff room discussion of earlier that week. Miss Blake was not the gentlest of creatures, and she took any damage to games equipment very hardly. Perhaps it would be better to deal with this herself, and then report the matter to the other mistress later.

Sighing for her two o' clock train, Polly Baker commanded the miscreant to dispose of her paintbrush and pot, make herself presentable, and report to her classroom when she was finished. Something in the mistress's steely tones prevented Hilda from cheeking her - which she had been quite resolved to do - and instead submissively obey the orders. Ten minutes later, she knocked humbly at the door of Miss Baker's classroom and trailed in looking appropriately woebegone and guilt ridden. Truth to tell, Hilda was feeling rather ashamed. She had no fondness for the games mistress, but she held a deep respect for Miss Baker and somehow did not like to be caught misbehaving by her.

Polly surveyed the girl before her thoughtfully. Hilda was not pretty, but she had attractive, large grey eyes and an intelligent face. Polly Baker never played favourites, but she was conscious that Hilda Annersley interested her far more than most of her pupils. For a start, she was unusually good at English. Then, the girl possessed the potential to be a real leader in her form. Already, it had been noted in the staff room that the other girls generally took notice of what she said, although she never courted such attention. Finally, there was this news of Hilda's mother. The mistress wondered how much Hilda knew about the situation at home. The girl was intuitve. Polly suspected that she knew something. It would help explain, in part, her recent behaviour.

"Have you read that book I lent you, Hilda?" she asked gently. The unexpected question caused Hilda abandon her study of the floor and look at the mistress properly for the first time. Her face flushed as she answered,

"Yes, Miss Baker. I - I loved it."

"Well, Hilda, I must say I'm surprised. I should have thought anyone capable of appreciating the subtilties of Jane Eyre would have been above such childish naughtiness as you were engaged in just now."

Down went Hilda's head again, and something about 'only a joke' was mumbled at the floor.

"But, Hilda, a very silly one causing damage to school property."

"I just thought it would be funny," said Hilda defiantly, head up again now. "We've got netball first thing on Monday, and I could just see old Blakey's face - " she crimsoned again at this slip and stopped, to Miss Baker's relief, for she did not want to have to admonish the girl for anything else. "I'm sorry, Miss Baker. I just thought it would be funny to go in and have all the ballls grinning away like that."

"You may think so. I cannot imagine anyone else sharing your sentiment," the mistress said coolly, suppressing her secret thought that Hilda's form-mates, at any rate, would have enjoyed the whole thing heartily. "As it is, you should be very glad I caught you, for you will naturally be expected to pay for new balls and since you have only ruined three you will only have to pay for three. That will, I imagine, absorb all your pocket money until after half term, but it could have been much worse."

She had fully expected this punishment to arouse horror in the apparently unrepentant sinner, but Hilda did not seem too badly affected.

"Yes, Miss Baker."

"You will of course also apologise to Miss Blake," Polly added gently.

At that Hilda tossed back one of the long brown pigtails she had been fiddling with and seemed on the verge of a retort, but she nodded and repeated, "Yes, Miss Baker."

"Now go and fetch the three balls you have defaced. I expect the paint is dry by now."

Hilda trotted off on this errand and while she was gone Miss Baker wondered if she should say anything else to Hilda, or if more lecturing would only alienate the girl. When Hilda returned, carrying three happily smiling netballs, she had to force down a corresponding smile at the sight.

"Put them down there and listen to me Hilda," she said sternly, for Hilda seemed rather taken with the balls and pleased with her own cleverness. Miss Baker wondered if she should perhaps have collected them herself, for all her good work in crushing the sinner had clearly been undone. But the girl put them down and faced the mistress willingly enough.

"Hilda, until this term you had good reports from every mistress. Now I find that no-one is satisfied with your behaviour or your effort in class, that your marks are going down, and that you are even leading other girls into naughtiness by your example. Is anything troubling you? I cannot believe you would be so naughty without some private worry."

Hilda gazed into her eyes but made no response. Polly sighed to herself, but she didn't want to force the girl.

"If you don't want to confide in me, then I can't make you. But you should remember that there is one friend that you can tell anything, and He is always ready to hear you."

"Who?" Hilda's tone was disbelieving.

"God, my dear. Whenever your troubles are too hard to bear, there is always God to help you through. I hope you remember that."

"I- I will, Miss Baker."

"Now you may go." Polly said. She sat at her desk for a few minutes thinking about what she had said. In the troubles that were undoubtedly coming to Hilda, she would need all the help she could get. Polly hoped that she would not turn from the one friend who could give the most. Then, remembering that she now had to catch the four o' clock train - the last one from their village that ran to York - she stood up, preparing herself for what she thoroughly expected to be a unpleasant interview with Miss Blake.

I have no idea if Jane Eyre is what a teacher in the early twentieth century would give to very keen student, if anyone has a better suggestion please let me know! Also felt a bit weird writing the religion stuff but figured Hilda must have got her spiritual guidance from somewhere! Oh, and thank you for all your kind comments. :D
Author:  Squirrel [ Mon Feb 12, 2007 9:57 pm ]
Post subject: 
Oh Poor Hilda, but well done Miss Baker. Hilda was being a right scamp there of course, and really asked for what she got - but thank goodness Miss Blake didn't get to deal with her. I can't see her being at all sympathetic, regardless of the punnishment she is receiving already.

I hope that Miss Baker, and God, can get through to Hilda soon.

Thanks, Loryat
Author:  Tara [ Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:59 pm ]
Post subject: 
I just loved those smiley netballs - and the fact that Hilda was so pleased with them! Miss Baker is delightful, too.

Yes, Hilda's family got it badly wrong there. And I think Lesley has convinced us all that Hilda's father was a bishop, so the religious side should be well catered for!!

Thanks, Loryat.
Author:  Loryat [ Tue Feb 13, 2007 11:47 am ]
Post subject: 
Thanks guys.

I have edited it a wee bit because I realised that Hilda being made a boarder wasn't going to work with what I had planned. Now she's been sent away for the holidays instead.

I haven't read Lesley's book (am I right in thinkiing it's Hilda Annersley, Headmistress) or I would have kept the bishop father. As it is I have a whole bunch of weak male 'protectors' lined up for Hilda and I don't think a bishop would go well with them! Also, I have got quite attached to Miss Baker as the provider of spiritual guidance. :oops: :)
Author:  Loryat [ Sun Feb 18, 2007 7:43 pm ]
Post subject: 
Here's a bit more.

Hilda emerged from Miss Blake's office with a flushed face and flashing eyes. It had been an extremely unpleasant interview. The relationship between girl and mistress had never been good, and apologising to someone she had little respect for was a chore viewed by Hilda as an anathema. On the mistress's side was the annoyance of a girl who 'slacked' - in Miss Blake's opinion any girl who failed to meet her expectations in games periods must be slacking - wantonly destroying Games Equipment, and added to this was a resentment of Miss Baker's treatment of the girl - in Miss Blake's opinion far too lenient. Most galling to Miss Blake had been Miss Baker's reminder of Hilda's home circumstances. With such a reminder, Miss Blake had not felt that she could justifiably add to the punishment, and the result was that the anger she could not betray to her colleague was unleashed upon the girl. It had been all Hilda could do to keep her temper, but the memory of Miss Blake's disappointment in her was still fresh. She realised that Miss Baker had treated her very kindly and she did not wish to appear ungrateful or undeserving. However, this did not prevent her from telling her two particular friends, Ruth and Naomi Stevenson, her exact opinion of the games mistress in most unparliamentary language.

"The way the old cat went on, you'd have thought I'd burnt down the games hall at the very least," she raged. "It was only three balls! And I'm the one that's got to pay for them, so she should be happy really. She's getting three brand new ones for nothing!"

"I don't know how you dared," Naomi said in awed tones. "You know how fussy Blakey is about her games stuff. You might have known she'd go off her top."

"I don't know why you didn't tell us," added Ruth in plaintive tones. "It was a brill idea - we would've helped."

"Didn't want to spoil your chances of making the hockey team," Hilda grinned. "If Blakey thought you'd so little respect for games stuff, you'd never even make sub."

Ruth, the taller of the black haired twins, had no time for lessons but excelled at games. There were rumours that Miss Blake and Cynthia Watson, the Games Captain, were considering her for the Second XI, though she was only fourteen, and she had led the form team to a crushing victory over the Lower Fifth last term. Plump Naomi was more retiring and seemed content to occupy Ruth's shadow.

"Well, you got off jolly easily," Naomi said now. "When I broke my hockey stick last year she had me cleaning the Sixth's boots for two weeks and I had to pay for the stick. And that was an accident - I didn't mean to drop it out the window."

"Oh, that was only cos of Miss Baker," said Hilda. "She caught me and gave me my punishment. If Blakey had caught me, she's probably want to have me expelled. She was really livid just now anyway. Games are going to be torture. You'll have to be extra brilliant, Ruth, to distract her from me."

Ruth grimaced at this acknowledgment of her powers and Naomi smiled at Hilda sympathetically. The two were equally bad at games and Naomi, better than her sister, could understand how Hilda must be dreading netball on Monday.

"Anyway," Hilda went on, "Blakey told me I had to find Linda Edwards and tell her that all my pocket money is to go straight to her until further notice. The old beast! As if I was going to try to keep it!"

Hilda stalked off in search of the Bank Prefect and the twins were left to look at each other.

"I don't understand Nan this term," Naomi said tentatively. "She's not herself at all."

"How d'you mean?" asked Ruth uneasily.

"Well, she's always in trouble - cheeking the mistresses, or playing mad pranks, or not doing her prep. She never did before. She was always - well - sensible."

"She was never a goody-goody," said Ruth swiftly.

"Oh, no, I don't mean that! Of course she wasn't!" Shy Naomi was not used to voicing her thoughts in this way, even to her twin. But she took a deep breath and went on. "What I mean is, she was always good fun, but never crazy. I mean, when has anyone ever messed about with the games stuff? It's never been done! Blakey treats it like the crown jewels so so does everyone! But that's how Nan's been ever since she came back. It's - it's as if she wants to get into trouble."

Ruth tugged at one of the curls that were curently rioting all over her head, in contrast to Naomi's well tidied ones in their blue velvet ribbon.

"But Nan's never been such good fun as she has this term," she said confusedly. "Not that she wasn't before, but she's such a laugh when she starts playing up! She's so clever, she thinks of stuff we never could. If she had managed to paint all those balls, don't you think it would have been funny when we found them on Monday?"

"Maybe for a while, until Blakey got really mad, but after that it would have been scary," Naomi retorted. She had a thriving fear for the mistress, cultivated every week in Games by the mistress's strictures on slacking and dark comments about hockey sticks. Ruth, who rarely encountered scoldings while on the field, and was besides less impressionable, was not convinced.

"Blakey's not that bad. And I don't know what you mean at all about Nan. Why would she want to get into trouble? She's just bored with school, and I can't say I blame her."

The subject was dropped, but it was not forgotten by either twin. Naomi thought about it often. And Ruth, for all her enjoyment of Nan's pranks, was occasionally reminded of the conversation in her friend's wilder moments. It just wasn't like Nan to tell a mistress that she really had no interest in Pythagoras's Theorem and would rather stand in the corridor than hear about it. But Ruth, being Ruth, pushed these thoughts away when they came to her. She preferred, like her form-mates, to look forward to Hilda's next joke eagerly, and endure her lessons as the things that came in between them.
Author:  Squirrel [ Sun Feb 18, 2007 8:36 pm ]
Post subject: 
That is a wonderful insight - and how I loved to see the nickname 'Nan' being introduced so early. I liked to see the difference in the twins worldview - Naomi as generally being able to 'get under the skin' of Hilda a bit, and Ruth simply enjoying the results of her mood. I think they can both be a help to Hilda, but Naomi probably slightly more than Ruth.

Thank you Loryat
Author:  Alison H [ Sun Feb 18, 2007 9:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
Ah - I assume they're the Ruth and Naomi she refers to in the hb of Trials. Thanks Loryat - nice to see more of this.
Author:  leahbelle [ Mon Feb 19, 2007 5:18 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks, Loryat. :D
Author:  Elbee [ Sat Feb 24, 2007 8:52 am ]
Post subject: 
I've enjoyed reading this so far and loved the smiling netballs :D

I do hope there will be more soon!
Author:  JoS [ Sat Feb 24, 2007 7:14 pm ]
Post subject: 
Thanks Loryat. This is wonderful - I am so enjoying reading about young Hilda.
Author:  Loryat [ Fri Mar 05, 2010 4:47 pm ]
Post subject:  Young Hilda (Again) Updated 6/3
Here is some more, after a looong time.
Dear Mother, [wrote Hilda, while seated in the hall with the rest of the Middles]
I was glad to get your last letter. It sounds as though you had a lovely time staying with Granny. I have missed you writing to me, though Father's letters are always very interesting. I know he said you were busy and staying at Granny's but you don't have to write long letters. Just a short one will do. You always give me all the best home news. Father always starts talking about books.

Well I am doing mostly OK at school. Miss Baker, who you met at Prizegiving last year, says I should go in for the Essay Prize. Uusally no-one under the Upper Fifth tries for that but Miss Baker wants me to. I am not sure. Can you think of anything I could write about? Maybe Father will know. I can't seem to get on at maths but you know I never can. And hockey and netball are a torment as always.

Please write again soon,
love from Hilda.

PS Half term weekend has been announced and it is October 17th-19th. I know normally I don't come home for half term since it's so far but I'm longing to see you. I haven't seen you since last Easter! Please please can I come home for half term? Or you could come and visit me? I can't wait till Christmas!

Hilda debated with herself about leaving the postscript in. She doubted that her parents would be willing to have her for the short half term break; they had always said before that the journey was too far for only two days. But there was always the chance that they could come to visit her - or that they had changed their minds. After all, she was fourteen now. The journey would not be half so tiring. Why, she was nearly grown up!

She spent so long debating the question that the time for letter writing ended before she had made a decision. The mistress in charge (Miss Blake, it would be, thought Hilda crossly) came along the long lines of girls to collect their letters. Hilda looked imploringly at the mistress.

"I'm not quite finished, Miss Blake. Please can I hand mine into the office when it's finished?"

"You may not," said the mistress coldly, giving Hilda the glare that she reserved for her least favourite pupils. "You have had long enough and for the last twenty minutes you haven't written anything. Hand it in, please."

Her face flushing in a scowl, Hilda handed over the letter.

"Don't scowl like that, child," Miss Blake added. "It's very impertinent. Come to me for a punishment exercise after lunch."

Hilda's scowl darkened as she watched the mistress move on, but Miss Blake paid no attention.

"Old cat!" she muttered to Naomi, who was sitting beside her. "She might've given me more time. Miss Baker would have."

"But a lot of them wouldn't," Ruth, who was sitting on Naomi's other side, argued. "And you should have known Miss Blake wouldn't."

"Oh, shut up!" Hilda flung at her, and, leaping to her feet, she raced out of the hall. Miss Blake saw her and called after her.

"Hilda Annersley! Hilda! You have not been given permission to leave! Come back this instant!"

But Hilda did not reappear, though the mistress's furious accents echoed round the room, and the rest of the Middles sat in silence, not daring to lift their eyes from their desks.
Author:  abbeybufo [ Fri Mar 05, 2010 4:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again)
Thank you - this is fascinating :D
Author:  PaulineS [ Fri Mar 05, 2010 5:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again)
Thank you this is a lovely opening, I am looking forward to more.
Author:  ammonite [ Fri Mar 05, 2010 6:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again)
Thanks you - this sounds really interesting - love Hilda and the netballs!
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Fri Mar 05, 2010 9:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again)
Oooh, intriguing! Thanks for posting the last parts as well :D
Author:  abbeybufo [ Fri Mar 05, 2010 10:26 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again)
Just seen the bits you added - thanks, but could you put any new material in new posts at the end of the thread in future please - rather than add them into the first post?

They will possibly get missed otherwise, which would be a shame :cry:
Author:  shesings [ Fri Mar 05, 2010 10:58 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again)
This is intriguing - thanks!
Author:  Abi [ Fri Mar 05, 2010 11:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again)
Loving this! :D
Author:  JS [ Sat Mar 06, 2010 8:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again)
Poor girl, hope she manages to find some comfort somehow :(
Author:  PaulineS [ Sat Mar 06, 2010 11:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again)
Abbeybufo wrote
Quote:
Just seen the bits you added - thanks, but could you put any new material in new posts at the end of the thread in future please - rather than add them into the first post?


If I had not seen her post I would have missed your new material which would have been a shame.
Author:  cal562301 [ Sat Mar 06, 2010 12:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again)
This is fascinating. Thanks. Looking forward to more.
Author:  Loryat [ Sat Mar 06, 2010 3:05 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again)
Here is some more.

Hilda was in disgrace. Miss Blake had been absolutely furious, and had reported her to the Head. In view of the bad reports she had had of Hilda from almost every other mistress, Miss Graves felt obliged to summon Hilda to the Study and lecture her before handing out her punishment. Firstly, she was to take a day of silence for general misbehaviour and impertinence. Second, she was to apologise to the outraged games mistress. Third, she was to be gated for half term. She would not be allowed to go home and, if she was expecting visitors, they must be put off.

"But - I was hoping I might be allowed to go home this half term!" Hilda cried on hearing this part of her punishment. "You know I didn't get to go home for the summer holidays, Miss Graves."

"Yes, Hilda, I know. But you have forfeited the right to the half term holiday through your misbehaviour," the Head said gently. "And I don't think you would have been allowed to go home in any case. You never have before, have you? I know your parents think it's much too far to travel for only a weekend."

"Yes, I know, but I thought they might this time. Since I didn't get to go home for the summer holidays, and I'm much bigger now."

"I don't think it's very likely, Hilda. However, you have spoilt your half term for yourself very thoroughly now. I'm afraid you won't even be allowed to join in the expeditions. I hope that this shock will make a difference to your behaviour, my dear. I would like to see an imrpovement over the rest of your term - in both your conduct and your marks."

"Yes, Miss Graves," Hilda replied in a low voice. Miss Graves, like Miss Baker, managed to make her feel thoroughly ashamed of herself.

"Are you going to write to your parents and explain the new circumstances?" the Head asked her. "I will write to them myself, but they will probably like to hear from you. You are letting them down very badly, you know."

"Yes," sighed Hilda. "Yes, I will, Miss Graves."

"Very well, my dear. Run along now."

Hilda 'ran'. She had better get the beastly letter written now, she supposed. She walked along the corridor to the Fourth Form common room. There was a positive babel of sound coming from the door, though as she entered, it broke off abruptly.

"Hello, Nan," said someone. "How did you get on with the Head?"

Naomi and Ruth, and some of her other friends, came over to her.

"What did she say to you?" Naomi asked fearfully. "Are you in a lot of trouble?"

"Not too bad," Hilda said lightly. "I've got to apologise to Blakey, of course, and I've got a day of silence - tomorrow. Oh, and I'm gated for half term."

"A day of silence! On a Sunday! Poor you," said Ruth sympathetically.

"Oh, Nan!" said Naomi. "And you wanted to go home for half term, too."

"Oh, well!" said Hilda airily. "I don't expect they'd have let me, anyway. They never have before. Oh, and Miss Graves says I've got to write a letter to my people explaining why I'm gated. I'd better get on with it now, actually."

And coolly she took her writing case from the shelf and left the room.

"Well!" said someone. "You'd never have thought she was in the Study for a whole hour, would you?"

Hilda went to the form room to write her letter. The big room was quiet and cool. Outside the last of the September sunshine beat down upon the grass, and lines of light lay across the polished wooden desks. Hilda sat down at her own. For some time she sat there, twriling her pen in her fingers without writing anything. Why hadn't Mother and Father let her come home for the holidays? It was all very well to talk about diptheria in the village. She could have gone to stay with Granny, as Mother had. Why had they sent her to stay with her cousins instead?

Mother had written You'll have much more fun staying with your cousins than in Granny's quiet little village, with only two old folk to keep you company. And Granny likes her peace, as you know. She won't want a lively schoolgirl under her feet. I know your Aunt Edith has lots of exciting things planned for the holidays and I know that you love your cousins.

This was true, Hilda did love her cousins. They were a large and lively brood and something exciting was always happening. She and her cousin Edgar, who was almost the same age as her, had always been great allies. But it wasn't the same as seeing one's own family. And all summer the letters they sent were always disappointing, and few and far between.

I am having fun with the Mordaunts, she had written. Last week we went for a picnic by the river and Edgar and I had a race on the punts. It was great fun. But I am missing you very much, Mother. And Father too. I know I can't visit Father because of the diptheria, but please can I visit you and Granny, just for the weekend? I promise I'll be as quiet as a mouse.

But I'm afraid it can't be done, her mother had written in a disappointingly short letter. Don't fret, darling, and I'll see you at Christmas.

Over the long, hot summer, and all through the term so far, Hilda had felt a growing dread. Something was happening - but what? Was Granny ill? Was Father's business in trouble? Occasionally, the worst of all fears nibbled at the corner of her mind. There was a girl in the school whose parents had been divorced. It was something that no-one spoke of but everyone knew. Surely her parents wouldn't do such an awful thing? Mother had only gone to stay at Granny's because of the diptheria. Hilda longed to write a letter - WHAT IS HAPPENING? But she knew that the letter she received back would be as vague and evasive as the ones she'd been receiving ever since June. She was always afraid, and she was growing angry. She was fourteen. She was not a child. And now, to distract herself, she played pranks, was cheeky and worse, all so that she would not have to think about what might be happening at home.

Eventually she wrote.

Dear Mother and Father,
I am afraid I have got into trouble at school. I was rude to Miss Blake who is the Games Mistress here, and I have been gated for half term. Now I cannot come home and you cannot come and visit me. I also have to take a day of silence which will be tomorrow. I am very sorry that I have behaved so badly and let you down this way. I will try not to do it again.
Love from Hilda

She put the letter in its envelope and sealed it. Just as she was about to take it to the Head's office for posting, the door opened and Miss Baker entered.

"Hello, Hilda," she said. "I hear you've been getting yourself into more trouble."

Hilda flushed. "Yes, Miss Baker," she answered, looking down. "I was rude to Miss Blake."

"And now you've been given a day of silence," the mistress said musingly.

"Yes. It's a beastly punishment!" and Hilda's resentment suddenly flashed out.

"One that you deserve though, I think," the mistress said calmly, and Hilda, who had to admit that it was a fair punishment, however beastly, nodded unwillingly.

"Have you thought any more about what I said to you? About the essay prize?"

Hilda shook her head. "Not really, Miss Baker. I haven't got any ideas yet."

"Perhaps tomorrow would be a good day to start," the mistress suggested casually. "You could spend your day of silence in the library, planning an essay and reading up on the subject."

"Would I - would I be allowed?"

"I don't see why not. Miss Graves would much rather you spent the time productively than sulking with a mistress in charge of you. Something to think about, Hilda."

"Yes, Miss Baker."

The mistress suddenly shot Hilda a very keen gaze. "Distracting oneself with study is a far more worthwhile use of one's time than naughtiness," she said, and before Hilda could reply, she had left the room.

Hilda sat back reflectively. Perhaps she could distract herself with the essay. She didn't want to let Miss Baker down, and it would be a great honour for a mere Upper Fourther to win the coveted Essay Prize. She got up, intending to rush off to the library at once, but then she caught sight of her letter, still lying on the desk. She had better take that to Miss Graves' office first.
Author:  ammonite [ Sat Mar 06, 2010 7:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again) Updated 6/3
Thanks Loryat. Nice to see someone is trying to help Hilda not just punish her!
Author:  PaulineS [ Sat Mar 06, 2010 8:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again) Updated 6/3
Quote:
Miss Baker said.
"Distracting oneself with study is a far more worthwhile use of one's time than naughtiness," she said, and before Hilda could reply, she had left the room.


I hope it helps Hilda. I can understand why Hilda wanted to tell girls about their parents after this experience.

Thanks for the updates.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Sat Mar 06, 2010 9:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again) Updated 6/3
That was so lovely, and something that the older Hilda herself might have done to temper justice with mercy. Thankyou!
Author:  Alison H [ Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again) Updated 6/3
Just caught up on this and am really enjoying it.
Author:  Abi [ Sat Mar 06, 2010 10:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again) Updated 6/3
Poor Hilda, dreading all sorts of terrible things. They really should have told her. :(
Author:  jmc [ Sun Mar 07, 2010 11:42 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again) Updated 6/3
Poor Hilda :( Not really surprised that she is acting out. I really think they should have told her about her mother.
Author:  cal562301 [ Sun Mar 07, 2010 11:57 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again) Updated 6/3
Poor Hilda. It does help to explain her attitudes in later life, when she came up against difficult children.

Really enjoying this. Thanks.
Author:  moiser30 [ Sun Mar 07, 2010 1:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again) Updated 6/3
I'm really enjoying this.
Author:  clair [ Sun Mar 07, 2010 2:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda (Again) Updated 6/3
This is great - glad you decided to come back to it! Is it too soon to ask for more please?
Author:  Mia [ Sun Mar 07, 2010 9:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 6 March
I've just merged this with your previous thread so there is no duplication in the archives. :)

Mia with mod hat on.
Author:  keren [ Mon Mar 08, 2010 1:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 6 March
very insightful
Author:  Kathy_S [ Mon Mar 08, 2010 6:14 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 6 March
Thank you, Loryat.

I'm finding Hilda's reactions very believable -- and can see how it would all make her a better headmistress!
Author:  La Petite Em [ Tue Mar 09, 2010 11:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 6 March
This is brilliant Loryat. I agree with the others; you can definitely see how these experiences shaped Hilda's views later in life.



ETA for spelling!
Author:  Loryat [ Mon Mar 15, 2010 2:48 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 15th March
Here's some more. Thank you for all saying such nice things, btw.

The Pearson Essay Prize, to give it its full title, was one of the most coveted prizes in the school. It was not the prize itself - a sum of money to be spent on books - that was so sought after, but the honour that the prize brought with it. Two other schools in the district also entered the competition, and the winner therefore brought glory not only upon herself, but upon her school. It was practically unheard of for anyone below the Upper Fifth to enter, and the prize almost always went to some august member of the Sixth. No girl from Queen Anne's had won it in some time, so to win it now would be even more impressive.

Not even in her wildest dreams did Hilda imagine herself actually winning the prize. She knew that she was very young to be entering it at all, and that although consideration was always made for the ages of the entrants, a certain standard of understanding and expression, and breadth of knowledge, was expected that put the prize out of the reach of most middles. But, having been encouraged by Miss Baker to enter, Hilda resolved on that long, silent Sunday that she would, and that she would do her best to produce something that would at least merit the attention.

And I'd better dig in at lessons, as well, she thought to herself. After all, I told Miss Graves I would, and it wouldn't be playing the game to let Miss Baker down like that either. She's been jolly decent to me. Not a lot of people would. And I was getting tired of playing the giddy goat, anyway.

So Hilda, from being the maddest imp Queen Anne's had seen in a long time, rapidly evolved into one of its most studious members. It was not really difficult for her, for the madcap who kept the whole of the Upper Fourth on tenterhooks was not really her true self. She was naturally keen on her lessons, and had always worked well before. In some ways it was a comfort to slip back into her old ways.

The staff, for whom lessons with the Upper Fourth had become a species of purgatory, observed the transformation with relief and approval. The girls who had been led astray by Hilda were generally of the type that was too unimaginiative to think up mischief on its own: happy to follow another girl in making trouble, but lacking the ingenuity to create such schemes by itself.

"And a good thing too," said Jenny Wilkes in the staff room. "They're all of the age where they ought to be beyond that sort of childishness. Next year they'll be Senior School, but so far this year a good many have been behaving more like First Formers."

However, if the staff approved the change, the Upper Fourth emphatically did not. There were exceptions. A few hard working girls who had regarded Hilda's boisterousness with irritation and - considering that until this term she had been one of themselves - confusion heaved sighs of relief, and much enjoyed their more peaceful lessons. Naomi was glad to see her friend reverting to something like her original personality. But the rest deeply regretted the 'dull' lessons they were now faced with, and a few resented Hilda's decision to become a law abiding member of society.

"Can't you think of any more pranks, Hilda?" asked Kitty Evans wistfully. "Is that why you're so good all of a sudden?"

"I can think of plenty, but I'm not going to play them," Hilda informed her.

"She's gone soft, that's what it is," said a damsel who rejoiced in the name of Flower Everett. "Old Gravy scared her properly and now she's too scared."

"Nan has not gone soft!" Ruth cried indignantly. She regretted Hilda's transformation as much as anyone, but she wasn't about to have a particular friend of hers insulted by such a little juggins as Flower Everett. "It's up to her if she's to play pranks or not."

"I'm glad that Nan's finally showing a bit of sense," said Sylive Welland severely. Sylvie, it should be noted, was that rarity, a hard working Upper Fourther. "Now we can actually get things done in lessons!"

"Sense be dratted! She's dull as ditchwater!" said Flower rudely. "Just like our lessons!"

"If you want someone to play pranks, why can't you play them yourself?" Hilda demanded. "I don't see why I should have to provide all the entertainment! I've got other things on my mind now, but if you want to create a little excitement, I've got nothing against it."

And with that she set down her cup and marched out of the dining room.

"That's all very well for her to say," Kitty grumbled. "But I can never think of a blessed thing!"

"I bet she's gone off to the library again," Flower scowled. "You can say what you like, Ruth, but ever since old Gravy had her in the Study Nan's been an absolutely ghastly swot!"

Once again Ruth hotly defended her friend. "She is not a swot! If you really want to know, the Bun's told her to go in for the essay prize, so of course she's got to work for that! She can't do anything else if the Bun told her to, can she?"

"Oh, Nan thinks the bun is absolutely It!" Kitty giggled.

Ruth opened her mouth to retaliate, but at that moment the prefect in charge of their table, Caroline Carson, called over to Flower, silencing her.

"What's that you're saying about the essay prize, Flower?" she demanded.

Flower blinked. Caroline was rather a lax prefect and rarely gave any attention to the chatter of her charges, so it was a surprise to have her weighing in now.

"It wasn't me, it was Ruth, Caroline," she answered. The prefect turned her enquiring gaze upon Ruth.

"What were you saying about the prize, Ruth?" she enquired.

"Just that the B - I mean, Miss Baker has told Nan to go in for it," she said unwillingly, for she resented the prefect's intrusion.

"Miss Baker told Hilda to go in for the essay prize? But she's much too young!"

Ruth shrugged. "Well, she has," she said shortly. Caroline, most unusually, brought her up sharply for her rudeness, and an uneasy silence settled over the table for the rest of the meal, for the Upper Fourth, aware of Caroline's frowns, were not anxious to be faced with a punishment exercise as Ruth had been.

They needn't have bothered, for Caroline paid them scant attention for the rest of the meal. Hilda Annersely to enter for the essay prize! Well! Caroline had ambitions that way herself, and as this was to be her last year at the school, this was her last chance of winning. As far as her own school was concerned, she had regarded herself as pretty safe. The only other applicants were to be Beth Woodley, a dreamy girl who rarely produced really good work due to her habit of going off on tangents, and Nancy Craven, a very earnest would-be intellectual member of the Upper Fifth who went in for everything whether she was encouraged, or had a hope of winning, or not. But the information that Hilda Annersley was to enter caused Caroline some disquiet, though she wasn't sure why.

"Kirsten," she enquired of her own friend later that evening, "Today I stumbled on a particularly ridiculous rumour. Do you know, the Upper Fourth are claiming that Hilda Annersley's going to enter the essay prize, and the Bun put her up to it!"

Kirsten, who was library prefect, looked thoughtful. "That makes sense," she said. "Hilda's been spending all her free time at the library lately. If she's reading up for the prize, that would explain it. I was wondering if she was planning on burning the place down, or destroying the catalogue, or something. You've relieved me!"

"But surely she's too young!" Caroline insisted. "Why, Upper Fourths never enter for the essay prize!"

Kirsten, who knew her friend's ambitions, smiled sympathetically. "I don't suppose you've got much to worry about. She's only a kid. I expect the Bun did it to distract her. She's been an utter pest this term."

"That's true," said Caroline, and felt a little comforted. But at that minute another prefect sitting nearby leaned forward.

"I wouldn't be so sure of that," Claris Anderson said. "My sister Jane's in Hilda's form and she says Hilda's as bright as a button and something out of the common at English. You might have competition, Caroline."

"Well, I like a challenge," Caroline returned, trying to be lighthearted. But the truth was she was feeling furious at the idea of a mere middle trying to take her prize, and when she thought of Hilda now it was with a feeling of acute dislike.
Author:  Loryat [ Mon Mar 15, 2010 3:33 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 15th March
Okay I can't figure out how to mark the thread title to say this has been updated. :oops:
Author:  Alison H [ Mon Mar 15, 2010 4:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 6 March
Go to the opening post and click on edit :D .
Author:  Loryat [ Mon Mar 15, 2010 4:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 6 March
Thanks! Will do so. :D
Author:  Abi [ Mon Mar 15, 2010 6:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 15th March
Thanks for the update. A little worried about Caroline - she looks like causing Hilda some problems.
Author:  PaulineS [ Mon Mar 15, 2010 7:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 15th March
Thanks for the update.
Author:  cal562301 [ Mon Mar 15, 2010 7:08 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 15th March
Thanks Loryat. Am enjoying this, but also worried that Caroline might make trouble for Hilda.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Mar 15, 2010 9:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 15th March
Oh dear, I hope that more trouble isn't heading Hilda's way! Thanks for the update, though I'm wibbling now.
Author:  jmc [ Tue Mar 16, 2010 7:03 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 15th March
This doesn't bode well for Hilda. Nice to see her working again and her friends sticking up for her.
Author:  Kathy_S [ Tue Mar 16, 2010 12:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 15th March
Oh, dear. Is Caroline the sort of prefect to abuse her position?

Thank you, Loryat.
Author:  JS [ Fri Mar 19, 2010 8:53 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 15th March
There may be trouble ahead....

Is it okay to ask for more??
Author:  La Petite Em [ Sun Apr 04, 2010 11:35 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 15th March
Watch out Hilda! Thank-you Loryat, but please may we have some more now?
Author:  Elle [ Mon Apr 05, 2010 5:49 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 15th March
Thanks, really enjoying this.
Author:  Chair [ Sat Apr 24, 2010 12:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 15th March
Thanks, Loryat! I have just caught up on this and I'm really enjoying it. I hope that Caroline doesn't cause too much trouble for Hilda.
Author:  Luisa [ Mon May 10, 2010 8:42 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 15th March
Just read all of this at one sitting -
Very greedy of me, but any chance of some more?
Author:  Emmsies [ Wed May 26, 2010 7:48 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 15th March
I agree :)
That was awesome!
Author:  Loryat [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 11:27 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 15th March
An update!

Hilda plunged heart and soul into her essay, and for the first time discovered the joy of study. While she had generally worked hard, and enjoyed most of her lessons, she had always followed a path set out by a mistress. Now she was journeying into unexplored territory, and she found it utterly absorbing. She had chosen to explore several poems by Wordsworth, which she happened to have read over the summer holiday. But for the essay it was necessary to get a sense of the poet’s life and times besides, and Hilda buried herself in a welter of history books, collections of letters, and biographies. She found it all fascinating, and discovered that as she became absorbed in her books she thought less and less about her home worries, for which reason she found herself becoming more absorbed than ever.

After a gentle warning from Miss Baker, she learned not to bury herself to the extent of sacrificing her other studies, and the danger of irritating the rest of the staff was averted. To tell the truth, however, the majority of the mistresses were so relieved that she was reverting to her studious self that they would have been willing to put up with a good deal of inattention as long as Hilda was not choosing to enliven their days with mischief. Miss Graves regarded the improvement with approval from afar.

It was not so in Hilda’s form, however. The girls there were still regretting the fact that Hilda had ’turned goody-good’. Even Naomi was unhappy, for Hilda was so busy with her essay that she spent as much time as possible in the library and had very little to spare for her friends. Among the others, Hilda’s extraordinary - as it seemed to them - behaviour was attracting a good deal of frowns. Among the younger girls of Queen Anne’s there was a definite disapproval of ’swotting’; it being regarded as a peculiar kind of swank. The majority of the girls, who liked Hilda, did not particularly care, though some of them considered her studying ’not quite the thing’. But Flower and her particular set, who were filled with resentment by Hilda’s abrupt resignation as master of ceremonies, judged her more harshly, and Ruth had many a battle royal with them on the subject.

“It’s not the same thing at all!” she would protest. “She’s not swotting for lessons, it’s for the essay prize, and you know the Bun told her to do it, she simply has to now.”

“Swotting’s swotting,” Flower returned unperturbed. “What’s an Upper Fourther doing going in for the essay prize anyhow? That’s swotting if you like!”

“Tisn’t if a mistress tells you!”

“Well then she must have swotted beforehand to make the Bun tell her to do it!”

“She never did! Anyway, if you think she should put in a rubbishy essay and make Anne’s look bad before those other schools - ”

“That’s not the point. If Nan wasn’t so swotty she’d never have got into this mess in the first place.”

“She wasn’t doing much swotting at the start of term,” Ruth retaliated. “You were happy enough to follow her then.”

“She’s was acting like a decent human girl then,” Flower said. “Now she’s just a deadly dull dud, and if you don’t watch out, Ruth, you will too!”

“If I was to try for ten years I couldn’t be as much of dud as you,” Ruth retorted smartly, and withdrew after this sally, feeling comfortably that she had put Flower in her place all right. But at the same time she had an uneasy feeling that Flower and her set had right on their side. To Ruth, too, Hilda’s behaviour seemed bordering on the ‘swotty’ and she had worried over this breach of school etiquette almost as though she suspected her friend of stealing. She would never have admitted it to Flower and co, but she inwardly considered Hilda to be behaving without much schoolgirl decency and running the risk of seriously tarnished popularity.

Hockey had been rained off, so Ruth had a free hour. She went up to the middle school common room, where lamps were lit and the fire was burning, giving the room a cosy feel despite the water pouring down the windows, and sought out her twin, who was busy with some knitting.
“Where’s Nan?” she asked Naomi.

“I think she’s in the library,” Naomi said unwillingly. She knew how Ruth disapproved of these library visits, and sure enough Ruth’s brow clouded at the news.

“I just had a fearful row with Flower and that lot,” she told her twin quietly. “About Nan. They think she’s being a most ghastly swot. If Nan’s not careful, they’ll none of them want anything much to do with her.”

“I shouldn’t think Nan’d care,” Naomi replied, giving her a keen look. “She’s never had much time for any of them.”

“Yes, but,” Ruth said hesitatingly, “Nan is being a bit - well - she’s in the library all the time, and it’s just not the thing. You know it’s not, Naomi.”

“Are you saying you agree with Flower and those idiots?” flashed Naomi.

Ruth was startled. Rarely did Naomi use that tone with anyone, and she herself had always been the more dominant one of the two.

“No,” she said quickly. “Only that - well, Nan is spending too long in the library, and it just goes against all our school traditions, you know, to spend so long studying when you’re in the junior school. You just don’t. I think we should talk to Nan about it, and warn her about what people are saying too.”

Naomi having given cautious approbation of this suggestion, the following evening Hilda and Naomi were chatting eagerly by the sidelines of the hockey pitch, stamping their feet and folding their arms across their chests. It was in fact Naomi’s wistful ‘we never seem to see you any more, Nan’ that had persuaded Hilda to join the twins on their expedition which, incidentally, was forbidden - during the winter to leave the school building after lesson hours, when they had both walks and games, was seen as an unnecessary dirtying of shoes. The rule was, however, broken fairly frequently.

Ruth, meanwhile, was examining the hockey pitch in the hopes that after its wetting yesterday it would not be too badly damaged for the match the following day - to be Ruth’s first in the Second XI.

“It’s all right!” Ruth came flying across the pitch with cheeks glowing and eyes sparkling. “I think it’ll be all right - as long as it doesn’t rain.”

She cast an anxious glance at the sky.

“I don’t think it will. The sky’s clear,” Hilda said encouragingly.

“I hope so,” said Ruth, who had forgotten her plan to give Hilda a talking to in the anxiety and excitement over hockey. “I say, it’s nice out here, isn’t it? Why don’t we say outside for a bit? Nan needs the exercise.”

Hilda and Naomi, who were both longing for the cosy common room, exchanged glum glances, but gave in to the outdoor enthusiast. Hilda, however, felt it necessary to point out that she got plenty of exercise while on walks and during games practices.

“Wilkie’s idea of a walk is practically a crawl,” said Ruth scornfully. “And I don’t see that you get much exercise skulking about on the sidelines at games practices either.”

Nan, oblivious of the fact that she was about to receive a stern talking to, suddenly turned and smiled. Naomi and Ruth, turning too, felt their hearts sink. For some reason Nan was smiling at Caroline Carsons, who was coming towards them with a glare on her face.

This is exactly the sort of thing that’s just not on, Ruth fumed inwardly. Why on earth’s Nan smiling at that rotter? She made a mental note to give Nan a stern talking to at the earliest minute.

Naomi gave an inward sigh. Caroline would keep them talking for hours probably, and her toes were going numb.

Hilda, who had forgotten the outdoors rule, had been smiling at Caroline in fellowship - she had often seen the older girl working like her in the library. Her smile had also been one of pleasure, for the mere sight of the older girl reminded her of the joy she felt in her studies.

Caroline who, like Naomi, was feeling cold, had been minded to let these errant middles off the hook for once, but had changed her mind when she realised that one of the was Hilda Annersley, and that, moreover, she was giving her a cheeky grin. She strode over to the three middles angrily.

“What are you three doing out here? Hilda, take that idiotic look off your face and don’t be so rude!”

Hilda stopped smiling, looking startled; Ruth answered mutinously,

“We were just checking the hockey pitch.”

Hilda added, “Ruth’s playing tomorrow, Caroline.”

“I don’t believe I asked you for any information, Hilda. Must you thrust yourself into everything?”

This was so uncalled for that Hilda was completely taken aback. She recovered herself within a second, though, and replied coolly,

“Technically, you did, Caroline. You were speaking to all three of us.”

Caroline perceived that she was in the wrong, but this only increased her irritation with Hilda.

“Hasn’t anyone ever taught you not to answer back? It’s a shame your parents didn’t teach you more manners, then. Come along! I’m reporting you to Miss Wilkes. Ruth and Naomi, go inside at once.”

Caroline actually made as though to take Hilda’s arm. Hilda neatly sidestepped her, however, and walked on ahead, her chin high in the air and her face oddly frozen. Caroline hurried after her, and the twins, momentarily forgetting the command to go inside, stared after them in bewilderment.

“Caroline’s got her knife into Nan, but why?” Naomi asked.

Ruth shrugged uneasily. Had she but known it, she could have answered Naomi’s question, but Ruth had forgotten Caroline’s interest in the fact that Hilda was going in for the essay prize. Even if she had remembered, she never could have believed that someone would make such a fuss over a school prize.
Author:  Squirrel [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 1:12 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 26th August
Well! It was good hearing how the rest of the form took Hilda's defection to studying. And interesting to see how her particular friends Ruth and Naomi took it.

I'm glad that Hilda spent a bit more time with the two of them, not spending any time with them was letting the balance get out of sync a bit.

Caroline sounds like a nasty bit of work though. I do hope that her efforts won't push Hilda over the edge again - she must be struggling enough with how things are like in her family without that.

Thanks Loryat
Author:  Liane [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 1:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 26th August
Poor Nan! That reaction to studiousness is well known to me though. It was very much like that at my school.
Thanks so much to the update.
Author:  ivohenry [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 1:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 26th August
Niuce to see more of this one, thanks for the update.
Author:  PaulineS [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 5:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 26th August
Thanks for this, it is good to see more.
Author:  cal562301 [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 5:28 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 26th August
Glad to see more of this. Thanks for the update.
Author:  ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 6:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 26th August
Why do I sense trouble ahead?

Thankyou for the update!
Author:  Abi [ Thu Aug 26, 2010 7:20 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Young Hilda updated 26th August
Poor Nan; it can't be pleasant having people react to you like that. Glad to see more of this!
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