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'My Filthy Temper Again' Upd & Concluded Tue 2/1

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#1: 'My Filthy Temper Again' Upd & Concluded Tue 2/1 Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:19 pm
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I had no intention of starting something else while Con’s story is in progress, but this should be quite short, so it shouldn’t keep me away from Con for too long.

This idea came to me after re-reading Challenge, which has yet another instance of Margot behaving badly and getting away with it. This is what I think could have happened instead.

“My filthy temper again!” she thought miserably. “Oh, if only I could keep hold of it! I suppose I’d better go to Burnie again and explain. She’ll be mad all right, but I can’t do anything else. But I wish it had been almost anyone but Lesley. She's such a decent kid and it looks as if I’d done her out of the hockey for the rest of the term.”
She went off after Kaffee und Kuchen to find the mistress and confess her sins.

Miss Burnett listened gravely to what Margot had to say. Then she said,
‘I think this must go to Miss Wilmot, Margot.’ As Margot began to protest, she went on, ‘The final decision will be the Head’s, of course, but I don’t see how we can allow you to continue as Games Prefect - at least, not until you give us some clear evidence that you can control your temper. Now I’m going to Miss Wilmot. I suggest you go and think quietly about what has happened.’

Nancy groaned loudly when Peggy had finished repeating what Margot had told her.
‘It’s just one thing after another, this term. Is it always like this for Hilda, or am I just unlucky? You were quite right to come to me,’ she added. ‘It’s high time Miss Margot learned to control her temper. But why couldn’t she have waited until next term to have her little tantrum?’ Peggy chuckled.
‘This is why I have no ambitions ever to be a head, my dear. Not that a mere gamesmistress could ever hope to achieve such an exalted position! But,’ she added more soberly, ‘what do you plan to do about Margot?’ Nancy considered.
‘I’ll see her in the morning, after Prayers. It won’t hurt her to have some time to think things over, and I need to do some thinking myself. Who did you say were the other girls involved? I’ll hear their side of it – oh, I won’t let them know I’m investigating Margot’s sins, you goop! I’ll tell them I want to hear about Lesley’s accident. I’ll have the people who were involved in the lacrosse affair in, too, for some extra verisimilitude! Would you ask a prefect to send them to me, please? I don’t suppose they’ll mind missing part of their prep! Oh, and tell Margot to come to me after Prayers tomorrow morning.’ Peggy went off, glad that the responsibility was now off her shoulders. Nancy leaned back in her chair.
‘Why did it have to be Margot? If I do what I think I must, I am not looking forward to explaining to Jo! But Margot is just on eighteen. She has only two and a half terms left of school. We’d be failing in our duty to her if we didn’t do everything in our power to help her gain some self control before she goes out into the world as an adult.’

Last edited by JayB on Tue Jan 02, 2007 6:17 pm; edited 6 times in total

#2: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:27 pm
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Thanks, JayB. Margot did get away with far too much and it's about time she really thought about the consequences of her actions.

#3: Author: Mrs Redboots, Location: London, UK

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:35 pm
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Thank you, JayB. Looking forward to reading more of t his.

#4: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 6:38 pm
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Margot really did need to sort herself out before leaving school - people at uni wouldn't have let her get away with things the way the CS did!

#5: Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 8:18 pm
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I like this, are we to see the outcome?

#6: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 8:36 pm
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Excellent - Margot should not have been allowed to keep losing her temper like that without consequences.

Looking forward to more, thanks JayB.

#7: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds

Posted: Sat Dec 30, 2006 8:54 pm
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If it's not too much trouble, please could you post a brief extract of what Margot did. I've only read Challenge once and I don't remember anything.
Looking forward to reading the rest of this. Smile

#8: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 11:28 am
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I'm looking forward to seeing how Nancy handles this.

Thanks, JayB

#9: Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 1:03 pm
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Here's the relevant parts from Challenge, for anyone whose memory needs jogging. Will update in the next post.

Quote:

The two Fifths had games together.... One or two of the prefects were usually there as well, especially Margot Maynard and Primrose Trevoase... This afternoon Joan Dancey… and Ruey Richardson … were also present. The fifty-two girls… were divided up, thirty going with Ruey and Primrose to the lacrosse pitch and the remainder… taking possession of the hockey pitch. Miss Burnett was not with them….. She had seen Margot and Primrose and asked them to take over…. Margot… was not pleased….she had intended to ask to be excused that afternoon so she could make up on some work that she had overlooked. In consequence she was in none too good a mood when she arrived on the field….
Margot set Lesley and Janet Henderson to pick sides and then proceeded to place the two teams herself…. Normally, Evelyn played left inner, but today Margot sent her to the right wing for no known reason…. Evelyn said nothing, though she disliked playing on the right at any time. Joan… ventured to say a word to Margot.
“Evelyn’s much better on the left, Margot. …She usually plays there.”
“Then it’ll be good for her to try somewhere else!” Margot snapped. She raised her voice. “Get ready, all of you! Simonetta d‘Angeli, stop fiddling with your hair! You ought to have come out with it in proper order!”…
One and all they were on their toes as Margot placed the ball for the bully-off…. after a moment the ball was flying of to the right wing of Blue team towards Evelyn who made a valiant effort to take it, missed, and it went out.
“Offside!” Margot shouted. “Line up for the roll-in! And you, Evelyn, think what you’re doing! You’re there to take the ball and pass to someone else.”
Evelyn bit her lip as she went to her place. Margot’s tone had been nipping and she resented it….
The roll-in was taken by Janet and she was instantly pulled up for tossing. Aware that she had not tossed but that the ball bounced off a knot of rough turf, Janet flushed angrily…. Again and again the players were pulled up for faults. Nothing seemed to go right and by the time the first twenty-five minutes were up, quite half the teams were in a state of revolt…. Evelyn tore up to save the ball and was instantly pulled up for hooking her stick. It was a pure accident, but Margot treated it as an intentional foul.
“Don’t you know even yet that hooking’s a foul?” she stormed at Evelyn. “Accidental? Tell that to the marines! It was quite deliberate on your part. I was watching you. Unless you manage better than this, Evelyn Ross, I’m going to put you down to the fourth XI. It’s about all you’re fit for!”
José spoke up. “No, honestly, Margot, it was an accident.”
“Will you kindly mind your own business?” Margot retorted. “I’m taking this practice, not you!” She blew her whistle. “Bully-off again, please, and try to play hockey all of you!” She blew again and Janet and Lesley bullied-off again.
All enjoyment had now gone out of the game. With Margot in this mood one or two became nervous and played badly. As for Evelyn, she watched her strokes carefully…. Her cautious play irritated Margot further and, after watching the other girl dribbling the ball, she shouted at her to stop spooning it and to strike it.
Evelyn obeyed. Raising her stick she struck it as hard as she could and it flew off, bounced on a tuft of grass and caught Lesley a nasty blow on the elbow. She gave an involuntary cry and dropped her stick….

[Later]

Quote:

“Well,” commented Simonetta, … “we seem to have had a most unlucky practice today.”
“So far as hockey was concerned it seems to have been Margot Maynard's fault,” pronounced Janice Chester weightily….
“What? How do you make that out?” Greta Harms demanded. “It was Evelyn who hit the ball. Margot never touched it.”
“No,” Janice said. “But Margot was in a fume for some reason and she nagged at Evelyn until I don’t wonder she hit the ball as hard as she did - or so José swears.”
“It’s true enough,” José herself agreed.
“Just what I said. Margot was in a fume about something and she nagged. You all know what she’s like when she loses her rag. She just let loose. If she’d sat on her rage it wouldn’t have happened.”
In their interest they had not noticed that Margot had heard it all. She had felt bad enough before about the whole thing. Matey had told her that it was unlikely that Lesley would be able to play again that term… Janice’s words had set the blame squarely on Margot’s shoulders and, on thinking it over, the girl had to admit in all honesty that it belonged there.
“My filthy temper again!” she thought miserably. “Oh, if only I could keep hold of it! I suppose I’d better go to Burnie again and explain. She’ll be mad all right, but I can’t do anything else….”
She went off after Kaffee und Kuchen to find the mistress and confess her sins. Miss Burnett said nothing much to her. As she reflected, it was an old story for Margot Maynard to lose her temper and then bitterly regret the consequences.
“Poor girl! She has a hard row to hoe!” the mistress thought pityingly. Aloud, she said, “It’s a pity, Margot. I’m sorry it happened, but it’s done and can’t be undone. Lesley must make the best of it and so must you. On the whole, I think it’s worse for you. But keep on trying. Nil desperandum, my dear!” she added, for Margot was looking very gloomy. “Remember that those who have the hardest work with their own characters usually turn out the finest men and women if they keep on trying. Now go and do that work and try to put the events of this afternoon out of your mind for the time being.”
“Thank you, Miss Burnett,” Margot said, her face lighting up a little.
She went off and did her best to follow the mistress’s advice, but it was hard going and her work was less well done than usual.

#10: Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 1:10 pm
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Just a short bit for now, probably more later today. And there will be a lengthy Study Scene eventually. This is not going to be one of those 'no-one ever knew what passed...' occasions. I shall be interested to hear whether people think Nancy is too hard on Margot when it's all done.

Miss Wilmot heard Ruey, Primrose and Ronnie’s account of the lacrosse incident, then dismissed them with the comment that it really did seem to have been a genuine accident which couldn’t have been avoided. Then she turned to Evelyn, Jose, Janice and Joan. It was not easy, for Joan’s loyalty to her fellow prefect prevented her from speaking frankly. Evelyn, remembering what had happened earlier in the term, was anxious to say nothing that could be construed as ‘sneaking’. Jose and Janice hesitated to speak, feeling that it was up to Joan or Evelyn. After much questioning, Miss Wilmot dragged from Evelyn an admission that Margot had made her angry, and so when Margot had told her to hit the ball properly, she had done so – hard. Jose and Janice then spoke up in her defence.
‘It wasn’t Evelyn’s fault, Miss Wilmot. Margot just went on at her. She was in a bad temper all afternoon.’
‘Really, Miss Wilmot. Margot was cross with Simonetta, and Janet, oh, everyone, I think.’
Eventually, Miss Wilmot felt she had a clear picture of what had happened on the hockey pitch that afternoon. She dismissed the Fifth formers, but kept Joan back.
‘Tell me, Joan, do you think Margot’s behaviour on the hockey field today was appropriate for a prefect?’
‘We - we all know Margot has a temper.’
‘That’s not what I asked you.’
‘No, Miss Wilmot. It wasn’t appropriate.’
‘What were you going to do about it?’ Joan was silent.
‘Joan, no-one wants a school full of tattletales. But there’s a difference between not wanting to sneak and letting wrong things go on because tackling them might be hard or unpleasant for you. At your age, you should know which is which. That’s all I have to say to you – you may go back to your prep.’

After dismissing Joan, Nancy rang up Miss Wilson at St Mildred’s.
‘May I come over after Abendessen this evening? There’s something I need to consult you about.’
‘By all means. Is it something serious? You sound full of doom.’
‘Yes, I’m afraid it is, but I don’t want to say any more over the telephone. And Nell – can we be alone, and uninterrupted? Only two other people know about this so far, and I’d like to keep it that way, for the moment, at least.’
‘Very well. I’ll see you about 20.30.’

#11: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 1:59 pm
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Well done Nancy - both for the way you managed to get the entire story out of the girls and for the way you spoke with Joan.

Also very well done on realising that you need to consult with someone more experienced.

Thanks very much for this JayB - looking forward to further developments, this is fascinating.

#12: Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 2:02 pm
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And more:

Miss Wilmot was mistaken in her belief that only she, Margot and Peggy Burnett knew what she wanted to discuss with Miss Wilson. Their summons to the study was discussed with vigour by the girls involved once prep was over and they were in their commonroom.
‘Miss Annersley would never have had us all in like that just for a simple accident,’ said Janice Chester.
‘Oh, Willy’s just being extra pernickety because the Abbess is away and she’s been left in charge,’ said Judy Willoughby.
‘Do you think so?’ said Janice.
‘Well, of course. What other reason could there be?’
‘Margot was in charge of that practice. Why wasn’t she there?’ Janice demanded.
‘I don’t know. Maybe she’s taking Middles’ prep or something.’
‘I think Janice is right,’ said Jose. ‘It was more than Willy just wanting to hear about the accidents. I think she wanted to know about Margot.’
‘But she had the lacrosse people in too!’ Judy protested.
‘And she finished with them and turfed them out pretty quickly! It was the hockey she really wanted to know about,’ Janice retorted. Jose looked grave.
‘I’m afraid Margot is in trouble.’
‘Oh, I hope not because of me!’ Evelyn said. ‘I really wasn’t sneaking. Miss Wilmot asked me, and I had to tell the truth!’
‘Of course you did. No-one blames you, Evie,’ Janice said.
‘And if – just if – Margot is in trouble, don’t you think she deserves to be?’ Jose said.
‘The way Margot went on at Evie was awful,’ Judy agreed. ‘No-one could be expected to play well with someone nagging at them like that all the time.’
‘Margot has always had a fearful temper,’ Janice said. ‘I’ve heard Mummy and the aunts talking about it.’
‘Lots of people have tempers,’ said Evelyn. ‘I have myself. But I don’t treat people like Margot treated us this afternoon.’
‘And Margot’s a prefect,’ said Judy primly. ‘She should set us a better example.’ Since Judy, when she was a Middle, had been known for mischief, this struck Janice and Jose as funny.
‘But she’s right,’ said Evelyn. ‘I-I probably would have been School Captain this year, if I’d stayed at my old school. But I’d soon have been sacked, if I’d behaved like that with the younger girls.’ Judy looked startled.
‘Do you think Margot will be sacked as Games Captain?’
‘Does that happen here?’ Evelyn asked.
‘Once, there was a Head Girl who was demoted. Years ago, when the school was in England. I remember Beth and Nancy talking about it,’ said Janice. ‘But that was because the Heads decided she had too much to do, with her own work and being Head Girl. It wasn’t like this.’ The girls were sobered at the idea that Margot might be demoted from her position of Games Prefect. Prefects were important people at the Chalet School; the girls were not accustomed to thinking that one of them might fail at her job.
‘But we won’t talk about this to anyone except each other, all right?’ said Jose. The others agreed, so that when Jocelyn Marvell asked Janice if it was true that Evelyn Ross had hit Lesley Anderson with her hockey stick and broken her arm, Janice replied crushingly that what happened in the Fifths was none of Jocelyn’s business, and she should know better than to listen to and repeat gossip.

#13: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 2:08 pm
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They did expect a lot of the prefects, but at 18/very nearly 18 Margot should have been able to behave better.

Thanks Jay.

#14: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 2:10 pm
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It will be a shock to the School should something happen - they hold their Prefects in such esteem after all.

#15: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 2:27 pm
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Yes, they'll be shocked if Margot is demoted. And yet she deserves to be. And what will Jo say?! Thanks for this, Jay, it's gripping.

#16: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 4:21 pm
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What I find astonishing is that the school took so little action before about Margot's temper. In many ways, they owed it to her to tell her where she was going wrong and to do something about it.

#17: Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 5:05 pm
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I did a bit of research. Challenge takes place in 1957. 'The second Wednesday after half term' was most likely 6 November - the day after the triplets' 18th birthday. That's probably why Margot forgot about the piece of work that started the trouble!
Nancy walked into Miss Wilson’s private sitting room at St Mildred’s, flung her wrap over the back of the couch and herself into one of the two armchairs. Miss Wilson was busy at a small table, with coffee pot and cups.
‘Is that coffee, Nell? And are those chocolate biscuits? You angel!’ She sat up and accepted a cup and saucer and helped herself to biscuits from the plate Miss Wilson held out to her. Miss Wilson fetched her own coffee and made herself comfortable in the chair opposite Nancy.
‘Now,’ she said, after they had sipped their coffee for a few minutes, ‘tell me all about it.’ She listened in silence as Nancy repeated what Peggy Burnett had told her, and what she had learned from the girls. She finished by telling Miss Wilson what action she proposed to take.
‘You haven’t spoken to Margot herself yet?’ asked Miss Wilson. Nancy shook her head.
‘I shall hear what she has to say, of course, but I don’t see how I can pass this over. For Margot’s own sake, and for the sake of the school. Nell, she bullied the girls while she was supposed to be responsible for them. Bad enough that she treated the Fifths that way, but suppose she did the same to some of the younger girls? We can’t have our prefects abusing their position in that way.’
‘I quite agree,’ said Miss Wilson. She thought for a moment, then said, ‘Do you remember Betty Landon’s head injury – oh, nearly two years ago now?’
‘Vaguely. She fell in the dormitory and hit her head on something, didn’t she? What has that to do with Margot?’
‘Betty’s injury was caused by Margot, in a temper, throwing a bookend at her.’
‘What?’ Nancy nearly overturned her coffee. ‘Why didn’t we hear about this at the time?’
‘That was Hilda’s decision. I don’t know if I would have handled it in the same way myself, but Hilda said Margot was truly remorseful. You know how forgiving she can be when a girl makes full confession of her sins and shows penitence.’
‘That’s all very well, but here we are, nearly two years later, and Margot is still allowing her temper to get the better of her, and other people are still suffering the consequences. That settles it, Nell. Margot must learn to control herself. If she can behave like this now, while she’s still under quite close supervision at school and at home, what on earth might she do in the future when there’s no check on her actions?

On returning from St Mildred’s, Nancy went into the staffroom and told the other mistresses what had happened, and what she proposed. Matey agreed, grimly.
‘This will hit Margot where it will hurt her, in her pride,’ she said.
‘But, ma chere Nancy, if Margot is sorry, but truly sorry, you will relent, n’est’ce pas?’ said Mdlle de Lachennais. Nancy shook her head.
‘No, Jeanne. If Margot can show me any extenuating circumstances, I’ll take them into account. But this is far from the first time Margot has got herself or someone else into trouble, and she’s long past the age when her behaviour can be put down to thoughtlessness. It’s more than time she suffered some real consequences for her actions. Nell agrees with what I propose. I hope you’ll all back me up,’ she finished, looking around the staffroom. Miss Derwent replied, after a quick glance at the other mistresses.
‘Of course we’ll back you, Nancy.’
‘Thank you,’ Nancy said gratefully. She looked at Miss Armitage.
‘Vida, will you excuse her if she’s late for your lesson tomorrow morning?’
‘Of course,’ said Miss Armitage. ‘I’ll excuse her altogether, if you like. I don’t suppose she’ll be feeling much like discussing anatomy when you’ve finished with her.’
‘Thank you. If it seems absolutely necessary, I’ll let her off classes tomorrow morning, but I’d rather she carried on as normal if possible. I don’t want her to have time to feel sorry for herself.’

As Nancy prepared for bed that evening, she thought back on what had seemed like one of the longest days in her teaching career.
‘And tomorrow looks like being worse!’ she thought. ‘Oh, why did I ever agree to take over from Hilda for this term! I do wish Kathy was here,’ Nancy’s thoughts continued. ‘Nell helped, of course, and the other staff will back me up, but it’s not the same as having someone to really talk things over with.’ As she turned out the bedside light, Nancy chuckled inwardly as she thought of what Hilda Annersley would have said if she could have heard that piece of English.

#18: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 5:30 pm
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Poor Nancy, having to deal with Margot. But she's doing the right thing, I think.

#19: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 5:38 pm
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Well done on making the decision, Nancy.

Thanks JayB

#20: Author: Sarah_L, Location: Leeds

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 6:05 pm
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Thanks for posting that extract Jay. I'm glad the staff have backed Nancy up.

#21: Author: kimothy, Location: Glasgow

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 6:43 pm
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thanks for this Jayb- its nice to see an alternative

#22: Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Sun Dec 31, 2006 10:05 pm
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That was a sensible decision. Look forward to the study scene, and tyo Joey's reaction, hope she backs the school as well, am sure Jack would.

#23: Author: JustJen, Location: sitting on the steps

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 2:32 am
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Well it's about time someone did something about Margot's temper

#24: Author: wheelchairprincess, Location: Oxfordshire, UK

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 12:18 pm
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I'm really enjoying this JayB, thank you. I'm looking forward to seeing how Joey reacts and just what it is that Nancy has planned and so many other things!

#25: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 1:25 pm
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I'm glad Nancy and the staff are going to do the right thing. I feel sorry for Margot, but she can't go on like this with her temper now she's virtually grown up.

#26: Author: MaryR, Location: Cheshire

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 1:42 pm
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Riveting stuff, JayB. Thank you.

#27: Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 5:11 pm
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On leaving Miss Burnett, Margot had fled to a practice room which she knew would be empty at that hour. Miss Burnett’s words had stunned her. Not to be allowed to continue as Games Prefect? They wouldn’t – they couldn’t take it away from her, she thought wildly. She remembered how pleased and excited she had been when Auntie Hilda had told her the job was hers, just over two months ago. How would she face the other girls? Would they all know why she had been demoted? What about Mother and Dad? Mother knew how hard it had always been for Margot not to listen to her devil, but she would still be disappointed in her. ‘I do try,’ Margot thought, ‘But I really can’t help it, sometimes. Auntie Hilda would understand, if she was here. She’d know that I really am sorry Lesley was hurt.’
Eventually Margot had to leave her refuge. Prep was more than half over, and she still had to finish the anatomy notes for Miss Armitage that had been the cause of her bad temper in the first place. From the instant silence that fell when she entered the Prefects’ Room, she knew that she had been the subject of the conversation in the room.
‘Well?’ she said challengingly. ‘If you’ve got anything to say, you might as well say it to my face!’
‘Miss Burnett came to say Miss Wilmot wants to see you after Prayers tomorrow morning,’ said Ted Granetley, the Second Prefect.
‘It’ll be about what happened to Lesley. Joan’s just been telling us how Willy had her and the fifths in the study and grilled them about hockey practice,’ said Con. ‘You’ve really done it this time, haven’t you?’
‘I suppose you’ve been telling everyone about it?’ Margot flashed at Joan. ‘Sneak!’ Joan flinched.
‘She can’t be a sneak unless there’s something to sneak about,’ said Con. ‘Is there something?’
‘That’s enough,’ said Ted, before Margot could reply. ‘Now, if you’ve come in here to work, Margot, sit down and get on with it. Otherwise, leave us in peace.’
‘Mind your own business!’ Margot said furiously. ‘You’re a fine one to be telling me what to do, considering - ’
‘Margot, shut up!’ said Con. Margot was so surprised at hearing the normally quiet and dreamy Con speaking so sharply, she swung round to stare at her. ‘You really can be a pig sometimes,’ Con continued. ‘After all Mary Lou said to you that time!’ Margot flushed darkly, but she said no more. She seized her books and notes and stormed out of the room. She went to the library and found a quiet corner to work, but could not concentrate. The events of the day continually replayed in her head. Eventually, she gave up any attempt to work, resigning herself to some unpleasant comments from Miss Armitage the next day. If Willy really did take away her Games Prefectship, she thought, she wouldn’t care what Miss Armitage said anyway.
She got through Abendessen as well as she could. Those who sat near her had either heard the story of the hockey practice, or recognised the signs of Margot in a temper, and spoke to her no more than was necessary to ensure that dishes were passed along the table as required. Then came Prayers, and it has to be said Margot was not in a very prayerful mood. She repeated the words automatically, giving no thought to their meaning. Bedtime came at last, but Margot did not sleep well. It was with heavy eyes and a heavy heart that she carried out her tasks the next morning, while waiting until it was time to go to the study.

#28: Author: wheelchairprincess, Location: Oxfordshire, UK

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 5:49 pm
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I almost feel sorry for Margot reading that. But then the bit about how Hilda would understand made me grateful that she wasn't there and even more curious to see how Nancy will handle this. Thanks, JayB

#29: Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 5:56 pm
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Just one more very short bit before we get to the Big Scene.

Before Prayers, Len came to the study, anxious to intercede on Margot’s behalf. Nancy had been expecting this.
‘I’m glad to see you’re concerned about Margot – as I’m sure you would be about any girl who was in trouble.’ She paused a moment to be sure her point was made. ‘But Margot must learn to stand on her own two feet and take responsibility for her own actions.’
‘But I’m her sister. I should have realised she was upset about something, and done something to help.’
‘No, Len! The blame for this is Margot’s, and hers alone. There is absolutely no need for you to feel responsible in any way. I know you’re worried about Margot,’ she went on more gently, ‘but the School is your first responsibility, and that’s what you should be thinking about now. Can you do that?’
‘Yes, Miss Wilmot.’
‘Good. Now, I have to get ready for Prayers, and I’m sure there are things you should be doing. So off you go now. And remember – what has happened is not your fault!’
‘Poor Len,’ Nancy thought, when the door had closed behind the Head Girl. ‘She does seem to have been landed with a double dose of conscience. And being the eldest in such a long family hasn’t helped. I know Jo has always encouraged the older ones to take responsibility for the younger ones. But I will not have Len trying to shoulder the blame for Margot’s sins. I think it will do her all the good in the world to get away to university next year and have only herself to worry about.’

#30: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 6:12 pm
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Well done Nancy!

#31: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 6:17 pm
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Well I don't think that Hilda's approach has been success in this case - has it - Margot is obviously not that repentant - and seems to feel that, so long as she feels sorry for what she has done that she doesn't deserve any other consequence. As for her reaction to both Joan and Ted....

And this latest part - well done Nancy - and Len should know better than to try and intercede - Margot is the same age as her, she's responsible for her own actions.

Thanks JayB this is fascinating.

#32: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 6:35 pm
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Nancy seems to be coping well with this.

#33: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 8:04 pm
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Len really should learn to let people get on without her interference. Thank goodness Nancy sent her packing and didn't listen to Len making excuses for Margot. Margot really does need to take responsibility for her actions.

#34: Author: Sandra, Location: Oxfordshire

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 9:25 pm
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This is really fascinating. When you think of all the times that Margot lost her temper and was never really punished or helped to overcome it. Neither her parented or the staff treated her that well. Also, when you think of how Joan Baker, Yesult or even Jack was treated they seem to have let Margot get away with murder. Perhaps another advantage or being a Russell/Bettany/Maynard.

#35: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 11:03 pm
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This is fascinating. Margot seems never to have faced what might result from her lack of self-control in terms of how it could affect both herself and those around her.

Thanks JayB

#36: Author: Miranda, Location: Perth, Western Australia

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 11:30 pm
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It is really interesting to see how clearly Margot considers herself unable to accept responsibility for her actions. Here's to hoping Nancy can rectify that!!

Looking forward to the Big Scene Smile

Thanks JayB

#37: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 5:00 am
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Have just found this. What can I say? Thanks JayB this has been great. Am really curious about the big study scene. I had always thought if Margot knew that she was in the wrong why didn't she ever go to the girls and apologize. It would have made a huge difference

#38: Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:56 am
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This is wonderful JayB. It seems it is rather a good thing that Miss A was away if that is how they all view her - as someone who would let them off the hook as long as they say all the right things.

Interesting to see that both Len and Margot seem to have forgotten M-L's advice! Rolling Eyes

#39: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:13 am
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Thanks, JayB. It's high time Margot was made to face the consequences of her own actions.

#40: Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 6:04 pm
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Ruth B wrote:

It seems it is rather a good thing that Miss A was away if that is how they all view her - as someone who would let them off the hook as long as they say all the right things.

I don't think all the girls see Miss A as a soft touch, or that she's that easily taken in. It's just Margot, because she's so self centred, because she's never been made to suffer any lasting consequences for her actions, and because after all she knew Miss A as 'Auntie Hilda' before she knew her as 'The Abbess.' And I think Margot was genuinely repentant immediately after the Betty incident - she just didn't learn from it.

#41: Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 6:16 pm
—
After Prayers, Nancy waited in the study for Margot to come to her. She still wore her gown, feeling a need for the additional authority and confidence it gave her. This was the biggest thing she had had to tackle in the whole of her teaching career.
‘What I say to Margot now could make all the difference to her in the future. It could be the making of her – or it could send her off the rails completely!’ she thought. She heard a light tap on the door.
‘Come in, Margot. Sit down.’ Nancy indicated the upright chair she had placed ready in front of the desk. ‘Now, what have you to tell me about yesterday?’
‘I’m very sorry, Miss Wilmot. I never meant Lesley to be hurt.’
‘And yet she is hurt. Will you tell me what led up to it, please?’ Margot stumbled through an account of the practice.
‘The one thing in your favour is that you went voluntarily to Miss Burnett when you realised you were at fault. But you didn’t see it for yourself, Margot. You only realised it by accident, when you overheard a group of younger girls talking. Do you see how bad it is for the prefects to be talked about like that?’
‘Yes, Miss Wilmot. I-I didn’t think of that.’
‘That’s part of the problem, isn’t it, Margot? You never do think – at least, not about anyone except yourself.’
‘Oh, Miss Wilmot, that’s not fair!’
‘Isn’t it? Yesterday, you were annoyed because you couldn’t finish your work. Did you put that aside and run that practice to the best of your ability? Or did you take out your bad temper on the girls in your charge, with the results we’ve seen? Well?’ Nancy demanded a reply.
‘You’re right, Miss Wilmot. I didn’t think about what was best for the girls.’
‘And what will happen next time you’re annoyed or upset about something, and you have to take charge of a group of younger girls?’
‘I really will try, Miss Wilmot.’
‘I’m afraid trying isn’t good enough, Margot. You’ve promised to try before, and yet here we are again. This is what I and Miss Wilson have decided. You are no longer Games Prefect. And,’ Miss Wilmot continued, holding up her hand to silence Margot, who had begun to speak, ‘your prefectship is suspended until - ’
‘No, Miss Wilmot!’ Margot sprang to her feet. ‘No, please! I – I promise I’ll never lose my temper again, I won’t, I promise, but please don’t - ’
‘Sit down!’ said Miss Wilmot, putting every ounce of authority she possessed into her voice. She really feared Margot was going into hysterics, so white and wild-eyed was she. She went over to the side table and poured a glass of water from the carafe that stood there.
‘Drink this, Margot,’ she said, bringing the water over to the girl. When she thought Margot was capable of attending, she said, ‘Now, listen to me very carefully, Margot. Your prefectship is suspended until we see some clear evidence that you can control yourself. Promises will not do. It’s wrong of you to offer to make a promise you know you might not be able to keep, and it would be wrong of me to accept it. I’m not doing this as a punishment, although I expect it feels like that to you. I’m doing it because I don’t think you realise just how wrong your behaviour as a prefect has been.’
‘I know I have a fearful temper, Miss Wilmot,’ Margot said unsteadily. She was controlling herself with a great effort. She wanted to howl, but knew that would not help her. She had not known Miss Wilmot could be so stern.
‘It’s more than that,’ Miss Wilmot said. ‘You’ve only mentioned Lesley being hurt. What was your task, out there on the hockey field yesterday?’
‘To supervise the practice.’
‘Nothing else?’
‘I-I’m, sorry, Miss Wilmot. I don’t know what you mean.’
‘Wasn’t it also your job to coach them, to help them improve their game, and to encourage them to enjoy hockey?’
‘I was coaching them, Miss Wilmot. I pulled up Janet for tossing, and Evelyn for hooking.’
‘Both of which were accidental. How would you feel if you were pulled up for something that was an accident, and the mistress refused to believe that it was an accident?’ Since Miss Wilmot clearly required an answer, Margot replied,
‘I – I’d think it was unfair, Miss Wilmot.’
‘Exactly. So how do you think those girls felt yesterday? How many of them do you think enjoyed that practice and will be looking forward to the next one?’
‘But Evelyn’s never liked hockey anyway. She didn’t want to play, she was really lazy at first and I had to keep pushing her.’
‘Do you think she likes it any better now? Have you done anything to persuade her to play because she enjoys it, rather than because she must? Margot, do you know how often I or one of the other mistresses have overheard girls coming away from a practice session with you at tennis or hockey, talking about how cross you were, or how scathing you were about their play, or how they couldn’t do anything right for you?’
‘But it’s my job to coach them, Miss Wilmot. You just said so.’
‘Coach them, yes. Bully them, no.’
‘Bully them? I –I don’t, Miss Wilmot!’
‘Don’t you? Just take a moment, Margot, and think back over yesterday afternoon.’ Miss Wilmot sat back in her chair and waited. Margot sat with her eyes cast down, biting her lip. At last she raised her head and said,
‘I – I was unkind, especially to Evelyn. I didn’t realise – I never thought of it as bullying.’
‘Exactly. And that’s why we can’t let you continue as Games Prefect, or as a prefect at all. Not until you’ve shown us that you are fit to hold a position of responsibility.’
‘Wh –when will the school know about it?’
‘I shall make an announcement at the end of Mittagessen today.’
‘Can – may I still use the Prefects’ Room?’
‘You will no longer have the duties and responsibilities of a prefect, Margot. You can hardly expect to continue enjoying the privileges.’
‘Will I be Games Prefect again, if – if I can show you that I can control my temper?’
‘Do you think that would be fair to whoever is appointed in your place?’
‘No, Miss Wilmot, it wouldn’t be fair,’ Margot replied, in a very low voice. Miss Wilmot leaned forward, clasping her hands before her on her desk.
‘Margot, you’ve talked only about how this affects you. Can’t you put your pride aside for a moment and see how this affects everyone else?’ Margot flushed at Miss Wilmot’s reference to her pride. ‘Lesley has a painful injury. Evelyn is upset and worried about her friend, when she was already worried about her mother. Len is worried about you. The other prefects will have to work hard to regain the trust and respect you’ve lost, as well as giving up their time to cover your duties. I want you to spend some time thinking about all those people, and about how your actions have affected them. Now, that’s all I have to say to you. If you want to, you can come back and speak to me again when you’re feeling calmer and have had time to think things over.’ She glanced at the clock. ‘You have time to go to the last part of Miss Armitage’s lesson, and get your prep. She knows you’ve been with me, so she’ll excuse your lateness.’ Margot had intended to run and hide in the trunk room, or some other place she could be sure of being undisturbed.
‘Oh, must I go into school today, Miss Wilmot?’
‘I didn’t think you were a coward, Margot,’ said Miss Wilmot, adding more gently, ‘You will have to face the other girls sooner or later. It’s best to get it over with.’ She paused, then went on. ‘You’ve had a very easy time here at school in many ways, Margot. You’re pretty, clever, good at games, and you have the added glamour of being Madame’s niece and Josephine M. Bettany’s daughter. This is the first really hard thing you’ve had to do. And it’s how we tackle the hard things in life that determine what sort of people we are.’
‘Oh, it hasn’t always been easy for me, Miss Wilmot. My devil - ’
‘Nonsense. Other girls have faults they struggle against. Many have suffered bereavement, or have the worry of relations at the San. Many girls don’t have the advantage of a big, loving family, as you do. And to be blaming ‘your devil’ for your faults at your age is ridiculous. I’ve never heard any other girl make excuses for her behaviour in the way that you do. You’re eighteen, Margot. One of the oldest girls in the school. During the War, girls not much older than you are now were doing vital work in the Services. It’s more than time you grew up and stopped acting and thinking like a baby. Now go, and remember to think about everything I’ve said.
When the door closed behind Margot, Nancy leaned back in her chair and let out a ‘whoosh’ of relief. It was done. She was surprised to find herself feeling quite shaky. ‘Was I too hard on her?’ she thought. ‘I hope not. I think she needed a real shock, to pull her up and make her take a good look at herself, before it’s too late.’ It would be a hard lesson for Margot, but one she needed to learn. It was up to her now. Could she learn from this experience to control her temper, put others first, and grow into the fine, strong woman they all knew she could be? Only time would tell.

I know there's a lot more mileage in this story, but that's all I intend to write for now. Inspiration has dried up and I want to get back to Con. I may revisit this in the future if I feel inspired again, but in the meantime anyone else is welcome to take it up and run with it.

#42: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 7:47 pm
—
Thank you Jay that was excellent - and I've had a few stray bunnies appear about the aftermath - am trying to send them to someone else at the moment. Laughing

#43: Author: Tan, Location: London via Newcastle Australia

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 7:49 pm
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This is very good - it might have made a world of difference to Margot if Nancy had treated her this way.

#44: Author: wheelchairprincess, Location: Oxfordshire, UK

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 7:50 pm
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Brilliant JayB! I would be interested to see what happened next if you did feel like coming back to it at some point but thank you for writing all you have done and giving us such a gripping read. I have a few bunnies but no time at the moment (maybe at the weekend?)

#45: Author: leahbelle, Location: Kilmarnock

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 8:18 pm
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That was a much better for Margot to be handled. Now she will really have to sit up and take notice of her behaviour.

#46: Author: Elle, Location: Peterborough

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:40 pm
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Excellent! Thank you, I enjoyed this.

#47: Author: Fiona Mc, Location: Bendigo, Australia

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 10:32 pm
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That was great, thanks JayB. I would love to see the other girls reaction and Miss Annersley's reaction. I can picture the girls relief at not having Margot coach them any more but I can't see how Miss Annersley would respond to it and whether or not she would agree to it. It's funny but I always thought Ruey should have been Games Prefect not Margot.

#48: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 10:56 pm
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Thanks Jay. I always wished someone'd say something like that to Margot!

#49: Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:13 pm
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Thank you JayB; that was fascinating. Nancy handled that so well, making Margot see the ramifications of her behaviour, and that she must take responsibility for it. And that was a nice point about girls of Margot's age being in the services during the war, with all that that involved.

#50: Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:40 pm
—

Fiona Mc wrote:

It's funny but I always thought Ruey should have been Games Prefect not Margot.

It would have made more sense, since Ruey was actually going in for games. I imagined Ruey would take over when Margot was booted, but on re-reading that passage from Challenge, I saw that Primrose Trevoase was actually Second Games Pree. Since she was one of the Dawbarns' gang, like them she shouldn't still have been at school.

Cath V-P wrote:

that was a nice point about girls of Margot's age being in the services during the war, with all that that involved.

EBD would probably have said that girls of Margot's age might be married with babies, but Nancy was in the WRNS, if I recall correctly, so I thought she'd look at it from that viewpoint.

#51: Author: Pado, Location: Connecticut, USA

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:56 pm
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This is really good - thanks!

Now that Nancy has done the deed, I find myself sympathetic with Margot in a way I wasn't before...does this mean I'm an enabler? Embarassed

#52: Author: Dansmum, Location: Australia

Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 3:56 am
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Well, that was a much better ending to the story than EBD wrote. I have always felt it was incredibly unfair how much Margot got away with. I just wish we'd seen Joey's reaction to her daughter's demotion :)

#53: Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar

Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 6:30 am
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That was excellent, thank you JayB. Nancy was brilliant there, and she said everything that needed to be said to Margot. How true it all was, especially about blaming her devil being ridiculous at that age. I'd love to see what happened after that and whether she was able to get herself together and regain her prefectship.

*feeds any bunnies lurking around*

#54: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 8:17 am
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Pado wrote:

Now that Nancy has done the deed, I find myself sympathetic with Margot in a way I wasn't before...does this mean I'm an enabler? Embarassed

I feel very sympathetic towards her too. The staff knew she had these faults that Nancy said made her unacceptable for prefectship, but still put her in that position. I also think the school and her parents both have some resposibility for the way she's turned out so far. While she's 'bad' it's all her own fault, as soon as she reforms it'll be 'another success for the school' rather than credit to her!

#55: Author: Woofter,

Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:02 am
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Excellent Jay! Thank you.

#56: Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 10:57 am
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Thanks for the comments, everyone.

I do think Nancy was a bit hard on Margot, especially towards the end of that interview, but she thought she wasn't getting through to Margot, who could only see events for how they affected her. Nancy was aware that there wasn't much time left for the school to have any influence on the way Margot turns out as an adult.

I think Nancy perhaps was a better person than Hilda to handle this particular affair. She's more detached. She was only at the CS for a year or so, and wasn't there when Jo was a pupil. Then she went away and served in the WRNS, where she probably had to deal with far more serious stuff than schoolgirl misdemeanours. Then she taught elsewhere for two years before coming back to the school. The school hasn't been her whole life. She didn't actually know Jo all that well before coming to the Platz, and she's only known Margot as a pupil.

#57: Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England

Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 1:07 pm
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That was wonderfuk, well done to you and to your Nancy.

#58: Author: Tara, Location: Malvern, Worcestershire

Posted: Wed Jan 03, 2007 11:49 pm
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Excellent, JayB, thank you.

I don't think Nancy was too hard on Margot at all, it's time someone took her and her behaviour seriously and made her face the consequences of it. I can't blame Hilda, she was only doing what EBD told her to, but this was certainly much more convincing and would, I'm sure, have been more effective.

I'd love to hear more, as well.

#59: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 5:27 am
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Tara wrote:

I can't blame Hilda, she was only doing what EBD told her to,

I absolutely love that line! Laughing

#60: Author: Caroline, Location: Manchester

Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 8:23 am
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Fiona Mc wrote:

It's funny but I always thought Ruey should have been Games Prefect not Margot.

I'm pretty sure Ruey would have been Games Prefect in the next school year - she's, what, a year younger than the Triplets, and only in the Lower Sixth in Challenge to Prefects, I think?

I do agree that Margot was a slightly strange choice. I don't remember her ever showing huge interest in Games, and she certainly isn't cut out to be a teacher. She's rather from the Grizel Cochrane school of Games Prefects...

Mind you, both Grizel and Margot seem pretty typical of the Games Mistresses I had at school - rather scary and only really interested in the girls that were good at Games.

#61: Author: Clare, Location: Liverpool

Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 12:13 pm
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I don't think Nancy was too hard on her. She needed to be relentless and force Margot to see the wider picture. (Been there, done that and had a year 7 pupil sobbing after 10 minutes).

Brilliant JayB, thank you!

#62: Author: Woofter,

Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 1:16 pm
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I don't think Nancy was to harsh either. She needed to get across to Margot the seriousness of what she had done wrong, after all a prefectship was a position of responsibility and she was meant to set an example, to the younger girls. I understand it would be hard for Margot, but really it was what she deserved. I think someone had to get through to her how wrong her attitude was.

#63: Author: Lyanne, Location: Ipswich, England

Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 10:59 pm
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Thank you JayB, that was very convincing and satisfying. Very glad Nancy didn't get Jo/Jack over!

#64: Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 1:57 pm
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Nancy was very right to make Margot think about what she was doing. Remember, Margot was supposed to be going to Edinburgh to read Medicine. Would you want a doctor who lost her temper in that way and then blamed any failures on her Devil?

The CBB -> St Agnes' House

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