Clem and Tony - Finding their Feet (updated 14/4 on p2)
The CBB -> Starting again at Sarres...
#1: Clem and Tony - Finding their Feet (updated 14/4 on p2) Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:42 pm

For some inexplicable reason part two of Clem and Tony appears to have vanished from the archives. I have thus renamed it as Clem and Tony - Finding their feet, and posting it here in large chunks so it can be archived at some point. If anyone wants part one emailed pm me!

There are fifteen chapters in fifteen posts all on page one! I would like to start the next chapter (previously unposted) on page two - so I need a few comments to push it onto page two! (Not at all addicted to comments!!!)
Twisted Evil Twisted Evil Twisted Evil
HannahX *confuddled*

Chapter One

The car approached the heavy iron gates and Clem's heart was jumping inside her chest. She was both scared and excited and arriving at dusk made her arrival seem all the more thrilling. The car slowed to go through the gates and she could see the long avenue stretching out in front of them. They drove through a second set of gates and she could see the great mansion at the end. The car stopped at the end of the driveway and her parents began to ascend the semi-circular steps that led to a terrace around the house. Clem stopped and looked up at the imposing building. Her heart was full of joy as she quickly caught her parents up and they knocked at the sturdy front door.

A pretty young maid opened the door and took their coats, curtseying as she showed them into a spacious hall, which had statues here and there, and plants and bowls of flowers set on the tables and window-sill. She hung up their coats before showing them to the study.

Clem’s gaze fell upon a handsome oak staircase which ran up to a large stain glass window on the floor above. She was mesmerised by the magnificence of this and did not notice the tall, elegant lady dressed in cornflower blue until she spoke. Her voice was deep and resonant, and her eyes welcomed Clem.
“How lovely to meet you” said the lady. “Mr and Mrs Barras I presume?”

Jennifer smiled, reassured that her daughter would be in safe hands at this school. Miss Annersley had been charming, and even Miles had not had any arguments to make, which was more than unusual. Miss Annersley's attention turned to Clem, while her parents drank the tea that Gwladys the maid, had brought for them.
“Now Clemency...” Clem grimaced at the full use of her name. “Would you prefer to be called Clem?” asked the headmistress gently.
Clem nodded.
“We have put you in a small dormitory on the second floor. You will be sharing with one other girl and she will be returning to school tomorrow. Her name is Mary - Lou...”
At this name, Clem’s face became one of joy.
“Not Mary - Lou Trelawney” she said.
“Yes” replied Miss Annersley. “I thought you would be pleased with that arrangement.”

Clem’s smile told the headmistress all that she needed to know and she was soon sent up to the first floor to meet Matron. Clem soon realised that this lady demanded, and usually received unquestioning obedience. She made quick work of unpacking her case and putting her belongings away. She hung her coat on the hook in the cupboard and placed her hat on the shelf above. Rushing to be back downstairs, Clem splashed her face and hastily replaited her hair. When complete, she returned to the entrance hall to say goodbye to her parents.

There was little emotion in the goodbye. The Barras” were not given to such displays and Clem was frankly too excited by this new adventure. After a brief farewell her parents departed. She turned away from the doorway, unsure of what she should do with herself.

Tony stared out of his dormitory window. He shared this room with another seven boys of his age or thereabouts. His first night had been coloured by dreadful homesickness. He missed the freedom of the beach and the love and protection of his sister. But the next day he began to settle in finding some new chums in Edward, the son of a government minister, known as Ted and Charles, the intelligent youngest of four children from a farm in Cornwall. Charles, or Charlie as he was known, had come to Craven House on a scholarship and
was keen to make his parents proud. Ted’s attitude was the opposite; he intended to have fun foremost and not let school get in his way. Despite their differing attitudes the three boys found they had plenty in common and had so far got on famously.

Clem had been in the car when her parents had dropped off Tony at Craven House. She thought that his school looked most austere and imposing, not like the Chalet School looked in the prospectus.

Within moments of the Barras” arrival at the school, Tony was directed to a small group of boys about his age, and was soon taken off by the housemaster Mr Phillips, a young pleasant looking man, with a neat blonde moustache. The principal, Dr Slater, was greeting parents briefly, quickly urging them to be on their way, so as to let the boys settle in. Jennifer and Miles took their turn to shake hands and exchange pleasantries, but Clem hung back, overcome with shyness. I hope my school isn’t like this she thought. Dr Slater looks really strict; I don’t think I’ve seen him smile at all yet.

Once dismissed, the Barras” returned to their car and began the long drive home. Clem stared absently out of the window and imagined herself at school with Tony. She was really going to miss her brother for all his sins. The family reached their house in time for a small meal before Clem was ushered off to bed.

Last edited by aitchemelle on Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:39 pm; edited 5 times in total

 

#2:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:45 pm

Chapter Two

Since the Salad Dressing incident Jennifer and Miles had paid their children far more attention. Clem loved the attention for the first week. Her father had gone down to London to appoint a solicitor and seek advice about suitable schools for his offspring. Jennifer had put aside her latest piece to devote some time to the children. The day after Miles had left, Clem woke to the smell of bacon frying, and upon arrival in the kitchen, and the sight of bacon and eggs greeted her.

“Can you call Tony?” asked Jennifer. Clem was too surprised to say anything but shouted up to her brother, who came scampering downstairs, shirt buttoned wrongly, but otherwise fairly presentable. Jennifer had begun to see the children to bed, which meant that Tony’s clothes got hung up and his hair got a good stern brush. The downside of Jennifer’s attention, as far as Tony was concerned, was that she started checking on the cleanliness of ears, necks and face and attacking them herself where necessary.

The two children tucked into the food and within minutes their plates were clean.
“Thank you Mum” said Tony getting up to clear the table.
“What would you two like to do today?” Jennifer smiled and sat at the table. Clem thought for a moment before she spoke.
“Are you coming with us?” asked Tony, excitedly, it was such a rare occurrence that either parent would want to do something with them, he could not wait!

The trio decided on a day by the beach. They arrived early and found a nice sheltered spot. Jennifer set up the chairs while Clem chased Tony around. They swam together and made a fortress out of sand. Their fun was added to when the Jameson family arrived in time for lunch. Rose and Jennifer got on famously, despite Rose’s initial reluctance and the children relished another opportunity to play together. Jennifer surprised herself, by having fun with her children, rather than seeing them as noisy and disruptive.

The fun continued for the rest of the week and Jennifer felt pleased that she’d got to know her children once more. She had missed out on so much, how clever Clem was, how funny Tony could be and she half wished that she had not demanded they be sent away.

The day before Miles were due back, Jennifer shyly invited the Jameson’s over for the afternoon. The children played a riotous game of hide and seek whilst the grown ups sipped at lemonade in the shade of a large tree.
“Has Miles found a school for the children?” asked Dennis.
“He hasn’t been in touch” sighed Jennifer. “I’m sure he has though. My husband usually gets what he wants.”
Rose nodded politely, thinking about her impressions of Miles.

Miles arrived back the next day, brimming with excitement for the plans he’d made. He had managed to enrol Tony at a prep school on the Lancashire moors. He’ll be safe there Miles had thought he won’t be able to get into any mischief.

His daughter had posed more of a problem as few schools wanted to take her once term had started. He had set his heart on sending her to the Chalet School. He knew of it by reputation and after looking through several prospectuses in the office of his newly appointed solicitor, he had decided that Clem would have to go there. Money was no object to the artist but the school were not so welcoming. Miles” awareness of the real world was limited and he had not realised that school would be about to start. He had not been able to meet with Miss Annersley in London, and had arranged to meet her in Armiford, near the Chalet School’s home.

His attitude did not allow refusal from the Chalet School. For Miles, money was no object and he expected few difficulties in enrolling Clem into the school. Hilda Annersley had taken a table at the teashop next to the station and was sipping thoughtfully at a cup of tea when Miles walked in. His immediate impression betrayed his detachment from the real world, as his clothes were faded and outdated. Despite his capital, clothes were a mere functionality. He sat opposite the lady and ordered his tea. They exchanged pleasantries and Hilda asked after the journey from London. Miles could not cope well with small talk and was eager to get to the point.
"I’m sending my daughter to you. Teach her what you like, and keep her in order, and send me the bills. When can you have her?"
Hilda had a twinkle in her eye. She was not shocked by this man’s demeanour, his reputation went before him.
“I’m afraid it will be impossible to receive Clemency this academic year” she said simple. “The school is full up.”
Miles looked surprised. He had not anticipated a problem to his request.
“I understand that she’s a little late in starting” he continued, “but I can pay the full fees for the term.”
Hilda shook her head, “You do not seem to understand” she explained. “We have no spaces except at the very top of the school.”
Miles continued to argue with Hilda and she responded with yet more obstacles to his plan. She knew that they could possibly squeeze the girl in, yet did not want this man to think that the school would acquiesce to his requests so easily.

Miles began to feel a little desperate. His charm had not worked, neither had a financial incentive. The last resort would be simply begging this lady for a place for his daughter.

Miles looked at the clock on the wall of the teashop and realised he had missed his train. This added yet more to his desperation, until finally Hilda, having strung out her decision as long as possible, and with a secret smile upon her lips answered
“Yes”.

Miles was jubilant and thanked the headmistress gratefully as he handed her a cheque for the first terms fees. Hilda departed towards her little car and the school and Miles set to find himself a room in the local pub for the night. He wanted to return to Scotland quickly to share all this good news with his wife and children.

On the way home, Miles stopped off in the highlands to attend to another bit of business. He was embarrassed over the Henry Talbot incident and for once thought that perhaps he was at fault a little. Sir Phillip’s poorly disguised comments about the way his children were managed had hit home and Miles thought that a new start in a new place would help restore order to the family. He had secured a house on the Island of Inch Carrow, a small island with magnificent views and bird life. He planned to move the household there before the children started school so that they were settled.

When Miles arrived home, he found his children playing catch in the garden whilst his wife and Rose sat under the large apple tree with a jug of iced tea. He smiled to himself to see the idyllic scene, before joining the pair.
“Miles! You didn’t say you’d be back today” exclaimed Jennifer. “Why didn’t you telephone?”
Miles looked a little confused. He simply had not thought to forewarn his wife about his homecoming.
“Was the journey pleasant?” enquired Rose, after a moments pause.
“Pleasant enough.” Miles sighed. “I have accomplished all I set out to and more besides” he finished triumphantly.
Jennifer looked quizzically at her husband. She did not like the sound of the extra accomplishments made by her husband. She knew his unpredictable nature well enough by now and looked concernedly at him for some enlightenment.
Rose, a sensitive lady, picked up on this look and began to gather her belongings together.

“Thank you for the iced tea Jennifer. It has been simply marvellous” said Rose, rising from her chair. “Come on children” she called.
Jennifer smiled gratefully. She was really beginning to enjoy the company of this other lady and looked forward to the furthering of their acquaintance. It was nice to have this break from her painting and spend more time with the children. She had never known what joy it could be. Having Rose around, allowed her a certain amount of adult conversation which she found both stimulating and interesting. Nevertheless she knew that this conversation with her husband could not wait, so bid a polite goodbye to her friend.

Clem and Tony continued their game of catch while the grownups talked. Jennifer thought that her husbands decisions about the children’s schooling, were unlikely to be welcomed by their children and had decided it to be wiser to hear him out first. Little did she know that Clem, at any rate, desperately wanted to go to school. She wanted to learn and be with other girls of her age, not be cooking and cleaning for the household again, once her mothers” guilty conscience faded.

Miles explained the arrangements for Tony and Clem’s schooling to his wife. They sounded most agreeable to her, especially the location of Tony’s school. He would be hard pushed to get into trouble there. Wouldn’t he?

Jennifer waited for the news that she was dreading, wondering what her husband had decided now. He could tell by the look in her eyes that he had to just tell her about the move.
“I have secured us a house” he said, rather abruptly.
“A house?” she asked. “But we have a perfectly adequate house here!”
“Yes, yes but it’s not as convenient any more.”
Jennifer raised her eyebrows at her husband. He was very competent at skirting around his wife’s questioning, less efficient at telling her the truth and getting to the point.
“I have decided...” he started again. “The erm... Henry incident, rather embarrassing, people talking. No more commissions from that source, therefore……..we need to move.” He let out a large breath as if he had been holding it throughout the long drawn out sentence. Jennifer waited for a clarifying sentence but none came.

“We are moving to Inch Carrow in a fortnight. It is an island. About twenty miles away from here. Lovely views. Excellent bird life, I am led to believe.” He looked at his wife, then registering the expression as one that required yet more information, he continued.
“It’s quite a small place, with enormous cliffs, covered with seabirds at nesting-time, they say. Thousands of gulls. We have a little stone house down in a hollow with a garden round it. It looks to the west, and I cannot wait to start painting there. The chap who owns the place says it can be a little cut off in winter, but it’s simply stunning in the summer months. A real paradise.”

Jennifer looked at her husband incredulously. I struggle to believe he has made this decision without consulting me. I had just begun to make friends here and now that’s going to be taken away from me. She sat in silence.
Miles looked at his wife, expectantly. He imagined her to be too overcome with gratitude to speak, but after three minutes had passed in this way he was worried.
“Well dear?” he asked. “Is it not a wonderful plan?”
Jennifer cleared her throat, not trusting herself to speak for a moment. She knew that it would be futile to raise any objection. Miles was not a man who could be disagreed with unless you wanted a fight on your hands. She sighed and said
“I suppose it will be wonderful darling. I had thought we might stay here a little longer.”
“Excellent” said Miles. “I guess we are all in agreement now” he finished, callously ignoring his wife’s comment, choosing to only hear what he wanted to. “Let us call the children over and tell them.”

Jennifer nodded. An almost automatic response for a moment when she was only just about managing to compose herself. I don’t want to go, she thought despairingly. It won’t be too bad with the children there but it will seem ever so lonely once they are at school.

 

#3:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:47 pm

Chapter Three

Clem and Tony bounded over in response to their fathers shout. Usually his demands meant that they were in trouble but this time it seemed as though he was smiling. They sat down on the grass next to their parents and looked at their father expectantly.
“Right, well er I have something to tell you,” he began. “Your mother and I have made arrangements for you both to start school at half term.” He looked at his offspring waiting for their reaction. Jennifer felt it necessary to add more clarity and explanation to her husbands’ comments and set about explaining the arrangements to the children. By the end of it all, (Miles having gotten bored discussing the detail, had gone back to his studio tcatch up on the missed days” painting), the children were feeling a little bemused by the whole situation.

Clem’s reaction to the news was one of happiness and joy. She simply could not believe her luck. She was going to The Chalet School. The pictures in the prospectus showed girls having marvellous fun – playing tennis, going for walks, dancing, learning. Her heart soared and she felt like three birthdays and six Christmases had all come together.

Tony on the other hand was less than impressed. He did not want to go to some stupid school with lots of other stupid boys. He wanted to be at school with Clem. The moors sounded boring anyway, no chance for having any fun at all. Not only were they to be separated at school, but there schools would be miles away from each other. The household would be moving somewhere new, which sounded exciting and jolly interesting, but they would not have much time to explore the new place before they were “shipped off to school” as Clem put it. The boy sat on the grass with a mutinous expression on his face.


The children went to bed that night in very different moods. Clem slept well, dreaming delightful adventures in her new school. Tony tossed and turned, lying awake for the better part of the night while imagining the horrors that these changes could bring. As a consequence, Clem was up bright and early, down in the kitchen beginning breakfast before any of the household were there to join her.
She made herself a cup of tea and tiptoed into the garden. It was another beautiful sunny day and the garden looked quite super. It will be sad to leave here. The beach is jolly good fun, but I’m sure we can find lots of fun in our new place. Dad says it’s an island. Maybe we can get a boat and go sailing! Clem sat on a warm seat and planned out possible expeditions for her and Tony.

Jennifer appeared in the kitchen and smiled when she saw her daughter sitting out in the garden. She was not one to call the girl to order for being outside in only her nightdress and slippers, and quickly made a cup of tea to join her eldest child.
The pair sat in companionable silence, enjoying the scenery for one of the last times.
“Are you looking forward to moving Clem?” asked Jennifer tentatively.
“Oh rather!” she replied, and began to tell her mother all about her plans for their grand adventures. Jennifer found herself joining in with the excitement and the pair soon had plenty of grand schemes. They may not come to fruition, but it’s nice to look forward to things instead of getting cross! thought Clem.

Tony, however, was in his room feeling as if the whole world were against him. He kicked moodily at his bed frame, annoyed that his sister and mother were outside being happy. They had not taken the time to think about him and how he felt. He heard the tinkle of his sisters” laughter from the open window and scowled once again. Why was she so happy? He didn’t understand how Clem would not care about leaving this house and going away to school with a bunch of horrid girls. He stomped down the stairs; the call of his stomach was far stronger than his desire to be alone.
As he walked into the kitchen he was greeted by a warm embrace from his sister.
“I was just coming to wake you up, sleepy head!” she laughed. “Would you like poached eggs?” she smiled.
“Yes please” replied her brother. His bad mood was slowly sneaking away. He might have to go away to this horrid school but his big sister did love him and she was making one of his favorites for breakfast.

Jennifer breezed into the kitchen, tea cups in hand.
“Hello darling” she said. “I’m glad you are awake now. Clem and I think we should make a journey into Heaton this morning. We need to get started on the packing very soon and there are a few things I need first. We can have a picnic by the river and maybe a visit to the zoo in the afternoon?”
Tony smiled. The zoo was a great place to visit and would more than make up for being dragged around boring old shops!

The three Barras’s got the bus to Heaton and had a marvelous time. The zoo was terrific and even the shopping was not too dreadful in Tony’s opinion. Jennifer found a splendid shop which sold carved wooden animals and Tony was most impressed by a set of elephants – a mum, dad and two babies. Jennifer organised the delivery of the packing cases so that they could make a prompt start.

 

#4:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:50 pm

Chapter Four
Over the next two weeks the two children spent hours helping their mother to pack up the contents of the house. They found many lost treasures, which was surprising, considering their rather short stay. Two days before the move, they were all but finished. The removal van would come to collect the cases on the next day, which was Friday. Miles had borrowed a car to take their suitcases and them to the docks. The usual boats which crossed the narrow stretch of water would have had to make numerous journeys to transfer their paraphernalia, so Miles had called in a few favours to charter a larger boat.

By the Saturday afternoon the Barras’s and all their belongings were safely in the house on Inch Carrow. It was now only 3 weeks until the children would be starting school, and Jennifer felt very tempted by the thought of leaving the unpacking until after the children had gone.
The lack of space in the house soon made her feel otherwise and the whole family spent the first week getting the house bearably straight.

Next came the lists from both schools and Jennifer sighed deeply as she realised that a trip to the mainland would be unavoidable. The list of clothing and equipment looked equally long for both children and a trip to the nearest town was soon formulated. Uniform for both was ordered and expected to be ready for the week before the pair were due to go to school. By the time it was ready the pair had begun to feel settled on their island.

They knew everyone on the island, from the minister of the tiny church to the smallest child belonging to one of the fishermen and his wife. They had made a thorough exploration in the days that followed their removal, and soon located the best place for a picnic, smashing rock pools to explore and jolly exciting looking caves. The boat question had been answered by the minister. He had a small, leaking rowing boat which he allowed the pair to use, on the condition that they stayed within the ring of rocks which made a natural sort of harbour, quite safe from the strong, fierce seas and shallow enough to swim to shore if they fell in.

The days passed quickly and even the day spent on the mainland being fitted for uniform, whilst dull and long, did not spoil their fun too much. Their parents had soon slipped back into their usual ways, finding the beauty of the island far too enthralling for their canvases to ignore. It became clear to Clem that her mother would need reminding that they would have to be taken to school. As fearless and bold as the girl was, escorting a small boy to school before starting boarding school yourself for the very first time, was not something she wanted to entertain.

Jennifer made plans to make the crossing alone, with the minister to act as ferry master of course. He had a strong sturdy craft and was happy to take the Barras children as long as they gave him their word of honour to do as they were told. This was clearly more of a problem for Tony who was prone to over excitement and jumping up and down in boats, but in the event the whole Barras family made the crossing, allowing maximum supervision of the small boy.

Clem remembered the long drive through Scotland and England with fondness. Although boring at times, it was interesting to see the Autumnal scenes unfold as they traveled south. This thought occurred to her as she said goodbye to her parents on the steps of the Chalet School. As she waved them off she realized that they would be making that long but colourful journey back to their island, and for a moment she was sad.

Her moping was interrupted by a smiling face. A pretty lady had come to join her in the hallway.
“Hello, I’m Miss Linton,” said the lady. “Miss Annersley has asked me to make sure you have some food and then a nice hot bath and an early night. The rest of the school will be back tomorrow so you’ll want to be nicely rested before the hordes return!”
Clem looked in surprise at Miss Linton. She thought her far too jolly and attractive to be a mistress.
The pair walked into a large dining room which looked altogether too large for them to eat in. Miss Linton had a quiet word with one of the maids and then quickly drew Clem off to a smaller room.
“Dinner isn’t quite ready yet” she explained. “I thought we could sit in here, it’s jolly cosy!”
Clem smiled. They were in a small library with grand bookcases lining every wall. A flickering fire burnt in the grate, even though it was only October there was still a chill to the air.
“Are you looking forward to starting school?” asked the mistress.
“Yes” said Clem eagerly. “It was sad to say goodbye to the house, we live on an island you see and oh it’s all so beautiful” she gushed. “My brother’s been sent to school too. He is awfully cheeky and rags my parents something rotten. His last escapade was the final straw” she giggled.
“Why? What did he do?” asked Miss Linton who was not at all elderly as to disapprove.
Clem was beginning to get the giggles. “He made dad put custard on his salad!” she finished, giggling into a handkerchief.

Miss Linton stifled a giggle and grinned at Clem. At that moment a pretty young maid came in to inform the pair that their dinner would be served shortly.
The pair made a good meal of vegetable stew with rich dumplings, and a jam tart with custard for afters”. The sight of custard set Clem off with the giggles, and it was not until the maid came to tell them that Miss Annersley wanted to see her, that she got herself fully under control. Miss Linton took her to the library and Clem nervously knocked before entering.

“Come in” called the lady. “Thank you for returning to me Clem” smiled the headmistress. “Sit down dear and try not to look quite so petrified!”
Clem sat opposite Miss Annersley and observed cautiously her exam papers which were sat in front of her. She knew that the results would not be up to much. Having had very little schooling in her life had not helped her academic progress, despite being a bright and capable girl. They had intended to attend lessons with the minister on Inch Carrow, but these were delivered solely in Gaelic, and it was decided that they had little worth for the two children.
“We have looked at the tests you did for us,” said Miss Annersley with a reassuring smile. Your father said that you might not be quite as advanced in your studies as the other children but we feel that the form we have put you in will challenge you sufficiently,” she finished with a twinkle in her eye. The tests showed how bright this young lady really was and the decision had been made to put Clem with other girls of her age and hope she would catch up quickly.
“We have decided you will be in the Upper Third, A division.” said the headmistress, relieving Clam’s anxiety as quickly as possible. You will of course need extra help with French and German, as I understand you know very little.”
Clem looked downcast and stared at the floor, embarrassed.
“Please do not worry my dear;” said the Headmistress kindly, “We are confident that you will be able to rejoin the others for languages in a short while.”

Moments later, Clem found herself outside the library, taking deep breaths. Phew, I’m glad that’s over, she thought.
The tap-tap of Miss Linton’s shoes came to Clem’s hearing and she was soon whisked off to her small, two person bedroom and quickly and thankfully went to sleep.

 

#5:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:53 pm

Chapter Five

Tony crept down the corridor. He peered out into the hallway before
scuttling into the Green dormy bathroom. He was closely followed by two equally small boys, both stifling giggles.
"Quiet you two!" he hushed. This made Charlie chuckle more extremely.
Ted tried to swallow his laughter and looked at Tony sedately.
"Where is it then?" Ted asked.
Charlie dug deep in the pockets of his dressing gown and brought out a
small sachet. Ted, not the most organised of chaps, was fairly prone to losing the most essential items and had therefore given this prize
to Charlie for safekeeping.
Tony grabbed at the sachet and begun to sprinkle the crystals into the four sturdy bath tubs that were housed there.
"Are you sure it’ll work?" he asked. "We’ll look like awful duds if nothing happens!"
Ted smiled complacently. "My brother said it was simply stunning when
they did it. Bubbles all over the bathroom floor."
"I say" began Charlie. "Who are the first bathers tomorrow? I rather
hope its Smyth. He chucked my geom. book across the room yesterday
and didn’t McCarthy yell!"
Ted darted to look at the list on the wall.
"It’s Altringham and Jacobs of course, Ford and… oh yes, Smyth too."
"They will be hopping mad" said Tony, looking thoughtful.
“You’re not wimping out on us are you, old fellow?" asked Ted.
"Please don’t" pleaded Charlie.
"Of course I won’t" agreed Tony, remembering how stuck up Altringham and Jacobs both were. Giving themselves airs and graces because their fathers were both masters at the school. They deserved to be taken down a peg or two!
Clem woke early and stared around the room. For a moment she was surprised and wondered where she was. Then she remembered I’m at the Chalet School she thought with glee. I wonder how Tony is.

Tony was stifling a giggle while he ate his breakfast. The prank had worked beautifully and each time he thought of it, he started laughing to himself. Charlie gave him an icy glare and he was instantly silenced. Letting on to Jenkins, their table pree, would probably give them away.

********

As the rising bell had pealed, Tony slowly woke up. For a moment he lay still, looking at the patterns of sunlight on his cubey curtains. Then the memory of the night before came to him and he leapt out of bed.
He padded along to the bathroom, washbag in hand. He was one of the second bathers of the morning, which gave him a legitimate excuse to be hovering nearby.
As he turned into the bathroom corridor, he could hear squeals and yells of surprise. He began to get the giggles, but quickly controlled himself. It simply wouldn’t do to give the game away now.
Suddenly Jacobs came sprinting past him,
“The bathroom’s come alive” he screeched. “I’m going to find Matey!”
When Tony got to the bathroom he saw mountains of foamy water piling out of the door. It had started to creep onto the corridor carpet and Tony began to feel alarmed.
“That silly dolt Jacobs has scarpered and left his tap on,” explained Ford, who was wrestling with the tap in the first bather. “I can’t turn the wretched beast off now” he finished, exasperated.
The two boys wrapped Jacobs” sodden towel around the boiling tap and between them, managed to turn it off. At that moment the large and imposing figure of Matron appeared in the doorway.
“And would one of you like to explain, exactly what has happened in here?” she boomed.
Tony chuckled as he recalled the inadequate explanations from the four victims. Matron clearly did not believe their innocence in the affair and set them to quickly mop up the floor while the rest of their floor bathed in other bathrooms.
Tony’s presence seemed to be overlooked, for which he was extremely thankful.

“I think its jolly unfair” began Altringham, in his loud and pompous voice. “I can’t wait until my father gets to the bottom of this. Those buffoons won’t know what day it is.” He puffed up, full of indignation.
Ted, sitting opposite the irritating boy, tried hard to keep his amusement hidden. He was pretty sure that they would not be detected. It was only a bit of foam after all.

 

#6:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:55 pm

Chapter Six

Clem shook herself and quickly began her morning preparations. She took a bath, lukewarm as instructed and wondered how she would manage when she had to share a bathroom with other girls. It wasn’t as if she mooned over it, but bathing in mere seconds was not something she was used to. She quickly dressed and attended breakfast, gulping down the scrambled eggs on toast and scalding cup of tea. She was, although she did not want to admit it, a little nervous about meeting her new room mate. what if they did not like each other? Clem quickly banished the thought out of her mind and raced upstairs to attend to her chores. She knew that she would usually have to complete all her chores before breakfast, but she was given an early meal on this day, as the kitchen staff would have so much to do, preparing for the school’s return.
She raced back upstairs, then reminded herself that running on the stairs and in the corridors was strictly forbidden. She pushed open the door to room thirty five and surveyed it. Clem quickly stripped her bed and humped her mattress as instructed before making the finishing touches to her tidiness. Out of the corner of her eye she saw movement out of the window. She stood in front of it and lifted the sash. A steady stream of girls was arriving at a side door, excitedly chattering as they came back to school. She gulped down a breath of fresh air and then started as Matron entered her room.


“Hello Clem, did you sleep well my dear?” Clem nodded. “Excellent. Well I see you have managed to get your bedding aired. Your new room mate is due to arrive soon and I hope you can show her exactly what she needs to do with her bed and her unpacking. She is a little younger than you, so show her what you can.
“Is she new like me?” Clem asked.
“Oh no dear, but she is a new boarder. With the weather having been so blowy these last few weeks a few of the girls have come as boarders for the winter. I think you’ll get on well. Her name is Mary-Lou.” Matron turned on her heel and left the room, closing the door behind her, leaving Clem to digest this information. It would not be her Mary-Lou, would it?
The door opened slowly and someone struggled to enter the room. Clem turned to look, expecting Matron again and began to ask her if she needed help. As her eyes fell on Mary-Lou standing there, they widened. Then she sprang forward with a shout, even as Mary-Lou herself dropped her case, and leaped forward with a positive squeal of excitement.
“Mary-Lou! It isn't really you!”
“Clem, oh, Clem! What fun! What gorgeous fun! I never thought the horrid new girl would be you! When did you come? What made Mr. Barras send you here? Where's Tony? Oh, Clem!”
At that Mary-Lou hugged Clem which rather surprised her as she was not used to such demonstrations. With an eye to the time, she quickly picked up Mary-Lou’s suitcase, placed it on a chair and set about getting the younger girl unpacked.
Mary-Lou happily allowed herself to be organised by the elder girl, and set about changing her shoes whilst idly chattering about her family. Clem started to explain the trouble that had prompted her attendance at the school and Mary-Lou sat open mouthed on the floor taking in the stories of Tony’s misdeeds with interest.
Clem, realizing that little would be done in this instance, directed Mary-Lou to the hanging up of her belongings.
“Hang your coat up there” she indicated the hooks on the right hand side. “Oh and put your hat on the shelf above.”
Mary-Lou did as she was asked and the pair soon had the unpacking done.
“The rest of it comes tomorrow,” confirmed Mary-Lou hastily shoveling a stray handkerchief into the drawer.
“I say, don’t do it like that old thing,” said Clem, removing the offending article and folding it carefully before placing it in the drawer.
“You sound like Gran” sighed Mary-Lou. “She always has something to say about the state of my drawers”.
“I think Matron will do to. It’s something we will both have to get used to.” Clem remarked.
Before long the ringing of a big bell filled the room.
“What’s that for?” asked Clem
“Oh we have to go to our form rooms” said Mary-Lou knowledgably.
“I’m not sure where mine is” remarked Clem as the two girls left the room. Mary-Lou grabbed at a girl rushing past.
The small, slim girl with short cut, golden brown hair stopped and smiled at the two girls.
“Betsy, this is my chum Clem Barras. She came last night. Can you take her with you to your form room?”
“Hi Clem, where have you come from?” began Betsy as she dragged the other girl off towards their form room. The conversation did not last long, as Betsy quickly explained. Talking was not allowed in the corridors.

The two girls reached the Upper Three A form room and Betsy quickly pushed Clem towards a seat next to her.
“Sit here” she said. We can put an extra desk on the end of the row and shove Sybil along one.”
Sybil turned out to be a head-turning beauty who only had time to flash Clem a radiant smile before sitting promptly in her place.
Their form mistress, Miss Slater, entered the room.
“Bonjour mes enfants!” she greeted them with a wonderful British accent. Clem sighed to herself quietly. She barely knew any French apart from hello, goodbye, please and thank you. She hoped it would not be as awful as she feared.
Miss Slater was patient with her new charge and helped her put two sentences into correct French to allow her to tell the rest of the form about her home on Inch Carrow. Sybil smiled at Clem encouragingly when she had finished repeating the words, and Clem felt relief suddenly flood her.
Maybe these languages weren’t going to be as rotten as she thought?

Last edited by aitchemelle on Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:59 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#7:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 8:57 pm

Chapter Seven

Soon the bell rang for prayers, and Clem found herself swept along by the rest of her form into a large room. She stood between Betsy and Sybil, and although she saw Mary-Lou at a distance, there was no opportunity to talk.
The form then had a Maths lesson and a Geography lesson before break time. Clem did not fare too badly in the Maths lesson but her French was not up to the Geographical terms that the rest of her form seemed to grasp. She was very thankful to reach breaktime unscathed and gratefully accepted milk and biscuits. She looked around at the other girls who were chattering away in French and wished that she could join in a little more. She heard a familiar voice arguing in French and turned in surprise.
“Oh, Mary-Lou, savez-vous talker en francais comme ca?”
Clem had not thought it possible to pick up the language so quickly.
“Je know nothing de elle” she said to the younger girl rather mournfully.
“Francais est masculin, vous chevre!” retorted Mary-Lou who was to be brought up short by Mollie Avery, who happened to pass them in time to overhear her call the new girl "you goat" in French. So she said very firmly, “Mary-Lou, ce n'est pas gentille a parler comme ca! Ne le repetez encore!” And went on, hoping devoutly that her own French would pass muster.
Mary-Lou went very red; but when the prefect had gone, she grinned at Clem, who couldn’t understand a word.
“Que dit-elle?” asked Clem anxiously.
“Elle a dit que ce n'est pas gentille de moi - that means I’m not polite - a vous nommer une chevre,” returned Mary-Lou. “It means 'goat’,” she added for the benefit of her less learned friend. “I said you were a goat, that’s all - Voila tout!” For Jacynth Hardy was approaching.
Clem sighed heavily. “Je ne pense pas how you do it!”
“Oh, c'est bien facile,” replied Mary-Lou, who had every reason for knowing this speech, since she heard it a good many times every "French" day. “Il faut ecouter, et repeter, et alors on aprit tres tot.”
Clem was lost in admiration of her, not knowing yet that this was a favourite remark with Miss Edwards, and Mary-Lou had merely picked it up parrot fashion.
“Savez-vous write en francais aussi?” asked Clem carefully.
Mary-Lou went red again. “C”est plus facile a parler qu'il est a ecrire,” she admitted. Her written French was still far from satisfying Mlle Berne, as she very well knew.
The bell for the end of Break separated them, and they parted, Mary-Lou to struggle with Dictee from Mademoiselle; and Clem to enjoy a gym lesson, where she soon proved that, whatever her shortcomings in French, she was a born gymnast. All her movements were clean and quick; her jumping was light and in good style; and she went up the rope like a monkey, coming down hand over hand as expertly as a sailor.
She was pleased that her efforts had proved successful and was inwardly thrilled when Miss Burn praised her in front of the form. She did not understand all that was said, but gathered that she had done rather well for her first proper lesson.
“If only the lesson had been in English,” she told Mary-Lou in the queer, polygot mixture she was contriving to employ at present. “I’d have enjoyed it from beginning to end. Thank goodness there were three or four people in front of me who knew more or less what Miss Burn meant and I was able to do what they did! So it wasn’t too bad after all.”
“Taisez-vous, Clem. Si les prefects nous entendent, il y aura un row,” replied Mary-Lou, most of Clem’s speech having been, perforce, in English.
Clem pulled a face and tried to work out how to say what she wanted in French. She shook her head and began to follow the rest of her form to their next lesson, waving goodbye to Mary-Lou as she went. At least she could manage that!

Clem spent the afternoon trying to pick up as much of the new language as she could. She was determined to do well here and she knew that once she could understand what people said, she would be a lot happier. Betsy and Sybil helped the other girl where they could, but often forgot how little French she knew. By bed time she knew a few phrases and the verb tenses she had once learnt, came flooding back to her. She went to bed feeling content and happy. I am not going to think about German day tomorrow! she resolved, and soon fell into a deep dreamless sleep.

The next day was a very silent one for Clem. She had absolutely no idea of German and spent most of her time looking puzzled at the mistresses, who made her repeat what she wanted to say over and over again in the language.
Mary-Lou did not fare much better, her French had improved far more rapidly than her German, and she appeared to spend most of her day wildly gesticulating at her friends to make herself understood.
Still, at least I’m trying with it, thought Clem. Mary-Lou had told her all about another new girl, one Verity-Ann Carey who simply would not speak German unless she had to address a mistress. Clem was pleased that she had at least tried to understand what people were saying. By all accounts this other silly new girl simply stuck her nose up when ever anyone spoke to her in the language.
Clem settled down to sleep feeling very worn out. Her brain was filled with these unconnected words which meant nothing to her as she tried to drift off to sleep.
Thank goodness, it’s English day tomorrow! I can talk to people and make some new friends! she thought.
“How’s the new girl in Upper IIIA faring?” asked Miss Linton, in the staff room. “She seemed a bright young thing when we met before school started.”
“She excelled herself in my lesson” replied Miss Burn. “Shinned up the rope like a little monkey.”
“Her languages are her sticking point” remarked Miss Slater. “I sympathise with the girl, it can’t be easy to come to school after so long an absence and have to manage in French and German.”
“She will be taking her languages with the Lower Third, but I agree it must be difficult,” replied Jeanne Lachenais.
“It’s jolly bad luck to have to start school with French and German days together,” remarked Miss Linton.
“Well it is English day tomorrow, so we shall see how she fares. You have her tomorrow for English don’t you Gillian?” asked Miss Slater.
“Yes, and I am looking forward to it” replied her colleague. “Her entrance papers look most promising.”
“Is she a promising Mathematics student?” asked Miss Edwards with a twinkle in her eye. The lady to whom this comment was addressed was well known to despair of her pupils who showed no interest or talent for the subject.
“She seems to have grasped most of what one would expect for a girl of thirteen,” replied Miss Slater dryly. “We shall see.”
“Who would like coffee?” asked Jeanne. Her coffee was most excellent and this offer was accepted by most of the staff while pretty Gillian Linton handed around a box of biscuits that she had.

 

#8:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 9:02 pm

Chapter Eight

“Shush Ted! You’ll raise the whole dorm” hushed Charlie.
“Whatttaya…Oh it’s only you Charlie.”
“You idiot, who else would it be? Come on, you got your torch?”
Ted fumbled around under his pillow for the torch that had been carefully placed there.
“I say, that torch has made it jolly uncomfortable to sleep,” remarked Ted, pulling on trousers and a navy pullover. “I kept dreaming I was asleep on a mountain!”
“You moke! Hurry up, Tony’s waiting.”
The three boys padded silently out of the dormitory and down the corridor.
“Right” whispered Charlie. “We have to go down the front stairs, old Perkins patrols our staircase in the night sometimes and we don’t want to get caught. I hear you get a proper hiding if he catches you up after light out.”
“Won’t we get one anyway if we’re caught?” asked Tony.
“Well…” thought Charlie, his round pale face catching the moonlight in an almost eerie manner. “There’s the thing. We will get in trouble but no-one’ll see us if we go this way. That part of the house is always in darkness.”
Tony and Ted decided not to dwell upon Charlie’s summation and followed him silently down the main staircase. It was only the second time the boys had ever used it, only the staff and prefects were permitted here.
They crept towards the common room careful to stay well in the shadows in case there was a master on the prowl. As they reached the paneled wooden door Charlie signaled to them to stop moving.
“There’s a light on in there,” he said in a whisper.
The boys held their breath as they looked to see.
“It’s alright” said Ted, “just the ends of the fire flickering.”
The three boys entered.

“Where is it?” asked Charlie.
“In his cubby hole. I saw him put it there this morning. He was showing it off to the rest of them.” Tony suggested.
He crossed the room to the cubby holes. Altringham’s was on the top row with his name stenciled in blue and gold to indicate he was form prefect.
“He thinks he’s so grand ‘cos he’s a pree,” said Ted, cattily, “and daddy’s a housemaster too. I hate him.”
Tony opened the cubby hole door, worried that everything would fall out and cause a disturbance. He was in luck. Altringham was the kind of neat and tidy boy who usually only appears in books. All of his possessions were arranged neatly, which made it very simple for the three small boys to find what they were looking for.
“Aha!” said Tony, seeing the glinting metal. He pulled out the prize and brandished it wildly.
“It’s a real Swiss Army knife,” said Charlie, with awe. “Me dad said I could have one for my birthday if I get a good report next time.”
“And it’s wasted on that Altringham” said Ted disgustedly. “I bet he’ll only ever use the hoof pick!”
Tony laughed. The knife was beautiful and unlike anything he had ever possessed.
“We’d better put it back” he said reluctantly.
“No way” said Ted, taking it from his hand. He flicked open the knife with a flourish, then sorted his way through the other tools.
“You can’t keep it?” said Tony, concernedly. “That would be stealing!”
“Oh I know” said Ted reluctantly, passing it to Charlie who looked at it with passing interest, but beginning to feel a little sleepy, really wanted to get back to bed.
The three boys placed it back in the cubby and checked the common room for signs that they had visited.
They got to the door and stopped. The coast was clear, nothing in the corridors and no sound to be heard. They were just about to make for the stairs when Charlie stopped.
“I think I left my pencil in there, wont be a second,” and he turned to go back into the room. Moments later he rejoined them and the three boys went back to bed.

Clem woke up in a positive mood. She was looking forward to her lessons, knowing that she would understand much more than she had for the previous two days.
Her form’s English lesson with Miss Linton allowed Clem to show off her marvelous way of describing her surroundings. They were asked to write about a place that they knew well and describe it to encourage others to visit it. Clem’s command of English vocabulary was most excellent and the mistress praised her wholeheartedly for her account of life on the small island now called home.
Clem left the lesson feeling happy. She went for milk and biscuits with Betsy, Sybil and a young lady called Primula whom she had sat with in English Literature. She felt very content sitting with friends, chatting about their essays.
****

“…. Needless to say, we are very disappointed and we hope that the culprit will report to their form tutor by the end of the morning. This is not something we expect from anyone at Craven House.” The headmaster finished sternly, then looked around the room for some sign of the wrongdoer.
.
Tony felt sick to his stomach. The knife. Altringham’s knife.
How could it have gone missing? They had put it back in his cubby, exactly where they found it. Unless Altringham guessed and reported it missing just to spite them. No. Even he would have drawn a line at that. Unless…No. He must not think that. Although he hadn’t been at school long, he was sure that Ted and Charlie were decent boys. They wouldn’t have stolen it. Would they?
Tony felt his stomach rise up inside his chest as if to choke him.
“I say Barras, you don’t look too healthy” said Ford.
“Guilty conscience?” smirked Smyth.
“No, I think he really is sick.” Ford said, sitting Tony down on a bench outside the hall.
Tony turned white and then a funny shade of puce. He put his head in his hands, trying to control the feelings inside. He swayed a little and felt his grip on consciousness weaken. His head fell against Ford’s arm and he thought he was going to fall.
Ford steadied the smaller boy and then called to Bradshaw, a friend of his brother in the fifth form and between them they helped Tony to the sanitarium. He had not uttered a word but now, in the clean sterile environment, felt more ill than before. In the capable hands of the sturdy matron Tony was given a glass of water and told to sit until the feelings subsided. The water made him feel sicker still and the poor boys conscience leapt out of him onto the floor.
Kind matron tucked the small boy up in a warmed bed. He was terribly pale and still looked sickly. She felt his forehead.
That will be another case of influenza, she thought to herself. Poor lambs, too young to be at school without their mothers and she tucked him up and sat with him until he fell asleep.

Clem passed the next few days in a hectic whirl. She found this school both strange and exciting and there was never a moment to be bored. Slowly she found herself integrated into a friendship group of Betsy, Sybil and Primula Mary. This in itself was a new thing as she had never had any proper girl friends of her own. She missed Tony terribly and it felt rather peculiar to only have herself to look out for. She was, however, beginning to shepherd Mary-Lou in a similar way. Although more used to school than Clem, Mary-Lou struggled with the daily routine, as she was a far less adaptable lady and Clem found herself back in the role of mother.

 

#9:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 9:03 pm

Hannah, if you've only been looking at the drabbleoram - Kathie did say they were from November but that she had the later ones.

 

#10:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 9:04 pm

Chapter Nine

When Saturday came, Clem sat and composed a letter to her brother.

Dear Tony,

How is school? Have you made some friends yet? I have friends called Betsy, Sybil and Primula-Mary.
You’ll scream when you hear who I’m sharing my dorm with. Some of the dorms are really small because of this old house, so there’s only two of us. It’s only Mary-Lou! What a shock we had when she arrived.
We have to speak German two days a week and French too! Can you imagine? What a laugh it is trying to make yourself understood when you only know three words! I have said a lot of words in a Frenchish way and waved my hands around a lot, at least that’s how Mary-Lou gets by!
What are your lessons like? Do you have masters to teach you everything? What are you learning about? We have been looking at maps of Switzerland and France, which is terribly interesting and our mistress Miss Burnett has told us all about Austria where she used to go to school. It sounds like a super place.

Please write back soon,
Love from Clem.

Clem licked the envelope and sealed her letter. She did not expect to get a reply any time soon. Tony might love her dearly but he was still a boy, and not a boy given to prompt correspondence.
She wondered what would happen in the holidays. Her parents had made it clear that it was too far to come home to Inch Carrow. They had said something about the school making arrangements for her, but she was not sure exactly what that meant. She wanted to be able to see Tony for she did miss him, however much trouble he caused when he was around. Would it be too ungrateful to ask the mistresses if he could be included in the holiday plans too? What would she do any way? Spending Christmas at the school could be fun, but who would be with her.

Mary Lou came bounding into the room.
“Clem, I’m so glad I found you. I need to you explain this sum to me.”
“Give it here” said Clem, for she was a good natured girl and did not mind helping the younger girl with her work from time to time.
Clem made short work of explaining the problem to Mary-Lou, and before long the younger girl had completed the work and went back to her common room. Clem turned back to her letter writing, preparing to write to her parents.

***
Tony opened his eyes and looked around him. The room was unfamiliar and he took a moment to work out where he was.
“Oh I’m in the san!” he said out loud, as the noise of footsteps came closer.

“You’re awake at last,” said the nurse with a wry smile. “We thought you were going to sleep the week out!”
Tony was confused. He could not even remember coming to the san, let alone how long he’d been there. The nurse understood his confusion and explained.

“You were brought here three days ago with a high temperature. You fainted on Thursday morning.”
“So it’s Sunday?” asked Tony in disbelief.
“Yes” said Nurse, “can’t you hear the church bells coming across the moors?”
The thought of church bells had not come to Tony, but as he listened he was reassured by the sound. It was comforting and once the nurse went he found himself becoming lulled back to sleep by the sound.

Suddenly the small boy sat up with a start.
The knife!
Altringham’s knife!
He found his heart racing and started to feel faint and light headed once more. He put his hot little head back down on the pillow and tried to make his breathing come more easily.
***

Clem lay still in the darkness, looking up at the ceiling. Her head was so full of algebra that she could not possibly sleep. She had been as cross as sticks the last few days and she knew it was the late nights Mathematics with Mary-Lou.
The younger girl had got it into her head that she might gain her remove, if only her mathematics improved. She had talked Clem into giving her extra help before bedtime and this was starting to take its toll on both girls.
Clem did not want to let Mary-Lou down, but she felt that it was her responsibly to stop the sessions, but the other girl was so persuasive and keen on getting her remove, that Clem had only managed to put the lid on a couple of sessions rather than the whole idea of it.
The extra work had started to pay off in marks for Mary -Lou but both girls were starting to show the effects of working too late in the evening. This affected Mary – Lou much more obviously than Clem, she was even been dosed by matron yesterday! thought the elder girl.

Clem turned over in bed, then held her breath as she heard her room mate stir. They had been talking about Arithmetic until far later than they should have and Clem knew that her friend should not be woken. She sat up as she heard Mary-Lou start to moan. She debated going to her, not knowing if her sudden presence in the cubey would make her worse. Her decision was made for her as she heard the other girl start to mutter in her sleep.

Swinging her legs out of bed she reached out and grasped her green dressing gown, she wrapped it tightly around herself and padded over to Mary-Lou’s cubey. She gently pulled the curtains aside and saw, to her horror that the girl did not look at all well. She had begun to mutter about the algebra they had been studying lately and Clem knew that this was not a good sign.

Without stopping to think, Clem raced out of the room and hurried towards the staff room. Her long red hair had come loose from her bedtime pigtail and by the time she had reached the staffroom she had a rather wild appearance. Flinging open the door she shouted
“Oh, please someone come to Mary-Lou! She's wide awake and talking the most awful rot - all about sums! And I can't get her to stop though I've tried! Do, please come!”

“Clemency! My dear child!” exclaimed Miss Annersley, dropping the coffee percolator and jumping up from her chair, while Matron bounded out of hers and made for the door even as the much-tried Clem forgot her usual, half-grown-up ways, and became merely a badly frightened and unhappy little girl who dissolved into tears as the Head's kind arms went round her, and wailed, “Oh, it's all my fault! I shouldn't have let her try to do it! It's all my fault, and now she's ill with it!”

Miss Wilson ran after Matron, and the two junior mistresses discreetly melted from the room, leaving Miss Annersley to deal with the weeping Clem, which she did by drawing her to the fire and making her sit down beside her on the big settee. “Now, Clemency, don’t cry like this. Mary-Lou probably has a little fever, and needs some of Matron’s cooling mixture. She will be all right in a day or two, I expect. Stop crying and try to tell me what you two have been doing that you ought not. I'm sure it isn't anything very bad.” Clem felt too upset to speak. She was convinced that Miss Annersley would be frightfully cross with her for making Mary-Lou so ill.

 

#11:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 9:05 pm

Chapter Ten

It took Miss Annersley some time to calm Clem to the point where she could do anything but sob loudly; and even then it was difficult to understand what she said. Between her remorse and her howls, it was just as well that the Head was a patient woman who understood girls. But at length the whole story was out, and Clem, greatly relieved now that she had made a clean breast of it, was sitting with her eyes red and swollen, and occasional gulps still shaking her, but calm on the whole.

“It was very silly of you,” said the Head, when she finally understood the whole thing. “Don't you know, Clem, that the human brain can only absorb so much knowledge at a time, just as your legs can walk only a certain distance, or your tummy take only a certain amount of food? If you over-walk, then your legs are too tired to go on; and if you over-eat, you are sick. It is just the same thing with your brain. If you try to cram too much into it, it goes on strike sooner or later. Now, between you, you and Mary-Lou have been trying to give her brain more than it can deal with at once by working out of proper hours. You have excited it, and so she is feverish and is running a temperature. But it hasn't gone on long enough to hurt her really, which is a very good thing. I shall ask Matron to take her to San for a few days, and then she will be all right again. But remember this. You are never to do lessons, either your own or someone else's, out of the proper hours. And never after eight o'clock at night. When you are a Senior with public exams before you, you may be given permission to work a little later sometimes; but until that comes I want you to promise me that all lesson-books shall be shut at eight a latest. Will you?”
“Oh, I will! I promise you I will!” Said Clem fervently.
“That's right! Now I'm going to heat some milk for you, and then I'll take you to bed and tuck you in, and you must try to sleep. Don't worry about Mary-Lou. I expect she'll be quite all right in a few days” time.” Clem smiled at the headmistress, relieved to hear that Mary-Lou wasn’t seriously ill because of her.
Clem soon began to feel more calm, comforted by the reassuring words she had received. She sipped her hot milk when it was ready, and then went upstairs, accompanied by the Head, who remade her bed for her, saw her into it, and tucked her up with a kiss, and then left her to fall asleep, happier for the kindness and understanding she had been shown, even though Mary-Lou’s bed was now empty.

Having seen her well on the way to dreams, Miss Annersley went to San, feeling more worried about Mary-Lou than she had let Clem know. But her worry was needless. Matron's patent mixture was already taking effect, and Mary-Lou was lying quietly, the burning flush not quite so bright, though it was still there and her blue eyes were brilliant.
“Temp at 103 degrees,” said Matron softly. “However, she's had a dose of my cooling mixture, and I've given her a sponge-down, and in another hour or so she'll have dropped a point or two. There's no rash -"
“Nor likely to be,” interrupted Miss Annersley. “What do you think those two made babies have been doing? Working at Mary-Lou's sums after Clem went up to bed. It seems Mary-Lou wants to be moved up after Christmas so as to be as much with Clem as possible, and begged for help. Clem has no more sense than can be expected at her age, and agreed. That's all that's wrong - that, and, I expect, the excitement of school for the first time at her age. Nothing infectious, thank Heaven!”
“Thank Heaven, indeed!” Ejaculated Matron. “Well, if that is all, she can stay where she is for the next few days, and take life quietly. I’ve sent for Nurse, and she will sleep here with her until the temp is normal. Light diet, bed, and a few days by herself will set her right by Monday, I expect. She's a highly strung child, I should judge; and that sort always indulges in a temp when it's over-excited. Remember the frights Jo Bettany used to give us? But I hope you've given Miss Clemency a good dressing-down for doing lessons at such a ridiculous hour!”

“There wasn't any need. Of course I've forbidden it, and explained to her where they went wrong. But she was such a heart-broken little object of misery that even you, Matey, would never have found it in your heart to scold her. I made her drink a cup of hot milk and packed her off to bed, and I expect she's asleep by now.”

“I'll just look in on her before I go to bed,” said Matron as Miss Wilson came in with Nurse, who had been in the staff-room at the other side of the house. “Well, I've had to contend with some queer girls during my years here, but never with one of Mary-Lou's age, anyhow, who made herself ill by overdoing with lessons!”

Clem felt quite herself by the next day and was a little ashamed of the way she had behaved. A fellow shouldn’t make all that fuss, she thought. It was jolly frightening at the time. All that moaning and muttering. Mary-Lou was kept in the san to recover which left Clem alone in their room. This gave the elder girl time to think about things and she began to miss her small brother more than ever.

After a couple of days she was permitted to visit her room mate for ten minutes at the end of morning school. Mary-Lou was delighted to see her although she still looked tired which gave Clem pangs of guilt for what had passed. I know it was her idea, but I am older and I should have known it wasn’t the thing, Clem thought.

The younger girl did not seem to have suffered any other side effects but still seemed quieter and calmer than usual.
“Auntie Jo - Mrs. Maynard, I mean - has just been to see me,” she said.
“Jolly decent of her,” responded Clem . “But then she always seems to be decent. Was your mother or Gran with her, or was she alone?”
“Alone; Gran's very poorly and in bed, and Mother can't leave her, Auntie Jo says. But, Clem, she told me that - that Father won't ever come back from the Amazon.”
Clem was shocked, not sure what to say next
“Why ever not?” asked Clem, after a long pause..
''Cos he's been killed there,” replied Mary-Lou simply.
Clem was not sure what to say or do. Ought she to try and comfort Mary-Lou - call her fond names, or kiss her, even? But Mary-Lou did not look as if she wanted that. And then the moment passed - much to boyish Clem's relief - and Mary-Lou went on with what was uppermost in her mind.
“I'm awfully sorry, you know, Clem, but - but - well, it isn't the same thing as it would be it if had been your father, f'rinstance, that had got killed. You and Tony have known him all your lives, so I s'pose you'd feel you wanted to cry, and be dreadfully miserable. But I can't do that. Is it mean of me?”
Clem considered. “I don't think so. But you'd better not talk like that to the others. They mightn't understand, and I do. I suppose we would feel rather off if Dad died or anything. He's the limit, sometimes; but he's Dad, for all that. But, as you say, we've always had him with us, and you were only a baby when your father went away. I don't see how you could possibly miss him. And I shouldn't think much of you if you pretended just for the looks of the thing,” she added.
“Oh, I couldn't do that!” Said Mary-Lou, shocked. “Wouldn't it be acting a lie? Gran always says that while it's bad enough to tell one, it's ten times worse to act one.”
“So it is,” said Clem, who had a sturdy sense of truth of her own. “I think I'd say as little about it to the others as I could, if I were you.”
“I shan't talk about it. I don't feel like it. But I don't know what Verity-Ann will do. Her father was with the same Expedition, but he got away - and the doctor - though he's been hurt.”
“Verity-Ann won't talk,” said Clem with decision. “She's the rummiest kid I've ever known - and I've know a few in my time. What do you think is her latest?” And Clem settled herself down to give Mary-Lou all the school news she could in the time, thankful that the need for being "comforting" had passed.
.
Clem left the san in a thoughtful mood. She pondered on Mary-Lou’s reaction to the sudden news. It would seem strange to have a father that you never really saw. Although Dad is kind of frightening sometimes, I think I would miss him. Clem went to her next lesson, resolved to write to her parents that very evening. I know the last letter got lost, which is why they haven’t replied, but I hope this one will get there.

 

#12:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 9:07 pm

Chapter Eleven

Clem wrote her letter and sent it off promptly. She crossed her fingers that it might warrant a reply soon, as she was feeling starved of news of her family. The next few days passed quietly, Clem studying hard when in lessons or prep, but enjoying her free time and making deep friendships with others in her form.
Mary-Lou returned to school and was almost back to behaving like herself. Only Verity Ann and Clem knew of the change in her circumstances and neither girl had trouble keeping a confidence. Under Clem’s influence she began to be more lenient on herself and enjoying the time she spent with her form. She was less worried about catching up with Clem now, enjoying their friendship but branching out to talk to other people too.

Clem received a reply to her letter home and was overjoyed when she saw it there on the slab. It was a lovely fat package containing a long letter from her mother full of exciting news. She could not wait to share the news with Mary-Lou, and contrived to explain it to her whilst they were attending to their after breakfast chores.

“I had a letter from Mums this morning - a long one, too.” Clem informed the other girl.
“I know it. I saw it on the Slab when I went to get mine.” Mary –Lou replied.
Clem twitched her own counterpane into place. “It was quite an interesting letter,” she said maddeningly.
“Oh, was it?” Mary-Lou was accustomed to Clem's tactics, and could be equally maddening. However, she happened to glance up and see her chum's face, so she relented so far as to ask, “What's the news?”
“They're all right. They've had a terrific storm or two - wind blowing a gale and huge waves,” said Clem, folding her pyjamas at lightning speed and tucking them into her case. “Dad found a sheltered spot on the cliffs and began a picture. Mums says he's feet deep in it, and having a gorgeous time. But what I really wanted to tell you is that a friend of Dad's, Clement Young the portrait-painter, has been to see them. He got back to the mainland just before the storm. And - isn't it awful? - he's promised them that as he was coming south, he'd give us both a call. He'll drop in on Tony first, and then come on here to see me. Actually,” went on Clem, dropping hairbrush and comb into their bag, “he's my godfather. That's why I've got such a soppy name. He's Clement. Clemency's the female of it. See?”
Mary-Lou turned back to her bed. “Yes; I see. What's he like?”
“Not an earthly; I've never seen him in my life - since my christening, anyhow. He's been in America and Australia, doing portraits of big pots there. He'll be along some time this week - Mary-Lou Trelawney! You can't leave your bed like that! Matey would foam at the mouth if she saw it! Here; let me! Well, he's to take me out if the Head gives leave. It'll be rather ghastly, won't it, going out with a strange man I've never set eyes on, more or less. I shan't know what on earth to say to him.”
“Of course you will,” Mary-Lou said, resigning the bed to Clem's capable hands, and tidying away her oddments. “You always do. Besides, he's an artist. You can talk to artists all right!”
“Yes; but not total strangers,” retorted Clem, walking round the room to see that all was as it should be. “Shove that window a bit wider and then I'll think it'll do. I don't want to be yanked out of lessons again. Miss Slater was nearly crackers last week, I can tell you!”
“Yes; 'cos it was the third time in four days,” Mary-Lou replied as she pushed open the casement. “There's the ball, so we've got to go, finished or not. Come on, Clem! It's all right. I dusted my chair-legs.”
Clem thought the situation over during the next few days. She supposed that Mary-Lou was right – she could manage to talk to most people, however daunting it seemed at first. Sometimes it seemed like her life in Scotland was years ago – having to cook, clean and keep house for a family of four was far removed from the life she had now at the Chalet School..

****


Tony could not believe what his housemaster had said. Not Charlie.he thought. Why did he do it? He couldn’t have done it! He was going to get one if he worked hard, he recalled. Why would he take Altringham’s.
Then Tony remembered. The night that Altringham’s knife went missing was the night that Charlie had gone back into the common room, on his own. He said he’d left his pen there. Tony recalled. But did he?
Tony sat down on his bed to think. He simply could not understand it. He knew that Charlie was jealous of other boys for the things they had which he did not. But stealing? That was completely different.

Tony stood at the bottom of the staircase, hiding tucked away in the shadows. He simply could not believe it had come to this. Charlie wouldn’t have, couldn’t have taken the knife. But then he had confessed to the crime after the knife had been found in his drawer. He had told the head that he’d taken it.

Ted touched the other boy on the shoulder and hid with him in the shadows. Tony was not in the mood to speak, and as Charlie and his father walked out of the door he turned to go back to the common room.
“I say old chap, wait up!” called Ted.
Tony stalked off pretending not to hear.
“He’ll be alright at the local comp,” said Ted. “Boys like that suit those schools.”
Tony turned to stare at Ted. ]What did he mean by “Boys like that”? He turned and walked away, needing time to think about what the other boy said.

Upon reaching the common room, Tony took himself off to a quiet corner and opened a book. His mind was racing and although he turned the pages of the book, not a word was read. He could not believe that Ted didn’t care that Charlie had been expelled. All the other boys were talking about it and Ted, one of Charlie’s best friends, simply dismissed it.

Tony decided to write to Clem. She was bound to help him out, she always had done before and it was probably about time that he replied to her last letter, he thought guiltily. Tony was not the most conscientious letter writer.

He explained himself as best he could and managed to reply to some of the questions that she had asked him in her letters. He tried to tell her about some of the pranks they had pulled before this horrid knife business but his heart was not really in the telling. He described the night when they looked at the knife and the strange business of Charlie going back in the room. He told Clem what Ted had said too. Reading the letter back to himself, he had to admit that it made Charlie sound pretty guilty. Still he sealed the envelope and took it down to the basket for posting. The bell pealed to signify their Supper was served and Tony joined the long rows of boys, thoughtfully and quietly and hoping that his sister would not take too long to reply.

Tony did not have to wait long to receive a reply from his sister. She was at least a prompt correspondent and had the added bonus of a wet afternoon where the girls were permitted to finish letters home and attend to their mending if they had any.

He sat himself in a soft armchair in the corner of the common room. Her advice was plain and simple. He needed to talk to Ted properly, on his own with no one else around. If Ted would not admit it, well then Tony would only get himself into trouble if he pursued it and further. He would have to accept that his friend Charlie must have been at fault.

Tony thought long and hard about this advice. He did not want to have to sneak on Ted but he was growing increasingly certain that Charlie really had not been the culprit.

As the young boy finished reading the letter from his sister, in which she went on to talk about lessons in great detail, much to Tony’s dismay, Ted entered the common room. Ignoring Tony, the other boy went over to Altringham and his friends and became involved in a riotous game of Ludo. It made Tony angry to see him there. Feeling ignored and shunned he stood up to leave the room. Realising that he had nowhere else to go, he went over to the bookcase which was next to the group of boys and their game. He began to scan the shelves for something comforting to read.

“Well of course, it was bound to be him. Kids like that, well they don’t have much do they?” said Altringham.
“Goodness no,” replied another boy. “Did you see the shabby garments he wore on a Sunday. Ghastly!”
“And he was a scholarship boy,” smirked Smyth nastily.
“He didn’t put much money in the bank,” said Ford, shrugging his shoulders.
“When we came to look at the knife, he told us that he would get one for a birthday present, if his marks were good enough!” chortled Ted, waiting for similar reactions from the other boys.

“What do you mean by ‘When we came to look at it?’” asked Altringham. “I never showed it to you three. You were hanging around with those kids then weren’t you.” He tilted his head to indicate Tony, who could not contain himself.
“Ted, Charlie and I came down to the common room one night to have a look at it,” he poured out.
“You did what?” said Altringham with a sneer, getting to his feet. “How dare you!” he turned to Ted. “And you never said? You rotten sneaker!”
“I er, well I, um…..” stuttered the younger boy, not quite sure what to say. “Well, we wanted to see it and you wouldn’t show it to us!” he finished.
“Anyway, I thought you knew that we’d been to see it, that’s when Charlie took it isn’t it?” said Ted.
“No” piped up Smyth. “It disappeared one prep time.”
“Yes” confirmed Altringham, “It was prep last Thursday to be precise. I knew it couldn’t have been any of us, because we had Jonesey, the History master, and you know what a stickler he is for working silently with no disruptions?”

Tony thought for a moment before he spoke. A smile was on his lips.
“Do you remember prep last Thursday Ted?” he asked innocently. Ted frowned at him and shrugged his shoulders.
“I remember prep last Thursday,” said Tony, addressing Altringham. “We had the beastliest Algebra you ever saw and Charlie and I spent the whole time at Wilkins’ desk, going through each question. We never left his side.”
“But you must have left his side,” said Perkins, one of Altringham’s subordinates. “How else could Charlie taken the knife?”
“Don’t you see?” exclaimed Tony, almost dancing with delight. “This means it couldn’t have been Charlie and Wilkins can vouch for that.”

“Oh I hardly think they would have forgotten to ask Wilkins,” began Ted, “he is a senior master you know. Charlie must have nipped out at some point. Maybe you were concentrating too hard to notice!”

“How did you manage with the Algebra Ted?” asked Altringham innocently.
“Oh it was easy. Kids stuff. We did it at my last school. Latin translation was a bit of a pig though,” replied Ted.
Tony thought about this for a moment. He could not believe that the friend he had made had turned into such a pompous fool in front of these older boys. He was cross with himself and with Ted.
His thoughts were interrupted by a sudden memory. He had remembered a lot about last Thursdays’ prep since they had started to talk about it, for Tony was the kind of child who knew exactly where everyone in the form had been sitting for a lesson three weeks ago, but could not remember how to solve the algebra that had been explained to him less than ten minutes previously. For once this interest in people paid off.
“It must have been impossible to do it without your Latin dicker, Wilkins told you off for forgetting it that day. I remember!”
“Oh it wasn’t so bad,” said Ted. “He’s not a bad old stick; he even let me go to the common room to get it!”

“So you went to the common room during prep on Thursday?” asked Ford, who had begun to pay attention to the conversation now it seemed to be turning interesting.
“Yes but, oh hang it all, you can’t think that I have anything to do with your knife, do you?” asked Ted, a panicked expression coming across his face. “Honestly fellows, I wouldn’t do such a rotten thing as to steal another chaps’ knife.”

“But you were quite happy to think that one of your best friends would?” choked Tony.
“What rot! Charlie wasn’t a best friend” expounded Ted indignantly.
“But he was going to stay with you at half term!” exclaimed Tony. “How could you do such a thing?” Tony was getting upset. Ted was not the person he had thought and he didn’t know what to do next. Thankfully Altringham took charge.

“Right Ted, I think we need to go and have a talk with Dr Slater,” said Altringham quietly. “Tony, you stay here with Smyth and Ford. Get him a cocoa would you. He looks a little pale.”
Ford leapt up and poured Tony a mug of cocoa from the jug that had been brought in. He did not want a repeat performance of the fainting incident!

Altringham marched Ted towards the headmaster’s office. He knocked briskly on the door and both boys were promptly admitted.
Soon Tony was called in, and even Wilkins, the master from that fateful Thursday’s prep, was called upon.
The conversations that took place were long and arduous, but finally the headmaster got to the truth of the story. Tony was sent to bed with instructions not to talk to anyone else, and soon after Altringham received the same instruction.
Ted was put to bed in the san. His parents would be coming the next day to take him home.

 

#13:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 9:08 pm

Chapter Twelve

The headmaster took off his glasses and sighed. It was so unpleasant to have to send two children home within a week. Well at least he would have one pleasant job to do the next day – telephoning Charles’ parents and suggesting that they brought him back to school, all expenses paid of course. He would be fully instated on the scholarship, and with any luck would catch up quickly. He had only missed a few days and he was a very bright boy.
As for Ted, Oscar Slater shook his head. What a pity it had not been successful. Still, he could at least recommend one or two schools that employed stricter regimes with less freedom. Where Craven House had failed, another school might succeed.
The headmaster retired to his quarters.


The next morning, the school was buzzing with excitement and intrigue. Tony was still on his honour not to talk about the previous evenings incidents. Dr Slater had not punished him for getting out of bed to look at the knife, but had impressed upon him how disappointed he was.
Even Altringham had not come away unscathed. Oscar Slater was a believer in the older children in the school setting good examples for the younger members, and told Altringham in no uncertain terms, that the example he and his friends set, was not always a good one.

Ted’s parents came to collect him and found a very sulky boy on their hands. They stopped briefly to talk to Dr Slater, who put them in touch with a colleague who ran a much smaller establishment.
As the bell rang for morning school, the headmaster found himself making the phone call to Charlie’s parents. Mrs Dawson answered the phone, and her voice audibly shook as Oscar announced himself to her. She quickly passed the phone to her husband who whooped with delight like a schoolboy himself when the headmaster broke his news.
The Dawson’s took the apology given by Dr Slater well, they appreciated his humility but said that it probably did the boys’ ego good to realise that he must take a certain amount of responsibility for his actions. They welcomed the expenses paid return journey, for the train fare up to the North West from Cornwall, was not cheap, and said that they would accompany Charlie as far as Reading station. From there, the school would send a master to meet Charlie for the rest of his journey.


Meanwhile Tony received some more pleasant news of his own. The next day, as he went to breakfast, there was a letter on the slab from his mother, informing him that Clement Young would be paying him a visit at the weekend. Tony had to wrack his brain to remember exactly who Mr young was, then he remembered It’s a friend of Dad’s, he thought, Clem’s godfather. That’s why Clem has such a soppy name! he chuckled to himself at this thought, which gained him a reproachful stare from the prefect at the head of a table, and a sympathetic and interested look from Will Thompson, the tall, quiet boy who sat opposite him.

Tony had never really paid Will much attention. He was obviously really clever and usually spent most of his time with his nose in a book. Tony had made friends so quickly with Charlie and Ted, that he had not really had a chance to make friends with anyone else.
“I was just thinking about my sister and laughing,” he explained quietly.
“Is she older or younger than you?” Will asked.
“Oh she’s older. But she’s topping fun. Not like a normal girl!” Replied Tony, as if being a girl was the worst crime possible.
“You’re lucky!” said Will wistfully. “My sisters are the worst sort of girls. Always playing will dolls and all that rot. I have to escape to play in the attic or the garden when I’m at home!” Will sighed and Tony felt sympathy. Clem was indeed a good sort when it came to girls, she didn’t bother his games too much and wasn’t all girly and silly like other girls he’d met. He smiled at Will and the two boys finished their porridge companionably.

Mr Young arrived promptly on the Saturday morning and after a brief coffee with Tony’s housemaster, whisked the small boy off to Liverpool for the day. Mr Young was a little younger then Miles and had a fair idea of what the boy would enjoy on his day out.
He took Tony along Salisbury Dock and showed him the unique six faced-clock. He explained that it had a loud and large bell which was used to signal high tide and ring out other warnings. Tony was desperate to hear it ring out, but sadly high tide had been and gone a few hours before.
Looking across to Wapping Dock, Tony was excited to see rebuilding work, and watched with interest as the large crane lifted up massive steel sections to replace the parts that had been damaged by bombs. Mr Young explained what they were doing and the pair watched with fascination to see the work that was going on.
They wandered on and saw the magnificent Queen Elizabeth. She was a beautiful ocean liner and Tony longed to go aboard to explore her.
“Imagine how big those engines would be!” he exclaimed excitedly.
“Imagine the stories she could tell!” said Mr Young wistfully. “Did you know, young Tony, she was never fitted out properly for passengers before the war. The men working on her were sent off to war and she was painted grey before being sent away.” Tony looked at the man with interest.
“That was Churchill’s doing.” Continued Mr Young. “He sent her off to the United states and they tried to complete the work.”
“Would they not want her as part of their navy?” asked Tony.
“No boy, they were still neutral.” He replied, then noting Tony’s puzzled look. “They hadn’t joined the war by then. It was 1940 and those Americans were keeping well clear. She traveled all over the place that ship – Sydney, Suez, Fremantle, and Trincomalee to name a few places. She survived the war you know. Back working for Cunard in 1946., What a ship! How I would love to travel on her some day.”
Tony looked up shyly at the man. He did not really know what to say, but in turn did not really imagine that Mr Young wanted a response so just smiled and listened.

After they had finished with the magnificent ship, the pair had lunch at the Grand Hotel. Roast Beef with all the trimmings for the main course and apple pie for pudding. Tony ate enthusiastically. Food was never that good at school!
When Tony had eaten as much as he could manage, and Mr Young had consumed a small black coffee and his customary after dinner cigarette, the man paid the bill and they went on to the cinema to see a film called Smoky. It was about ranch horses and all very exciting to the young boy. Going to the cinema was a real treat and had featured little in his life so far.
Afternoon tea followed, although, as Tony remarked to his sister later in his letter, the cakes weren’t up to much! They returned to watch another picture called A Song to Remember, which was not to the small boys taste, but the songs were bearable, as he told his godfather on the way back to school.
The only disappointing thing, as far as Tony was concerned, was the moment when the man whipped out a sketchbook and made him sit still for a portrait. Tony did not enjoy sitting still, and as with most boys of that age, it was not something he found very easy. Nevertheless a pencil sketch was completed and presented to him to send to his mother. He was secretly rather impressed with the drawing and found himself feeling flattered that Mr Young had created such a thing.

Tony returned to school in time to wash for supper. He was pleased that he hadn’t missed it for Saturday teas were generally the best. He showed his picture to Will, who admired it to the point of embarrassment to the other boy. Unbeknown to him, his godfather was sharing supper with two of the housemasters who were not on duty before retiring to his hotel. Peter Clement Young wanted to make sure that he was part of Tony’s life – knowing as well as anyone did, how unpredictable his parents could be. He would need to cable the school of his other godchild soon. He looked forward to meeting his namesake soon, although he would have to explain to her that Clement was not a name he had used since his schooldays.

Clem received a letter from her brother a few days later. It detailed the visit from their godfather and reassured her that Tony was really starting to settle down to school life. He was even making idle threats towards her, which was a clear sign that he was feeling much better. She shared the letter with Mary Lou and found that the sharing of her news made it all the nicer. The very next day she was summoned by Miss Annersley at break time and, by the end of the break, could be seen flying across the asphalted court where the juniors were playing tag. She grabbed her friend and pulled her to one side. In between her out of breath puffs she explained to Mary-Lou that they would both be going out with Mr Young, the following Saturday.
“Miss Linton will take us into Armiford and drop us off at the Green Dragon. That’s where Godfather is going to be staying.” She collapsed briefly against the low wall. “She’s going in anyway to spend the day with Mrs Lucy. So she can take us in the car!”
Mary Lou was shocked and very pleased to be included in the invite. It would appear that from what Clem had said, Tony had told the man all about her and how she was Clem’s special friend.
“Are you sure you want me there though?” she asked the elder girl. “Wouldn’t you rather see him by yourself first?”
Clem looked surprised at her friend. “Of course I want you there,” she smiled. “I don’t want to go off with a man I haven’t seen since I was a baby! It will be lots easier!”
“It’s really nice of him to invite me anyway” Mary Lou replied.
The bell chose that moment to clang loudly, and the girls scurried off to their various lessons. Mary Lou’s head was so full of excitement that many mistakes were made in her dictation. Clem managed to keep a much steadier head and plodded on conscientiously, slightly concerned about the visit and hoping that they would have fun.

 

#14:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 9:10 pm

Chapter Thirteen

On Saturday morning the two girls dressed in their Sunday brown velvet frocks with the muslin collars, as bidden by Matey the night before. That lady came into their room to inspect the two girls and was pleased to see how well turned out they looked in their Sunday coats and brown velour hats. She tidied the hair of both girls and stood back to admire them, sending them downstairs to Miss Linton when she was satisfied.

When they got there they found the Lucy girls waiting, and it was not long before Miss Linton appeared looking charmingly pretty in her fox furs and blue coat. She ran a critical eye over the girls before they were allowed to get into the car that she shared with Miss Slater and Miss Carey. These two ladies were occupied elsewhere so Miss Linton had the car for the day. The girls were soon packed in and they were off.

The little car soon drew up at the Golden Dragon in Armiford and Miss Linton got out and waited with the girls until a tall, lean man with deep-set dark eyes came hurrying out, full of apologies for having kept them waiting. His gaze fell upon the waiting mistress and he was at once enchanted by her appearance. As Jo Maynard had once said, Gillian Linton was the most beautiful mistress in the school. He stared at her as only a portrait painter could, and then seemed embarrassed that he had given her his whole focus and began to gabble on about what he intended to do with Clem and Mary-Lou. He wound up by inviting Miss Linton to join them, which made naughty Clem grimace at her friend. That was not the plan of the day out, to have a mistress to squash their fun! Luckily for the two girls, Miss Linton excused herself and plans were formed to meet at six back at the hotel.
Once Miss Linton had left for the Lucy’s house, Clement Young turned his attention to his young charges.
“Well I suppose this is Clem?” he asked, examining her pigtails. “You certainly have your father’s colouring! Although you don’t appear to resemble either of your parents in any other way. And this is your friend?”
“This is Mary-Lou Godfather. We met in Cornwall and it turned out that I was sent to the same school!”
“Enchanted to meet you Mary-Lou,” said the man. Mary-Lou said hello rather shyly, as she was not overly accustomed to men like Mr Young.

He led his party back into the hotel for coffee where they proceeded to plan their day. He ordered coffee and chocolate biscuits, which were very well received by the girls.
“What would you like to do?” he asked as they tucked into their elevenses.
“Well,” begun Clem, who felt the need to make the most of this treat. “We would like to see the picture gallery at the City Library, and the cathedral, oh and the cinema would be simply topping. I know you took Tony to see Smoky. Black Beauty is on at the Odeon, if perhaps we might see it?”
“Rather!” he said heartily. “We’ll do the Cathedral and the gallery this morning and then come back here for lunch. After that we can see Black Beauty. Does that sound suitable to you Mary – Lou?”
Mary Lou was debating over another chocolate biscuit and was a little embarrassed to be made the focus of their attention. She nodded and withdrew her hand.
“Do have another biscuit!” offered Mr Young. “You haven’t half enough of an appetite!”
Mary Lou giggled. “I have had three already so I really shouldn’t! I would be sick!”
“Well, we don’t want that!” remarked Mr Young. “That would really spoil our day! Come on lets get going!”

They donned their outdoor clothes and left the hotel, strolling towards the city Library and its gallery.
“What do you think of Armiford Godfather?” asked Clem.
“Oh it’s a wonderful old place. I intend to stay perhaps two weeks and get to know the place well. I can take you both out again next Saturday if we can coax your headmistress.”

Clem could not imagine anyone being able to coax Miss Annersley and said so to her godfather.
“I couldn’t possibly try and coax her. Would you have coaxed your headmaster when you were at school?”
“Heavens no! He would have eaten me alive!” remarked Mr Young.
“You should come and see the school” said Mary Lou, “we get lots of visitors and when Miss Annersley shows you around you could ask her about next weekend. I shan’t be able to come of course. I am going home!”
“Oh do come!” said Clem excitedly. “You could see everything and then write and tell mum and dad all about it. You could see us in our forms too. My form mistress is ever so jolly. Her name is Miss Burnett, but she is leaving to be married at the end of term.” Clem pulled a face.
“And who is your form mistress?” Mr Young asked of Mary Lou.
“Miss Linton, the lady who brought us here. She is a dear.” The man looked at her and said nothing. He was deep in thought.

They entered the picture gallery and Mr Young focused upon explaining what to look for, as simply as possible, to the two girls. Mary Lou had not been looking forward to this part of the trip as she found galleries rather dull. She had never been to a gallery with an expert such as this artist and found it a completely new experience. He knew a great many stories about the artists and the pictures they painted, so it was quite a disappointment when he said they must leave in order to see the Cathedral before lunch.

They did not have long to explore the great Norman building, but Mary Lou felt that she knew a great deal more about the architecture than she had done upon entering. Lunch was served promptly in the hotel and as roast fowl was due to be served, they made sure they were prompt. They retired to the lounge for coffee, served strong and black for the man, and milky for the two girls. With half an hour to spare he made quick sketches of the pair “to be getting on with”.
After that they put hats and coats back on and made for the Odeon and ‘Black Beauty’. Lo and behold! Just as they reached the doors who should appear but the Lucy girls, accompanied by Mrs Lucy, Miss Linton and Barney, the second-youngest of the Lucy tribe. There was sudden excitement between the girls and Mr Young’s eyes glowed at the sight of the pretty mistress.
“Oh Mrs Lucy!” exclaimed Clem. “Are you coming to see Black Beauty too? This is my godfather Mr Young and he’s taking Mary Lou and me. This is Mrs Lucy, Julie and Betsy’s mother. Julie and Betsy and I are chums at school.” She smiled at Julie, who returned it with a friendly grin.

 

#15:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 9:13 pm

Chapter Fourteen

Mrs Lucy, a slender woman with a puckish face, who looked rather too young to be the mother of long-legged Julie, held out her hand with a smile.
“Julie told me that Clem was in town with her godfather and I wondered if we should see you here” she said. “Shall we join forces Mr Young? Then the girls could be together. And we should have three grown ups to look after them!” she added with a wicked chuckle. “By the way, have you met Miss Linton? She is unlucky enough to be form mistress to my own Vi as well as young Mary Lou!”
“Miss Linton brought my pair in,” he said. “It’s a good idea to join up, you people go on and I shall get the tickets.”
“Oh but that wasn’t the idea,” the lady protested
“I know but it’s my idea, if you don’t mind taking over Clem and Mary Lou for a moment. Wait for me by the balcony entrance?” with that he turned on his heel and made back through the small crowd to join the queue.
Mrs Lucy did not even try to argue with him, noticing the light in his eyes as he looked at Miss Linton. She looked thoughtfully at the young mistress before she paired off Clem with Julie and Mary Lou with Vi, before taking charge of Barney, leaving Betsy to Miss Lintons charge.
“Where's the new baby?” demanded Mary Lou, at the foot of the stairs where they paused to wait.
“Safe in the nursery at home, of course. You're old enough now to know that one doesn't bring babies to cinemas unless it simply can't be helped - and not then, if one is wise,' retorted Mrs. Lucy.
“I'm longing to see her,” explained Mary Lou. “Couldn't you bring her to school some time, Mrs. Lucy?”
“I might think about it,” said Mrs. Lucy cautiously.
“What is her name, please?”
“Hasn't Vi told you?” asked Mrs. Lucy in surprise.
Vi gurgled. “Just that we call her Tuppence,” she said.
“Mary Viola Lucy! You horrid little wretch! I won't have her pretty name spoiled like that! You're to call her Katharine,” scolded her mother, trying to frown fiercely. But her brown eyes were dancing, for all that.
“Is that her name?” asked Mary-Lou eagerly.
“Katharine Margaret.”
“Oh, I do like that!”
“Daddy's been calling her Kitty,” said Julie suggestively.
“I know,” mourned her mother. “There isn't one of you except John who gets a proper name. You should really be Juliet, and Betsy Elizabeth.”
“Oh, you couldn't call me that! You'd get muddled with Aunt Elizabeth!” exclaimed Betsy.
“Still, Vi ought to be Viola. I suppose Barnabas is too much of a mouthful for you, sonny?” And she smiled down into small Barney's brown eyes, so like her own.
“I'm Barney,” he said stoutly.
“Wait till I'm grown up. You shall call me Juliet then,” said Julie comfortingly. “Not as present, of course. Life at school is too short for three syllables. It's hard enough as it is.” And she heaved a deep sigh. Julie was not clever, though both Betsy and Vi were; and it was, as she was wont to say, her life's grief that she was only one form ahead of Betsy, though that young woman was nearly three years younger than she was.
“Very well; I'll hold you to that,” agreed her mother. “Now here comes Mr. Young. “You know, Mr. Young,” as he came up to them, “this is all wrong. I can only agree if you will bring Clem and Mary-Lou back to tea with us. I can promise you all Guernsey gache!”
The artist looked puzzled for a moment before he asked “What is Guernsey gache?”
Mrs Lucy chuckled before explaining to him whilst they led into the picture. Mr Young thought afterwards that he was rather fortunate in being sat next to the pretty Miss Linton

Black Beauty was a thrill for the girls. By the end they found themselves dabbing their eyes delicately with their handkerchiefs, but only Betsy had succumbed to proper tears. Only the thought of what Tony would say about silly snivelling girls, stopped Mary Lou from joining her small friend. The adults also enjoyed the film, but in different ways. Mr Young simply enjoyed the opportunity to share the film, and a box of chocolates with a beautiful young lady, whilst the young lady didn’t entirely mind this man’s attention. Mrs Lucy saw this interaction between Clem’s godfather and Mary Lou’s teacher and, being an inveterate matchmaker, began to make plans for their future. Gillian was such a dear girl, with no one left in the world apart from her married sister Joyce.

Joyce had always been a rather selfish girl at school and whilst marriage had much improved her, she still realised the time spent with her husband alone far more than any other company. Gillian was always welcome to her sisters Exeter household but now with two small babies, Joyce had more than enough to occupy herself. This Clement Young is clearly a nice man thought Janie Lucy to herself, and clearly interested in Gillian. A friendship to be encouraged! I must ask Julian to find out about him, she thought.

As for Gillian herself, she found Clement Young extremely likeable, although he also made her feel a little shy. She covered this up well by diverting her attention to the children after the film had finished. They proceeded back to the Lucy’s house for tea, which was a rather noisy affair with five schoolgirls and an infant. Many slices of Guernsey gache were followed with a game of hide and seek around the house. This was followed, to Mary Lou’s delight, by a chance to peep at the sleeping baby Katherine and she was allowed a cuddle of the beautiful baby, who had golden curls and deep-blue eyes.
All too soon it was six o’clock and the girls had to leave for school. Mr Young was duly invited to stay at the Lucy’s house so he could meet Mr Lucy, Julian, so he said goodbye to the girls, slipping a pound note into the hands of both Clem and Mary Lou. Mary Lou was uncharacteristically too shocked to speak although Clem thanked him prettily. She was due to see him again the next Saturday and she was very excited at the prospect.
Gillian was very quiet as she drove the girls back to the school. Mr Young had been very nice and he occupied her thoughts now. I can’t believe that I’ve not only agreed to ask Miss Annersley if he can visit the school on Wednesday, but also agreed to show him some of the sights of Armiford on my free afternoon. The mistress was also due to visit the Lucy’s for tea the following day, not realising that Mr Young would be a guest of the Lucy’s as well.

The next weekend was one of joy for Mary Lou as she was due home for a much sought visit. Clem woke up feeling despondent, knowing that her chum would be off with the Maynard’s, mum and Gran, desperately wishing that she had a family of her own near by. Of course there was Mr Young, but how long will he be around for? thought Clem. She banished the negative thoughts from her head as she began to get herself ready for her day out.

Meanwhile Tony was looking forward to his Saturday. Will had become a good friend to him, helping him with his prep, particularly the beastly algebra that he could never get a handle on, whilst Tony in turn helped Will with games. The two boys were rarely seen apart and this weekend, Will had invited Tony to come out with him and his father. Will did not have a mother and he and his younger sister had grown up with a succession of nanny’s and governesses. Their father was something terribly important in banking, but had recently taken a new position in Manchester, to allow him to be nearer his children.
“Dad loves fishing,” Will had informed his friend. “So we will probably just get a picnic lunch and head off in the car to a remote spot for the day. Don’t suppose it will be awfully exciting but it would be fun for you to come!”
For Tony this sounded heavenly. Miles was not really the kind of father to do much with his son and fishing sounded tremendously jolly.

The two boys were up and dressed promptly in shorts and shirts and shirts. They pulled thick jumpers over the top and put their blazers on top of those, for it might be chilly by the river warned their matron. They were first down to breakfast which caused rather a shock to their housemaster as they were not well known for their promptness. Breakfast this morning was a generous helping of bacon, eggs, baked beans and toast and the boys ate heartily.
Soon they were on the doorstep and Tony was bouncing around from foot to foot with excitement. His friend laughed at his antics and then joined him in his excitement as he heard the roar of his fathers car.

Meanwhile Clem and Clement were happily ensconced in the consumption of large veal and ham pies, carrots and mash.
“So Clem, what would you like to do this afternoon?” he asked, the pair having spent most of the morning looking in the windows of interesting shops and spending a little longer at the Cathedral.
“Well godfather,” Clem began.
“Can I stop you?” asked Mr Young. “Please could you find something else to call me that doesn’t make me feel as if I should have a beard down to my knees?” he chuckled. Clem laughed at the description and then ventured the name of Uncle Clement. He explained that the name Clement had earned him the rather unflattering nickname of Clementine at school and ever since had introduced himself, where possible as Peter.
“Okay” said Clem “Uncle Peter it is then! Can we go to the pictures again?”
The man gave a chuckle. “I thought you might suggest that. How do you fancy Hans Christian Anderson? I hear its rather fun!”
Clem agreed and the two of them spent a rather agreeable afternoon watching the picture, after which her godfather found a “simply marvellous café for cream cakes” as Clem boasted to her chums that evening after Miss Burnett brought her back.
“I’m surprised you weren’t ill Clem, remarked her friend Julie Lucy, later that evening as they were sitting by the fire in the common room.”
Clem laughed.
“That was nothing. I only had two éclairs and a cream bun. Tony my brother will often have double that, given a chance and still wont be sick!”
Unfortunately, at that moment, Tony was not feeling sick exactly but rather sorry for himself. The day of promise had started off splendidly. Will’s father was a jolly soul, just like the kind of dad Tony would have picked. He whisked the boys off in his car with the top down, wind streaming through their hair, shouting excitedly at each other as the countryside whipped past.
Soon they parked up by the side of a river and Mr James, Will’s father took a large basket covered with a blue and white checked cloth, out of the trunk of the car. Tony’s eyes lit up. Here was the famous picnic. The basket was entrusted to Will, whilst Tony helped Mr James with his fishing equipment.
Soon the small party wound their way down a steep stony path towards a gushing green river. They stopped at a level platform and Mr James began to spread out a large rug. The boys soon sprawled upon it whilst Will’s father began to set up his rod and line. Tony watched in interest, whilst Will’s attention was caught by a small bird, chirruping around them.
The two boys had a most enjoyable day and by three o’clock had consumed a frightening amount of food and used up most of their excess energy. They were busy playing a riotous game of hide and seek, Will’s dad having abandoned his fishing for the moment. Tony was the seeker and had caught sight of Will’s fathers shirttail poking out from behind a tree. With a warlike roar he charged at the tree, promptly lost his footing and slid down the side of the bank into the river.
He screamed as he entered the water, but wasn’t in any danger as Will’s father was soon in, up to his waist, sturdy against the fast flowing water. He scooped Tony up as if he weighed little and soon had him on the bank. He hauled himself out of the water and gave instructions to his son to fetch the picnic blankets.
Soon a very sorry Tony was wrapped in a blanket in the back seat of the car. His clothes were spread out to dry on the seat next to him, although, he thought ruefully, his best shirt would never lose its lime green tinge from the water.
Upon the arrival at school, matron took one look at the small boy, shook her head and soon had him in a hot bath with a mug of hot milk, which Tony absolutely detested. An early night followed for both boys as their housemaster decided it to be the best place for them.
Mr James was given dinner in the headmasters study and the two were soon reminiscing about the scrapes they had when they were of school age.

Mary-Lou had also had a “simply marvellous time”, although her weekend was a little tinged with worry for her ailing Gran. The news of her son’s death had hit her hard and Mary-Lou had tried her best to be considerate. There was happier news, however, in the form of a letter from Clem and Tony’s parents confirming that they would be spending Christmas at Carn Beg. She couldn’t wait to get back to school to talk the plans through with her. The wrench she felt at leaving Mother and Gran again marred this occasion, but at least, she thought It’s easier to say goodbye, knowing it’s the hols soon!
Her return to school found Clem singing the praises of her godfather, for she had enjoyed a ripping time in his company. And she was not the only one.
Pretty Miss Linton had also enjoyed the company of Peter Clement Young, and begun to spend almost all her free time with this gentleman. This did not pass without comment from her friends, and as Janie Lucy remarked to her husband, a more suitable match for the young school mistress could not have been made.

 

#16:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sun Apr 09, 2006 9:13 pm

Chapter Fifteen

Christmas was soon in the air and the usual buzz of excitement abounded. The first sign that the festivities were close was the introduction of the Christmas Carols. The day was wet and miserable, and the girls were feeling the strain of a day indoors. The announcement by Miss Burnett to Clem’s form that an impromptu singing practice had been called more than raised their spirits and, before long, they found themselves filing into the hall.
Clem found herself enjoying the singing as something she had not had much opportunity for previously. The first song was an Irish carol ‘Christmas Day is Come’, and papers were swiftly distributed by the prefects as Miss Cochrane took to the piano. The song was rehearsed all together before the girls were allocated harmonies, which they perfected under Tristan Denny’s precise ear.
The girls polished the piece until the master, who was famed for his perfectionism, declared it acceptable. The next piece was a Bach carol ‘O, Jesulein süss, O, Jesulein mild’, which Clem found more beautiful than the first and sung with gusto. At the end of the carol, Clem looked around and smiled, feeling very content to be singing her heart out to these beautiful songs. She saw Plato (for that was the music master’s nickname) call someone out of one of the lower forms and Clem caught the eye of Betsy Lucy, who grimaced.
Clem was rather surprised to see that it was Verity-Ann who had been extricated, knowing that the smaller girl sang so beautifully, (for her friend had told her thus). She was even more surprised to hear the music master say
“You do not sing little maid,”
Clem watched the girl, waiting for her explanation. Perhaps she can’t read the German very well, she thought.
Clem observed Miss Burnett’s stony glare, and immediately felt for the smaller girl. She observed Plato bending down to Verity-Ann’s level and say something, and was frankly shocked to hear the response
“I dislike German, and do not approve of speaking or singing it,”
Clem saw the man gape at her in surprise; a splutter came from the Upper Second row which Miss Burnett silenced with another glare. Plato finally sent the girl back to her place, and the rehearsal continued.
Finally, to Clem’s surprise, the master snapped and threw down his baton with an angry
“Sit down all! You, child – Verity-Ann – come here to me!” The master proceeded to try to make Verity-Ann sing the song alone, up on the dais. But even the embarrassment of standing up in front of the whole school, was not enough to make her sing. Eventually Miss Burnett removed her from the hall, and from school life for the rest of the day. The matter dealt with, the rehearsal continued.

Verity-Ann kept up her refusal to sing the German carols and despite Mary-Lou’s pleas, Clem could not find a solution to help her friend. Truth be told, she thought Verity-Ann to be a very silly girl. Who would choose to miss out on so much just for a few songs? But Clem did not voice these opinions to her room mate.
“She is a funny little thing, your friend.” Clem told Mary-Lou that night. “She seems to prefer being alone, I’m sure she won’t miss much!”
“But Clem” pleaded Mary Lou. “We don’t like her being left out!”
“Well then,” replied Clem, reaching to turn out the light, “You and your friends will simply have to convince Plato to let her sing the other carols and leave when the German ones are sung.” And with that, the elder girl turned over and pulled the sheets up to her chin.

 

#17:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 10:10 am

Thanks for reposting this Hannah Very Happy

 

#18:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 6:05 pm

Thank you shiny Hannah, Very Happy

 

#19:  Author: Rosy, Location: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth PostPosted: Mon Apr 10, 2006 9:16 pm

Thankyou Hannah!

 

#20:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:41 am

Yay! Good to see this back again.

Thanks, Hannah Very Happy

 

#21:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:45 am

Thank you Hannah!

 

#22:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 11:51 am

Thank you for getting me to page 2!!
*hates touting for posts Laughing *

Chapter 16

Verity Ann continued to present a defiant face on the subject of singing German carols and they responded by sending her to matron, a punishment enjoyed by few apart from the keen needle workers, although even they disliked the boredom of hemming sheets.

Inwardly, Verity Ann felt very differently from the hard, obstinate front she presented. She spent many nights crying into her pillow, wishing she could allow herself to sing those songs.
But I promised myself that I wouldn’t sing or speak anything German to keep Daddy safe, she thought in between sobs. I hate feeling like I am spoiling everyone’s fun. I don’t like being out of it and I don’t like Miss Linton being so disappointed in me, but I don’t see what else I could do.

Luckily for Verity Ann, help was near at hand. Jo Maynard had been rather absent from school the last few days, as a rash on young Charles’ neck had given her immediate cause for concern. However it proved to be nothing, so on that Thursday, after lunch, Joey appeared, with Michael in tow, to be greeted by a very relieved Miss Annersley.

“Jo dear, how pleased I am to see you!” she exclaimed. “We need your advice about young Verity Ann.”
Miss Annersley explained the situation to her friend over afternoon tea and a slice of cake which was tasty despite the sad lack of fruit in it.

“I'll do my best,” said Jo, relinquishing her baby to the Head, “but I doubt if I can make much difference when none of the rest of you has managed it. I wonder what has set her off on this tack? Has anyone told her any of the war horrors, do you think?”
“Not here, certainly,” said the Head briskly. “What she may have heard before she came here is more than I can say, of course. I’m sure none of our girls have said anything to make her think so poorly of the German language.”
Jo thought on the subject for a while before a gurgle from her small son drew the attention of the ladies away from the matter in hand. The head had her cuddle with the small boy and Joey smiled proudly as they discussed the various members of her large family.

“Now I can't stay too long, so suppose I see Verity-Ann and try to get to the bottom of her mulishness. But I warn you not to expect too much. As I said, if all the rest of you - including her own form - can't do anything about it, I very much doubt if I can.'
Verity-Ann was sent for, and the Head departed with Michael to show him off to Matron and such of the Staff as she could find, while Jo, alone with Verity-Ann, tried to get her to see reason. As she had said, it was in vain. The small girl was quite polite, and quite determined. Jo explained to her painstakingly what Plato had meant by saying that all genius is extra-territorial, and that its gift is not to any one country but to the whole world. She found out that Verity-Ann had been brought up on Greek myth and legend, and pointed out that if Homer had been confined to Greece little English girls could never have enjoyed his tales. It was no use. Verity-Ann merely looked politely interested and said nothing. Finally, the lady produced her last shot.
'Your Daddy is coming home soon, Verity-Ann. What do you think he will say about your conduct?'
Verity-Ann flushed, but she said nothing, she could not trust herself to speak, and Jo, utterly baffled, got up from her chair, remarking, 'Well, I see you intend to be silly and obstinate, and make yourself and other people miserable, just to save your own pride. I shan't waste any more breath on you. You'd better run back to whatever it is you ought to be doing now. Ask you form-mistress if she will excuse Mary-Lou for a few moments.
Verity left the room, breathing more heavily that usual. As she leant against the cool door, she felt tears prickle at her eyes. Daddy? Home? I dare not smile for he might not come, thought she, and blinking the tears out of her eyes set off to find Mary Lou.

 

#23:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 12:06 pm

Oh, poor Verity Ann Crying or Very sad

Thanks, Hannah

 

#24:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 2:46 pm

That actually came across as very harsh from Jo - after all the girl is only ten years old, isn't she?

Thanks Hannah.

 

#25:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:14 pm

Jo is very mean in the HB of Three Go! It wasn't just my Jo that was mean!

Next day there was a carol practice in the afternoon, and Upper Second A waited with a good deal of apprehension for what would happen. True to their resolve, they said nothing to Verity-Ann herself, but the leading lights of the form got together at Break, and discussed it hurriedly. Mary-Lou made a startling suggestion.
“Clem says, couldn't some of us go and ask Plato to let Verity-Ann come and sing all the other carols first and then go to Matey while the rest of us sang the German ones?”
“Mary-Lou Trelawney! Are you and Clem completely crackers?” Vi demanded. “He'd eat the lot of us!”
“He couldn't do very much,” Mary-Lou pointed out sensibly. “I s'pose he might rag us; but we're accustomed to that more or less.”
“He might say we weren't to sing in the concert either,” Doris pointed out.
“He might - but it'd be jolly unfair if he did. I don't think he's unfair.”
“'What put such a mad idea into your head?” Josette demanded.
“'Not what - who. I told you it was Clem. I told her I loathed seeing Verity-Ann so miserable” said Mary-Lou earnestly. “She said we couldn't do anything about it with her, so it might be a good idea to try the other way and see if we could do anything with Plato.”
Gasps went up at the bare idea of trying to "do anything" with that member of the Staff.
“Do let's try it!” Urged Mary-Lou. “No one's said we mustn't, and I do so loathe seeing her look like that.”
“It's her own silly fault,” Josette observed.
“I know; but we can't help that. Oh, come on! Do let's have a go!” pleaded Mary Lou.
"You should go Mary Lou," said Doris. "He likes you!"
“Clem said better not. She said, "Choose two or three of you - the ones he likes best if you know who those are - and see what he says." She says he's quite reasonable really. And he's had time to get over his rage. Won't you?”
“What'll you do if we don't?” asked Doris curiously.
“I don't know,” began Mary-Lou. Then her face cleared. “Yes; I do! I'll go by myself. But I wish some of you'd come and back me up. Look here! If I swear to do all the talking, will you?”
“Let’s do it,” said Doris, who was a kind-hearted little soul. “Gretchen Mensch is in the same dormy, and she says she woke up the other night and heard Verity-Ann howling - oh, very quietly, of course; but she really was crying. She got up to go and see, but Verity-Ann was right under the clothes, and she never moved or anything when Gretchen asked her if anything was wrong, so Gretchen went back to bed.”
“Verity-Ann wouldn’t let anyone catch her howling if she could help it,” Josette said. “And you know what Gretchen is. She always finds something to trip over, even if there’s nothing there.”
“What are you folk gassing about?” asked Lesley Malcolm, joining them with some of the others.
They told her, and she nodded. “I”ll go with Mary-Lou if she’ll have me. The rest can stick around somewhere near, and if they hear Plato going for us, they can come in and say it”s all of us.”
“All right,” said Vi calmly. “You and Mary-Lou can go; and so can Jo Russell “cos she’s one of our crowd. And I’ll go “cos I’m form prefect - oh, and Phil Craven can come “cos she’s been at Verity-Ann so much.”
Phil broke into a wild protest at this, but the rest insisted, so she subsided, and it was finally arranged that the five should wait in the corridor near the upper door of Hall for Plato, and when he came, they should ask to speak to him and then do their best for Verity-Ann. The others were to be along their own corridor, which happened to be fairly near, and be ready to come and help if he proved as awful as some people thought he would be.
But someone else was coming who was to put an end to all the trouble before the heroic five sacrificed themselves. Half-way through the first lesson after Break, one of the maids came to summon Verity-Ann to the study, and when she finally got to the room and was making her curtsy to Miss Annersley, she stopped short. The Head was not alone. With her was a tall, dark man, thin and pale under the heavy tan of the hot sun. Verity-Ann stopped dead at sight of him, and began to tremble. As for him, he got up from his chair and held out his arms. “Verity-Ann! My own little girl!”
Verity-Ann stared at him, unbelieving wonder in her gentian-blue eyes. Then, with a cry of “Father! Oh, Father! I thought you would never come!” She flung her arms round his neck as he lifted her to this shoulder.
Kind Miss Annersley glanced at the pair and then slipped out, unnoticed by either of them.

****

“And then she told Miss Annersley that she would apologise to Plato and so that’s that and everything’s going to be okay now, “ smiled Mary Lou, telling Clem while the elder girl got ready for bed. “I'd have gone to Plato like you said if it hadn't been, but I'm jolly glad I didn't have to after all, even though the others were sports and were going to back me up.”
Clem, standing at the switch to turn off the light, nodded. “'I rather thought that would happen if you gave them a lead.” she said casually. She switched off; but before she got into bed she stood by Mary-Lou's for a moment. “The first sport was you, Mary-Lou. And now lets hope that Verity Ann learns some sense.”
Mary Lou chuckled at Clem’s words.
“Oh Clem you do sound so pitying of us second years!” said Mary Lou. Clem pulled a face before she replied
“Not pitying of you, just glad its all been dealt with. Far too much fun to be had to be worrying about the singing!”

ETA: I keep finding mistakes - please pm me if you find any more!!

 

#26:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 10:01 pm

Very Happy Well done Clem and Mary Lou and co

And yay for Verity's dad coming back

Thanks, Hannah

 

#27:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 4:45 pm

*Echoes what Liz said!*

Lovely to see Mr Carey home.

Thanks Hannah - have just found loads of this I hadn't read - was much fun catching up!! Very Happy

 

#28:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 4:47 pm

Thanks Hannah Very Happy

 

#29:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 9:34 pm

Thanks, Hannah. I'm glad that Verity-Anne was reunited with her Dad.

 

#30:  Author: Rosy, Location: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 9:37 pm

Hurrah. Poor little VA. Am glad to see her happy again! Thanks Hannah

 

#31:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Thu Apr 13, 2006 11:39 pm

Sorry if it's abit boring at the moment this drabble! I seem to have lost steam (or something!)

Chapter 17


The concert soon loomed in the lives of all the girls and, other than plans for the holidays, there was little else spoken about. Clem, however, had other things on her mind and could not give her full attention to Mary Lou’s excitable chatter about the holidays.

“What’s wrong Clem?” asked Mary Lou as her friend stomped about the bedroom getting ready for their Sunday morning breakfast.

“Nothing,” she snapped back before whirling out of the room, still finishing her plait.


Mary Lou tried to catch the eye of her friend all day but it seemed as if Clem was avoiding her. Watching the elder girl, it seemed that she was avoiding pretty much everyone.

On the way to dinner, Mary Lou was fortunate enough to be only three paces behind Clem, and was about to stop her to ask her what was wrong, when Clem stopped abruptly and would appear to be trying to avoid someone. Mary Lou, continued to walk and stared open mouthed as she saw Clem glowering at pretty Miss Linton, who was coming the other way.

“What did you look at her like that for?” asked Mary Lou in hushed tones. Clem walked away and took her place at her table, not trusting herself to utter a reply.


Clem sipped at her soup, which despite being a favourite, would not go down easily. Why does it bother me so much? she asked herself fighting with her conscience. You know why you’re angry with Miss Linton, said a sensible voice inside her head. You’ve only just met Peter, and he’s the only relative you have here and you hate it that he wants to see her more than you.


Clem let out a deep sigh, and then, to avoid the gaze of the duty prefect, tried to make more of an indent to her soup. But I suppose Godfather does need someone to look after him, she decided after a fashion, draining the soup bowl as her conscience allowed her to look more brightly on the proposal.

 

#32:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 6:07 am

That seems very real - at that age, and after only just really meeting Peter, it would be very natural of Clam to feel like that.

Thanks Hannah.

 

#33:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 8:09 am

aitchemelle wrote:
You’ve only just met Peter, and he’s the only relative you have here and you hate it that he wants to see her more than you.


He also seems to be the first relative to treat her as a child, rather than leaving all the responsibility to her - no wonder it's difficult for her to accept his interest in Gillian, however nice she is!

Thanks, Hannah

 

#34:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:50 am

Thanks, Hannah. This is definitely not boring! I can definitely understand Clem's point of view.

 

#35:  Author: Rosy, Location: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:59 am

Thankyou Hannah. Poor Clem...

 

#36:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 1:49 pm

*wot Rosy said*!

Thanks Hannah.

 

#37:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:19 pm

Not boring at all - it's perfectly understandable that Clem would feel jealous of Gillian.

Fank oo Hannah

 

The CBB -> Starting again at Sarres...


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