I went to my room and to bed. It was nine o’clock, the time ordained by Miss Hetherington for “lights out.”
I lay waiting. I quite expected to hear the sound of voices from Charlotte’s room. To my surprise there was silence; but I had an idea that the war was not yet won.
***
The next morning the Verringer girls arrived. Miss Hetherington sent for me to meet them in her study. I thought this was a little unwise and it surprised me that Daisy should have done it, for it must have made the girls feel that they were of special importance.
“Ah, Miss Grant,” said Daisy as I entered, “here are Fiona and Eugenie Verringer. They have just arrived.”
Fiona came forward and took my hand. She was a tall pretty girl with flaxen hair and hazel eyes; she had a pleasant smile and I liked her, which surprised me, as I was expecting the worst from a connection of Jason Verringer.
“Good morning, Miss Grant,” said Fiona.
“Good morning,” I replied. “I am pleased to meet you at last, Fiona.”
“And Eugenie,” said Daisy.
I felt a quiver of alarm. She was so like him. She had very dark hair and large lively dark brown eyes. Her olive skin had the smoothness of youth and her face was long; she reminded me of a spirited young pony. There was something rebellious about her; it was in her springy dark hair, her wide eyes and her firm chin. She might have been his daughter rather than his niece.
“How do you do, Eugenie?” I said.
“How do you do, Miss Grant?”
Both of the girls were dressed in black. Fiona’s became her fair hair. Eugenie needed brilliant colors.
“They are joining us late,” said Daisy, “because of the unhappy event which took place at the Hall.”
“Oh yes,” I said, looking at both girls. “I’m sorry.”
“There’s no need to be sorry, Miss Grant,” said Eugenie. “It was what is called a happy release.”
“Death is always sad,” I said.
Daisy frowned. She did not like the conversation to stray from the conventional.
“Well, my dears,” she said, “you may go to your rooms. There is a little change this term. You are together.”
“Together!” cried Eugenie. “The last time I was with Charlotte Mackay.”
“Yes, I know. This term you are with Fiona.”
“I don’t want to be with Fiona, Miss Hetherington.”
“Oh come, my dear, that’s not very polite, is it?”
Fiona looked slightly disconcerted but Eugenie went on: “Oh, please, Miss Hetherington. Charlotte and I understand each other.”
“It is arranged, dear,” said Daisy coolly, but there was a glint in her eyes which should have been obvious to Eugenie.
Eugenie, however, was fearless, and she was not afraid to speak out. “Well, it is not the law of the Medes and Persians, is it?”
Daisy smiled very coldly. “I can see, dear, that you have been paying attention to Miss Parker’s lessons. She will be gratified. However, you will remain with your sister this term. Now go to your rooms and Miss Grant is going to stay here with me as I have something to say to her.”
The girls went. I thought, That is the way to treat Miss Eugenie. Victory for Daisy.
When the door shut on the girls Daisy raised her eyebrows.
“There is always trouble with Eugenie,” she said. “Fiona is such a good girl. You will have to be firm with Eugenie and Charlotte Mackay. Did you have any trouble last night?”
“A little. Charlotte was rather truculent.”
“The Mackays are. It’s a title of only two generations. The family has never really grown accustomed to being members of the nobility and have to remind people of it at every turn. I should have thought by now they would have got used to it. What happened?”
“It was this matter of sharing with Eugenie Verringer.”
“They are two troublemakers. Last term they shared. Mademoiselle was quite incapable of keeping order. That is why I have taken her away from that section.”
“And given it to me…a newcomer!”
“I thought you would be able to deal with it, Cordelia, after all your training at Schaffenbrucken.”
“That has a lot to answer for.”
“Of course it has. It is the reason why you are here. I am confident that you will know how to deal with these recalcitrant girls. Mademoiselle was hopeless. She always is at discipline. Her classes are often in complete disorder, but she is a pretty creature and gentle and the girls are really fond of her. They would never let the troublemakers go too far against Mademoiselle. It will be necessary to take a very firm hand with Mesdames Eugenie and Charlotte. Let them see that you are in complete command and you will subdue them. They are like animals really. You know how they have to be trained. Unfortunately Eugenie is a Verringer and as you know all this belongs to the Verringer estate. What with that and Charlotte’s father’s title, we have two opinionated rebels on our hands. But you will deal with them. Stand firm and never let them get the upper hand.”
“Have I your permission to take what action I feel necessary?”
“Yes. Do what would have been done at Schaffenbrucken.”
“I don’t remember any such situation arising there. Girls there were not wildly excited about titles and estates. Most of them came from families who had had them for generations so they were commonplace.”
Daisy flinched a little and then murmured: “Of course. Of course. Do what you think best.”
“Very well then. I shall be firm and demand discipline.”
“Splendid,” said Daisy.
***
In the common room—which Daisy insisted was called the calefactory—where the staff congregated before dinner—called supper during term—everyone welcomed me and told me how everything was conducted.
It was Eileen who explained to me about Daisy’s determination that we should never forget we were in an abbey, and that was why instead of having a common room we had a calefactory.
“You may if you wish refer to it as the calefactorium. Either term is permissible. It is the apartment which was used by the monks when they wanted to get a little warmth. Poor things, they must have been frozen half the time. Underneath were the flues which gave it a little heat…hence the name. You can imagine them all hastening here when they had a few moments in which to relax, just as we do. There you see history repeating itself.”
“I’ll remember,” I said.
The others talked about lessons and pupils and I was able to have a word with Mademoiselle Dupont.
“Oh,” she cried, throwing her hands into the air. “I am ’appy because I am no longer with those naughty girl. Charlotte Mackay…Eugenie Verringer…they talk and laugh…and I believe ’ave feasts in their bedrooms. The others join them. I hear laughing and whispering…And I pull the bedclothes over my ears and I do not hear them.”
“You mean you allowed them to do that!”
“Oh, Mees Grant, it is the only way. Charlotte…she is the one who will say what is to be…and Eugenie…she is another.”
“If that is allowed to go on, they’ll be managing the whole section.”
“It is so, alas,” said Mademoiselle sadly.
Her expression was one of condolence but she could not hide her pleasure in having escaped.
I was very uneasy, but at the same time I couldn’t help a slight feeling of exhilaration. Perhaps I liked a battle. Aunt Patty had always said I did, although I had never had the occasion to face one with her and Violet. But once or twice over some domestic trouble my fighting spirit had shown itself. “Determination to win a good friend providing you use it only when necessary,” Aunt Patty had said. “But don’t forget such good friends can become enemies, like fire for instance.”
I did remember; and I was going to teach those girls a lesson other than those they would learn in the classrooms.
The routine did not change—Assembly, prayers, supper; and then dismiss.
There was a hubbub in the washing cubicles and after that retirement to rooms and “lights out.”
I had decided to make it a rule that I visited the girls last thing and said good night to them making sure that they were all where they should be and ready for slumber.
I knew there was something wrong when I entered Teresa’s room for she looked unhappy—and I guessed it was on my account. Caroline looked very meek lying in her bed; and I said good night to both girls.
Gwendoline Grey and Jane Everston were also in their beds and although they lay quietly, almost demure, they had an air of waiting.
I went into Charlotte’s room where I knew I should find trouble, and how right I was! Charlotte was in one bed, Eugenie in the other.
I said in a voice which could be heard in all the other bedrooms: “Eugenie, get out of that bed at once and go back to your own.”
Eugenie shot up in bed and I was aware of her angry dark eyes glaring at me. “This is my bed, Miss Grant. It was my bed last term.”
“But not this,” I said. “Get up at once.”
Charlotte was looking at Eugenie urging her to rebellion.
“Where is Patricia?” I said. I looked into the next room. She was in one bed, Fiona in the other. They both looked alarmed.
I said: “Get out of that bed, Patricia.”
She did so at once.
“Put on your slippers and dressing gown.”
She obeyed meekly.
I went with her into the next room. “Now, Eugenie, get out of Patricia’s bed and go back to your own.”
“Mademoiselle,” began Charlotte.
“This is no concern of Mademoiselle’s. She is no longer in charge. I am and I will be obeyed.”
“You are not really grown-up yourself.”
“Don’t be insolent. Did you hear me, Eugenie?”
She looked at Charlotte and without meeting my eyes muttered: “I’m not going.”
I felt inclined to pull her out by force. If Charlotte came to her aid, the two of them might overcome me; and in any case violence was out of the question.
I remembered something Teresa had said. They were crazy about horse riding—and in particular Charlotte.
“I think you are,” I said. “I am going to start from now and the longer you remain in that bed the longer will be your detention. We are studying Macbeth this term and for the number of minutes you stay in that bed you will be detained and learn that number of lines from the play. The detention will take place during riding lessons, so that any disobedient girl will not join the others.”
Charlotte shot up in bed.
“You can’t do that,” she said.
“I can assure you I can.”
“Miss Hetherington…”
“Miss Hetherington has given me permission to take what action I consider necessary. We are starting from now. If you do not get out immediately, Eugenie, you and Charlotte will begin your detention during tomorrow’s riding time.”
This was important. I could feel the tension. I had to be firm now or lose the battle. I wondered what Daisy would say about curtailing lessons for which the girl’s parents paid highly.
I stood looking at them.
Charlotte’s love of horses won the day.
She looked sullenly at Eugenie and said: “You’d better go…for now…”
Eugenie got out of bed. The curtailing of riding would be as much a tragedy for her as it was for Charlotte.
As she dashed past me, I said: “For now…and the rest of the term…if you want to enjoy your riding. Now Patricia, get into your bed, and let me hear no more talking. Good night, girls.”
In the next room Eugenie was lying with her face to the wall and Fiona gave me an apologetic look as she returned my good night.
I went back to my bed. Victory. But I was trembling.
Marcia
I was rather surprised that I had won so easily for when I made my rounds after that there was no more trouble. The girls were in their right beds and although Charlotte ignored me and Eugenie was a trifle sullen, I found the others quite charming; and Teresa made it clear that she was my slave.
I knew that Charlotte taunted her with being a toady and that Eugenie showed her clearly that she despised her, but oddly Teresa—no doubt because she felt she was sure of my support—had developed a little more boldness and seemed to be able to deal with their taunts.
I found lessons stimulating. I had a subject very dear to my heart—English literature—and it was very interesting for me to read my favorite Jane Austen and the Shakespeare plays with closer attention than I had given them before, to read them with the girls, to dissect them, and search for hidden meanings. I had four classes a week on this subject and therefore took all the girls in the school at some time, which meant that Charlotte and Eugenie were in two of the classes. Charlotte refused to work, and Eugenie—who was a year or so younger and very much under her influence—tried not to, but I was amused to discover that she had a genuine love of literature and could not entirely suppress her interest. Teresa was there trying very hard to please me. I was really enjoying it.
The social classes were less successful, I imagined. We discussed all sorts of subjects and the girls had to learn how to walk and act gracefully—just as we had at Schaffenbrucken. It was all rather amusing.
I enjoyed the sessions in the calefactory. Sometimes Daisy joined us there. We were more free and easy when she was not present, of course. I learned that the Hon. Charlotte—as she was ironically referred to—was considered to be a universal bête noire. “Clogs to clogs,” said Miss Parker, who prided herself on her frank speaking. “I should be very pleased to see the Hon. Charlotte in hers.”
Teresa was a mouse, they said. A silly timid little thing.
I defended her and pointed out that it was due to her background.
Eugenie was a terror, was Miss Parker’s comment. “She’s a Verringer and that is about the worst tag you could fit onto anyone. Fiona’s a nice little thing, however.”
Matt Greenway, the riding master, who happened to be present on that occasion, added that it was difficult to believe they both came out of the same stable.
“Quite different in looks and character,” said Eileen Eccles. “It’s amazing. And they talk about heredity. To me, it’s environment that counts.”
“Presumably their environment was the same,” I pointed out. “They were both brought up at the Hall apparently.”
“Well, they say the mother was gentle and meek. Rather like Fiona, I imagine. As for Eugenie, she’s got the Verringer devil in her.”
I enjoyed those gossipy sessions and they helped me a great deal in getting to know the girls and that was a tremendous asset when dealing with them. Eileen Eccles was perhaps more interested in people than the others and she provided a great deal of information.
“We shall be stuck with Teresa again this coming summer, I gather,” she said. “Her relations have written to say they’ll be away for several months.”
“Poor child,” I said. “It must be boring for her being here all alone for the summer.”
“I suppose it’s too much to expect the parents to get her out to Rhodesia. No sooner would she be there than she would have to start back. I’m sorry for the girl. I am really.”
I had Teresa on my mind quite a bit. When I came out of class she would often be hanging about offering to carry my books for me. I had seen the supercilious looks of Charlotte but Teresa did not seem to care, though I gathered that in the past she had been afraid of Charlotte.
Then there was the gossip about the Verringer girls.
“Eugenie,” said Mademoiselle throwing up her hands in horror. “She is one naughty little girl.”
Fräulein Kutcher expressed the opinion that there was too much homage paid to the Verringers. It set them apart.
“I think there is something in that,” said Eileen Eccles.
Matt Greenway said: “Eugenie will be a real horsewoman.” As thou
gh that made up for her failings in other directions.
“They’ll be very rich…those two girls,” said Eileen.
“It is not good for them to know this,” put in Mademoiselle.
“But they do know it,” insisted Eileen, “and it seems to have gone to Miss Eugenie’s head.”
“How rich are they?” I asked.
“Infinitely,” replied Eileen with a laugh. “I did hear something about uncle’s liking to get his hands on the money.”
“Uncle? You mean Sir Jason?”
“I do indeed, my dear, if you must give him his rightful title.”
“Is he not rich then?”
“As Midas…or Croesus if you prefer. But do you know money has that effect on some people. The more they have, the more they want. Ever since the King favored them and bestowed on them the Abbey lands, they have been piling it up. So we have our two little heiresses. They divide the brother’s fortune when they come of age or marry, and I believe if Fiona dies it all goes to Eugenie, and if Eugenie should visit that bourn from which no traveler returns, then Fiona takes all.”
“Yes,” I said. “I do agree that it is a mistake for young people to know that they are rich. Though Fiona seems a very pleasant modest young girl.”
“It is because you are making comparisons. Most people compared with Eugenie would seem pleasant and modest.”
We all laughed.
“Oh, I am sure Fiona is,” I said.
Yes, the days were passing pleasantly. I found that I could do what was expected of me and Daisy was pleased with the contribution I made to the school. She was sure my classes were getting more and more like Schaffenbrucken every day.
I very much enjoyed the riding sessions. The enthusiasm of Matt Greenway had communicated itself to the girls and most of them had that natural affinity young girls have for the horse.
Whenever we set out for rides I was always prepared for a pleasant time. Even the Hon. Charlotte seemed tolerable on a horse; it was as though at last she had found something for which she had more consideration than she had for herself. She adored her horse; and Eugenie was almost as fanatical about hers. It was interesting, I pointed out in the calefactory, how much more human Hon. Charlotte became when she was on horseback.