A Pair of Schoolgirls: A Story of School Days — John Shaqi
A Pair of Schoolgirls: A Story of School DaysBrazil, Angela
General
A Pair of Schoolgirls: A Story of School Days
Brazil, Angela
Girls -- Juvenile fiction; Schools -- England -- Juvenile fiction
Miss Carter, the science mistress, entered, and the hygiene lesson
began. Eight guilty souls in the class found it difficult to fix their
attention upon ventilation or food values. Dorothy's mind was in a
ferment. What was about to happen? She had not thought it any great
crime to go to see the wedding, but apparently such an action was viewed
far more seriously at head-quarters. In her speculation on the issue of
events, she gave such random answers that Miss Carter stared at her in
surprise.
"Did you misunderstand the question, or are you not attending, Dorothy
Greenfield?" she asked.
Dorothy made an effort to pull herself together and recall the forgotten
facts, but they were elusive, and she could only stare stupidly at the
teacher. Just at that moment the door opened, and Miss Tempest entered.
There was a perceptible shudder amongst those girls whose consciences
told them they were to blame. Addie Parker and Bertha Warren exchanged
glances, Joyce Hickson pretended to be absorbed in her notebook, while
Hope Lawson sat with her nose in the air, as if unconscious of any need
to disturb herself.
"Excuse me for interrupting the lesson, Miss Carter," began Miss
Tempest, "but there is a very important matter upon which I must speak
at once. Adeline Parker, Bertha Warren, Joyce Hickson, Annie Gray, and
Phyllis Fowler--stand up!"
With downcast eyes the five girls responded to the command.
"I wish to know what you were doing at St. Peter's Church this
afternoon?"
No one had the courage to venture a reply.
"Who gave you permission to leave the school?"
Still there was dead silence among the culprits.
"You know perfectly well the day boarders are not allowed to go out
during the dinner hour."
Miss Tempest's voice, which had begun icily, was waxing more stern and
wrathful. Addie Parker began to sob.
"How is it that among all the girls at the College you five had the
presumption to attempt such a flagrant breach of the rules? I say you
five, for I saw you and took your names; but I certainly noticed another
Avondale hat among the crowd, and I intend to find out to whom it
belonged. Was any other girl in this class present at St. Peter's this
afternoon?"
Dorothy's conscience gave a great, uncomfortable prick. She had many
faults, but concealment was not one of them, so she stood up.
"I was there, Miss Tempest," she said, rather defiantly.
At the head mistress's gaze Dorothy dropped her eyes. Miss Tempest was
not to be trifled with.
"Indeed! By whose permission?"
"I didn't ask anybody. I didn't know the dinner girls weren't allowed to
go out. We none of us knew. We thought we had a perfect right to go."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account