by Linda Finlay
‘I’ll drop by when my grandmother takes her afternoon rest,’ Amelia smiled.
‘See you then, Amelia, and thank you again for that delicious cake.’
What a lovely young lady, Sarah thought as she made her way back to the school. The girls were going to be so pleased with their smocks, and as for her hat, she mused, her hand going to her head. Who would have thought a tatty old felt bonnet could be turned into something as stylish as it now was? Complete with matching hatpin too. Just wait until she told Harry. Then she frowned. After the ladies’ comments, she hoped Mrs Higgins hadn’t found her wanting.
Her head was still reeling by the time she reached the school. Walking briskly up the driveway, a sudden movement on the roof caught her eye. Surely that was Mr Collyer. Oh no, the poor man, she thought, remembering how distraught he’d been earlier. She hurried indoors, ready to warn Harry, and narrowly missed bumping into April who was rushing down the hallway with a bucket in her hand.
‘Can’t stop, gotta take this upstairs. The rain’s been pouring in onto the little ’uns’ beds,’ she explained breathlessly. Sarah nodded as she entered the kitchen, but didn’t take in the girl’s words.
‘Mr Collyer’s up on the roof,’ she gasped.
Mrs Daws looked up from the pans she was juggling on the range. ‘It were him that spotted the leak. Lying on the bed, he was, in the room behind,’ she nodded her head towards the wall, ‘when he noticed a damp spot on the ceiling. He’s up there taking a look at the tiles. Like as not, more have slipped. Happens every year,’ she sighed.
‘You mean the roof’s leaking?’ Sarah muttered.
‘That’s what I said, Miss Sullivan,’ she frowned. ‘Why, you’re as white as my baking flour.’
‘I thought, I thought …’ Feeling as if her legs were about to buckle under her, she slumped into a chair. ‘Does Master Higgins know?’
‘Yes, and very pleased he was when Mr Collyer offered to take a look. The master’s busy supervising luncheon at the moment. That Miss Green’s in there an’ all. Don’t rain but it pours,’ the housekeeper sniffed.
‘But it’s not her afternoon for teaching,’ Sarah protested.
‘Sailed in here like she owned the place, and soon as she heard you were out, demanded a meal, if you please. Bold as the brass on the front door knocker, that one. Poor April’s busy upstairs with buckets and whatnots, so she offered to supervise the girls’ luncheon.’
‘And what a good job I did, Mrs Daws,’ Miss Green replied, appearing in the doorway of the dining room. ‘I’ve never seen such disgraceful table manners in all my time as a teacher. They use the cutlery incorrectly, talk with their mouths full of food. It’s quite disgusting,’ she sniffed.
‘I don’t think that can be right, Miss Green. The children are not permitted to speak at the table,’ Sarah informed her.
‘They gabbled and grunted all the way through. It won’t look good on the inspection report, you can be certain of that,’ she added, ignoring Sarah’s comments.
‘May I enquire what you are doing here, Miss Green? This is not one of your afternoons for teaching at Red Cliffs.’
The woman gave Sarah a haughty look. ‘I have come here today instead of next Thursday afternoon.’
‘Might I ask the reason for you taking it upon yourself to change your schedule without seeking my permission, Miss Green?’
‘Well, it wouldn’t be fitting for me to be here whilst the inspection was being carried out, would it? Especially as my father …’
‘Just one moment,’ Sarah said, holding up her hand. ‘Are you telling me the inspection is to take place next week?’
‘That’s what I said, didn’t I?’
‘But we usually get a letter telling us the date,’ Mrs Daws protested.
‘And I graciously offered to bring it with me,’ the schoolmistress smirked, opening her reticule and drawing out an official-looking envelope.
‘Like I suspected, there’s a gapin’ hole where the tiles have slipped. Been letting in the rain for a while, I would say,’ Mr Collyer said, coming in through the back door. ‘I can see water dripping right through onto the bedding.’
‘Oh, what a shame,’ Miss Green said, triumph sparking in her eyes. ‘What will the inspectors have to say about the children sleeping in wet dormitories?’
‘It’s only affecting the one nearest the chimney,’ Mr Collyer informed them.
‘That’ll be the girls’ room, then,’ Mrs Daws sighed.
‘Don’t worry, we’ll think of something,’ Sarah said more confidently than she felt.
‘Dadda,’ Monday said, coming out of the dining room. ‘This is Maisie, my bestest friend,’ she said, smiling to the girl who was holding her hand.
‘Hello, Maisie, nice to meet you,’ Mr Collyer replied, wiping his dirty hands on the cloth the housekeeper had handed him.
‘This is hardly a social gathering,’ Miss Green sniffed. ‘It’s time for lessons.’ She ushered the little girls towards the door. ‘Come along, you lot,’ she called to the girls who were staring at them curiously from the dining room.
‘See you later, Dadda,’ Monday called as she followed the huddle of girls. ‘Then we can go and get my present.’
The stoker shook his head. ‘Little ’uns, eh? Not sure I like the look of that school marm, though.’
‘So, Mr Collyer, what’s the verdict?’ Harry asked. ‘Oh hello, Miss Sullivan, I didn’t realize you’d returned,’ he added when he saw Sarah. Then his eyes clouded with concern. ‘Are you feeling all right? You’re looking rather shocked.’
Sarah held up the letter and sighed but before she could answer, Mr Collyer spoke.
‘That roof needs a fair bit of work doing to make it watertight. Some of it needs retiling and you’ll not get that done by next Thursday.’
‘We’ve not got the money to get it retiled at all. Why next Thursday?’ Harry asked, staring at the man.
‘That’s when the inspection is to be. Miss Green kindly brought this letter with her,’ Sarah said, waving it towards him.
‘Did she indeed …’ he began, then realized the boys were standing nearby listening. ‘Right, boys, take yourselves off to the workroom and busy yourselves with your woodwork. I will be along shortly. Go along, scoot,’ he urged. ‘Bunter, you’re in charge, and remember, if there’s any trouble, you will answer to me.’
‘Sir,’ he called, and there was the thunder of pounding feet as they charged outside.
‘I think we all need some tea,’ Mrs Daws said, pouring water onto used leaves in the pot. ‘Might be a bit weak, mind, but at least it’ll help us think. Come on, sit down. A bit of planning is needed here.’
Like children, they duly obeyed. Sarah wrapped her cold fingers around her cup, and as the warmth penetrated, felt her spirits reviving. Realizing she hadn’t actually read the letter, she unsealed it and scanned the contents.
‘The inspectors will be here at 8 a.m. next Thursday,’ she confirmed.
‘Inspectors?’ Harry frowned. ‘We’ve only ever had one inspector before.’
‘It definitely says inspectors,’ Sarah confirmed, hastily checking the details. ‘They will be here for the whole of the day, and if luncheon could be provided, that would be appreciated.’
‘Oh, it would, would it?’ Mrs Daws sniffed. ‘I’ll bring out the fatted calf then.’
Harry patted her hand. ‘All your meals are feasts, Mrs Daws. The question is, what can we do about the roof?’
‘I’d be happy to help,’ Mr Collyer said. ‘There’s some stuff on my ship that would patch up the leak but it would only be a temporary job,’ he warned.
‘We’d be most grateful, if you’re sure you’re up to it,’ Sarah replied. Then, aware he might have taken her words the wrong way, she added, ‘I mean, you’ve had a terrible shock and …’
‘I appreciate your concern, Miss Sullivan, but when Mrs Daws told me Violet, I mean Monday, had found comfort in the school routine, it made me think. Keep
ing busy will probably be best for me too.’
‘Any help you can give would be most appreciated, Mr Collyer,’ Harry replied. ‘We are determined that Red Cliffs should remain open.’
‘I’ll go back to the ship right away,’ he said, draining his cup and getting to his feet. ‘Got to get Monday’s present anyhow, or I’ll never hear the end of it.’ He raised his brows, but it was evident he adored his little daughter.
‘Well, that’s a relief,’ Sarah said after he’d put on his cap and left. ‘How has Monday been since he returned?’
‘Same as ever. Apart from reminding him about her present,’ the housekeeper chuckled.
‘I’ll finish my tea then go and see what Miss Green is up to. I’ve a feeling she won’t be encouraging them to sew their aprons like I asked.’
‘And I’d better return to the boys and their woodwork. Let me know when Mr Collyer returns, Mrs Daws. He may well need some help,’ Harry said.
‘Yes, Master Higgins,’ the woman replied, frowning at the mountain of dishes waiting to be washed. ‘Them scallywags have only cleared off and left me to tidy up. Well, it will have to wait ’cos I need to see how April’s getting on upstairs.’
‘I need more buckets, Mrs Daws,’ April said, her face bright red as she appeared in the doorway. ‘The rain’s coming down in stair rods, and as quick as Pip and I empty the buckets, they fill right up again. It’s a right mess up there and no mistake.’
33
‘Oh, April, dear, I should have come upstairs before,’ Mrs Daws cried.
‘Is Pip still up there?’ Sarah asked.
The girl nodded. ‘He’s emptying the water into the large bucket on the landing and I’m emptying that into smaller ones and bringing them down fast as I can,’ she gasped. ‘But we need more. The bedding on at least five of the beds is already sodden.’
‘Well, as I said to Miss Sullivan, it doesn’t rain so much as pour,’ the housekeeper sighed. ‘Bring the wet things downstairs, April. At least there’s warmth in the place to help dry it out.’
‘There’s plenty of space in my bedroom so we can move the dry bedding into there,’ Sarah suggested. ‘Mr Collyer is hopefully going to effect a temporary repair when he returns.’
Now she was upstairs, the hole in the roof was only too evident. Water was pouring into the buckets in a steady stream, and Pip was busy piling the dry covers into a heap away from the leak.
‘Can you carry that bedding through to my room, please?’ she asked the boy. He nodded and began doing as she asked. His movements were laboured, though, and Sarah could see the damp air was affecting him. ‘When you’ve done that, go downstairs and have some of Mrs Daws’ soup.’
‘I can’t do that, got to stop the water coming in,’ he replied, his voice coming in gasps as he staggered under the weight of the covers.
‘Mr Collyer’s gone to get some materials to do just that,’ she told him. ‘You’ve both done a sterling job,’ she added as April appeared with another bucket. ‘I’ll carry on here whilst you go and get some hot food inside you,’ she said, her heart going out to the conscientious youngsters, who weren’t much more than children themselves.
As they nodded and disappeared down the stairs, she heard a scraping noise coming from the rain-spattered roof. Then a face appeared through the gap left by the missing tiles.
‘Managed to cadge the stuff off the ship, so I’ll get on with the job right away. You mind yourself, Miss Sullivan. Don’t want you covered in this black sticky goo now, do we?’
‘Do be careful, Mr Collyer,’ she urged him. ‘Shall I go and get Mr Higgins? He did offer to help.’
‘He’s already down there holding the ladder steady,’ the man called.
Then she heard a thud followed by scraping. The room went dark as the daylight stopped showing through the roof. Making a quick assessment of the state of the dormitory, Sarah gave a sigh of relief. Thanks to April and Pip’s admirable efforts, it seemed the damage had been contained to the far end. Seeing there was nothing else she could do until the repair had been completed, she made her way back down the stairs to empty one of the buckets. The best thing would be for the girls to move into her room for the night. It would be a squeeze, but there were extra blankets in the big airing cupboard at the end of the hall, and they could bed down on those.
‘Mrs Daws said inspection is to be next week,’ April said, looking up from her bowl of soup as Sarah entered the kitchen.
‘Yes, Miss Green brought the letter with her,’ Sarah replied, patting her pocket so that the envelope crackled.
‘Not given us much notice, have they?’ Pip frowned, his hazel eyes darkening to brown. ‘The doctor used to spend weeks getting everything ready.’
‘I reckon that witch has had that letter for ages,’ April muttered. ‘It’s the kind of trick she’d play.’
Sarah stared at the girl in surprise, for hadn’t she been thinking the same thing? ‘Well, the date is set and we shall do our best to be ready,’ she replied, keeping her voice light. ‘Talking of Miss Green, I really must see how she’s getting on.’
‘Mrs Daws has gone to see if Mrs Laver can come over for a couple of hours to help with the bedding,’ April said. ‘She said we were to find ourselves some dry clothes from the donations. I’m fed up with being a charity basket, not that people aren’t very kind giving us things they’ve finished with,’ she added quickly as Pip nudged her. ‘It’s just that it would be nice to wear something that’s been made just for you.’
Sarah patted the girl’s shoulder. ‘And so you shall, April. Mrs Knight has set up a sewing bee and the ladies are making new smocks for all the girls and shirts for the boys of Red Cliffs, so …’
‘You mean that includes us?’ April gasped, staring at Sarah in surprise.
‘As two of the most important people at Red Cliffs, both you and Pip need to look smart for the inspection, don’t you?’
‘Well, I’ll be,’ April murmured, sounding for all the world like the housekeeper. ‘Did you hear that, Pip? We’re to have our very own tops.’
Pip, more interested in his food, merely nodded.
Sarah smiled at the look of wonder on April’s face, but as she made her way to the schoolroom, she had a dreadful thought. Everyone had expected the inspection wouldn’t be for a few weeks yet. Would the ladies have enough time to finish their work? The strident tones of the schoolmistress broke into her thoughts.
‘Get back to your work, Edith Curdy, or do you want to be locked in the coal store again?’
‘No,’ the girl cried.
‘Then do as you’re told,’ the woman snapped.
Sarah threw open the door and stared around the room. Far from working on the aprons, as she’d instructed, the girls were sitting despondently stitching their samplers. Then she saw Kitty trying to console Edith, who was trembling so much she could hardly hold her needle. Incensed beyond words, Sarah took a deep breath to steady herself.
‘What is the meaning of this, Miss Green?’ she asked, endeavouring to keep her voice steady, as she was conscious the girls were watching.
‘I’m sure I don’t know what you mean, Miss Sullivan. The girls are learning their stitches as they normally do during my lesson,’ the mistress replied, placing emphasis on the word ‘my’.
‘I would remind you that I expressly asked that you supervise their apron-making during the needlework classes.’
‘And I would remind you that you are not schoolmistress here, Miss Sullivan, I am. It is up to me what I choose to teach and how I conduct my lessons,’ the woman responded, drawing herself up to her full height. ‘Besides, with the inspection taking place next week, I’d have thought you would be doing everything to comply with regulations.’ As the woman stood smirking in front of her, Sarah felt intense loathing spread throughout her body. Inspection or not, there was no way she was going to be blackmailed.
‘She were going to shut Edith in the coal store, miss,’ Kitty piped up.
‘
Kitty Bawden, get your miserable body out here. I will show you how we deal with common little sneaks,’ the woman snarled, snatching up her ruler.
‘Put that down at once,’ Sarah ordered.
The mistress curled her lips. ‘You are making my position here untenable, Miss Sullivan.’
‘Then I suggest you remove yourself from the premises,’ Sarah said coldly.
‘You’ll be sorry,’ the woman warned, grabbing her bag. ‘I shall inform the local authority immediately.’
‘I’d be obliged if you would, Miss Green. Good day to you,’ she added.
As the door slammed closed behind the woman, a cheer went up from the class.
‘You told her good and proper, miss,’ Kitty chuckled.
Sarah smiled tremulously then sank onto the chair the mistress had vacated. What had she done?
‘Would you like a drink of water, miss?’ Monday asked. ‘Mamma always got me water when I was feeling icky.’
Seeing the concerned look on the little girl’s face, Sarah smiled. ‘That’s very kind, Monday, but I’m feeling much better now, thank you,’ she replied, making an effort to pull herself together. ‘Right, girls, it’s time for break. Go into the kitchen and have a hot drink. Then we will work on our aprons in the dining room for the rest of the afternoon,’ she told them, thinking it would be good for them to be away from the site of the recent unpleasant scene. Slowly following after them, she reflected on what a day it had turned out to be and how she couldn’t wait for night and the sanctuary of her bed. Then she remembered she’d be sharing her room with at least six others and sighed. It promised to be a long night as well.
‘Everything all right?’ Harry asked, as she passed. He was holding the ladder steady. From above came the sound of banging. ‘You look all in. Haven’t overdone it, have you?’ he asked, his eyes clouding with concern.
‘I think Miss Green has left Red Cliffs for good,’ Sarah admitted. Taking a deep breath, she began telling him all that had gone on.
‘We can’t have Edith locked in the coal store and I know your feelings about physical punishment,’ he replied. ‘I can’t deny it’s bad timing, though.’