The Girls of Cropton Hall

by Stanlegh Meresith

  ---oOo---

  Monday 6.15 p.m.

  Tom Arnold had meant to get started on clearing leaves out of the gutters today. "Ladder-work this morning, love," he'd told the missus as he'd spooned the last of his porridge at breakfast. Instead of which he'd been summoned in panic to the Chapel, had a tricky cleaning job thrust upon him and was now on the six o'clock Cropton to Wrelton bus on another unplanned errand. Still, she'd given him that smile, and the glow it'd left in his heart still warmed some cockles.

  He'd taken a seat on the right side of the bus to keep an eye out and when he saw the Ford Anglia - exactly where Miss Markham had said it'd be - he called out,

  "Here'll do me. Thanks, Bert."

  The bus pulled up and Tom got off, hauling his two gallon can of petrol.

  Tank replenished, he'd driven barely half a mile back the way the bus had brought him when he saw her. Unmistakably a Cropton girl even though she was wearing a duffle coat over her uniform. Now what the heck was she doing scuttling along in the middle of nowhere at this hour?

  He pulled across the empty road to block her path and got out. Shirley Barton stared at him in dismay.

  "Now then, young Miss, where's tha think tha's goin'?"

  Shirley stood there, unable to articulate an answer. Tom went round and opened the passenger door. He nodded to indicate, 'In you get' and Shirley walked slowly round to climb in.

  They drove in silence for a while before Tom asked,

  "'Spect tha's the one, eh?"

  There was no response.

  "What painted the crest?" Still no response.

  "Runnin' away, was tha?" He glanced across but Shirley kept her eyes fixed on the road ahead.

  "So what do it mean, like? SWACK?"

  Shirley continued to ignore him and looked out of the window. Tom sighed, but couldn't resist one final observation.

  "Well, 'spect tha'll be a sight noisier when Miss Markham's dealin' with thee."

  Shirley's eyes narrowed and a slight flush came to her face but she remained as silent as the approaching night.

  ---oOo---

  Monday 6.30 p.m.

  Sir Stanlegh Meeth sat back and stretched his arms. He sighed. He'd never known a Monday to drag on so long.

  Getting up, he took his glass of Brunello over to the window. Dusk was falling over the Thames, the sky glowing red in the west over Richmond and Twickenham. He gazed down at the passers-by strolling along the embankment six floors below, enjoying the omniscient view: little toy people with the little toy cars crawling by - the evening traffic much the same as the morning or the afternoon traffic these days: mostly stationary.

  As he sipped the smooth red wine, his eyes now tracing the familiar winding route of the river as it snaked its way east, he thought about Founder's Day at Cropton Hall. October 1st. A noble date. But shouldn't he be there? He, of all people? The trouble was, he'd been very specific with Verily that he would arrive on Saturday, and he felt guilty about changing things at this late stage. No, he'd have to sit this one out.

  He'd just returned to his desk to roll a cigarette and resume work when the phone rang.

  "Chelsea 1234," he intoned. " ... Ah, Sir Wilfred! Hello. Good to hear from you. How can I help you? ... Well, how strange! I was just this minute thinking about that very thing. No, I won't be there on Friday, but I wish you all the best and I hope the day is a great success ... oh ... I see ... well, I'm very sorry to hear that ... mm ... and do you think her Ladyship will be well enough to attend on Saturday? ... Ah ... Friday, yes, I see ... no, I quite understand, yes ... is that entirely wise? I mean, if she's feeling so ...? ... Really? ... Never missed a single Founder's Day? Well, that is impressive ... yes, well it's understandable ... anyway, I hope she feels better and she can enjoy the day ... yes ... thank you for calling ... no, really, it's been my pleasure ...yes ... Saturday then ... and yes, we'll see if her Ladyship is well enough ... quite ... very well ... goodbye."

  He put the phone down, stared at the sheets piled up on the desk and sighed. Not long now, he thought, as he reached for the tobacco.

  ---oOo---

  Monday 6.55 p.m.

  Watching the silent girl warily in case she tried to make a run for it, Tom Arnold escorted her down the corridor from the main entrance. When he saw Miss Bainbridge passing at the far end, he called out,

  "Hallo! Miss B!"

  She turned and peered in their direction.

  "Barton!" she exclaimed, striding towards them. "Where on earth have you been? We've been looking for you everywhere!" She turned to Tom. "Mr Arnold?"

  "I were just fetchin' Miss Markham's car back from down towards Wrelton when I come across this lass walkin' t'other way."

  Edith glared at Shirley. Barely suppressed fury suffused her features. "Running away, eh? Well, isn't that just what I'd have expected from ... from ... such a ... despicable COWARD!" She grabbed Shirley by the ear, grasping several strands of hair in the process and began to drag her quite roughly off down the corridor. "Thank you, Tom," she called behind her, before addressing the squirming girl once again. "You ... you guttersnipe! You'll wish you were a thousand miles away by the time Miss Markham's finished with you."

  Apart from a protesting 'Ow', Shirley said nothing, stumbling awkwardly after the mistress with her head twisted to one side. They turned right into the main corridor which was quite crowded with girls milling around just before prep, Miss Bainbridge almost shoving them out of the way in her determination to deliver the upper sixth-former to her much-delayed interview with the Headmistress. As the girls in her path jumped aside, some exclaiming in surprise or protest before they saw who it was, they heard the Deputy Head muttering, "Disgusting ... unspeakable ... the spite..."

  Miss Bainbridge only relinquished her painful grip on Shirley's ear once she had deposited her squarely on the carpet in front of the Headmistress' desk, announcing disgustedly,

  "Mr Arnold came across her on the road to Wrelton. She was running away!"

  Verily eyed the girl coolly, and turned to her deputy. "Miss Bainbridge, would you kindly bring Bennett to join us?"

  Edith raised her eyebrows in momentary surprise before departing with a 'Yes, Headmistress'.

  Shirley stood awkwardly rubbing her ear, a sullen expression on her face.

  "So, Barton, what do you have to say for yourself? Hm?"

  Shirley glared at the headmistress for a moment, then looked down. She said nothing.

  "I cannot believe that this is really you, Shirley," tried Verily, more gently.

  "I am not what I am," said Shirley, looking up with angry, narrowed eyes.

  Verily raised her eyebrows and a faint smile appeared at the corners of her mouth. "Ah!" she said. "So you fancy yourself as Iago, do you? 'Othello' - Act one, Scene one, isn't it?"

  Shirley stood in silence.

  "Shirley, I just want to know why you should have turned against Julia Bennett so suddenly ... and so ... nastily."

  Again, there was no response.

  The door opened and Edith appeared, followed by Julia Bennett.

  "Ah, Bennett, come in," said Verily, getting up and walking round to stand by the side of her desk. Julia came forward, glaring at Shirley, then looking to Verily for permission to speak. Verily nodded.

  "Why, Shirley, why?" asked Julia more in puzzlement than bitterness.

  "Demand me nothing," said Shirley, dismissively. "What you know, you know. From this time forth I never will speak word."

  While Edith and Julia stood in astonishment, Verily sprang into sudden action: she grabbed a nearby chair and placed it in the middle of the room behind Shirley. Then, grasping the girl by the back of her neck, she stepped back, sat down and forced her down over her knees. She pressed Shirley's shoulders down so her face was barely above the carpet and lifted her skirt up onto her back.

  "We will demand exactly what we choose, young lady," she said, bringing her right hand down with a loud smack onto Shirley's upturned bottom. "And you will sho
w us the courtesy of responding."

  She continued to spank Shirley fast and hard, right and left, high and low. "Iago was nothing but a very sad, jealous man," she continued, loudly so she could be heard over the noise of her hand slapping Shirley's fleshy bottom. "A sorry creature who brought nothing but pain to everyone - himself included - so the sooner you choose a better role model, the happier we'll all be!" SMACK!

  She paused and leaned over to her right. "Now then, are you ready to talk to us like a Cropton girl and leave Iago to the Complete Works?"

  Shirley, who'd remained silent through the spanking thus far, lay still and ignored the question.

  "Very well," said Verily in a business-like voice. She yanked Shirley's knickers down to her thighs with a series of firm tugs to right and left, exposing two large, round, pink buttocks. Shirley whimpered. "Miss Bainbridge, would you fetch me the brown plimsoll from the drawer please?"

  "Gladly, Headmistress." Edith quickly provided the requested item.

  "Bennett, come closer. I know we don't normally do this, but I think you have a right to observe."

  Julia, wide-eyed with surprise and embarrassment, stepped nearer and looked down at her erstwhile friend's pink bottom.

  Verily raised the plimsoll high and brought it down with a determined CRACK, flattening Shirley's right buttock. She repeated the dose to the left and Shirley groaned. Eight more whacks followed in quick succession and Shirley started to squeal and writhe over the Headmistress' knee. After the tenth, Verily stopped.

  "Barton, do you have any younger brothers or sisters?" she asked.

  They all waited, wondering if there'd be a reply. After a few moments, a tiny voice was heard from down below,

  "Yes, Miss."

  "Good," said the Headmistress, lifting her off her lap. "Stand up and pull up your knickers and let's have a sensible conversation, shall we?"

  Blushing, and with a tear poised just above the right side of her lip, Shirley reached down and pulled her knickers back up over her reddened bottom. Miss Markham went round to resume her seat. Edith and Julia looked on in curiosity.

  "So, tell me, Barton, how old is the next child in your family?"

  "They're sixteen, Miss."

  "They...?"

  "Yes, Miss, they're twins, Miss."

  "Boys or girls?"

  "Girls, Miss."

  "I see," said the Headmistress. She waited for several moments, deep in thought, then shook her head as if to bring herself back to the room. "So, Barton ... why?" She gazed at the dishevelled sixth-former. "Why turn on your best friend and deliberately get her into trouble?"

  Shirley looked down at her hands. Her fingers picked nervously at each other. Her silence was no longer one of melodramatic defiance; it was shame that now tied her tongue.

  "Barton, Julia was caned this morning for having cigarettes which you placed in her desk. You tried to get her blamed for painting the crest as well. What's happened? What on earth possessed you to do such a thing?"

  Shirley looked up at the Headmistress, tears streaming down her anguished face. She shook her head, unable to speak. Then she turned to Julia and her face crumpled in abject sorrow.

  "I'm ... SORRY! I'm so sorry, Julia..."

  She burst into sobs. Julia stood watching, torn between a desire for revenge and a growing sympathy. She said nothing.

  "Good, Barton, but why?" asked the Headmistress again. "What happened?"

  "I ... I was ... jealous, Miss," sobbed Shirley. "Bennett and ... Pearson, Miss ... they became friends so quickly, Miss ... and I ... I felt left out and ... then I was dropped from the team as well, and ... and ... oh God! I'm so ashamed!"

  She covered her face with her hands. Verily looked at Julia and read the conflict in the girl's mind, then she glanced at Edith who was looking equally torn between pity and scepticism.

  "Well, that is an entirely appropriate feeling in the circumstances, Barton. You should indeed be ashamed. But tell me ... has your mother ever spoken to you about how you reacted when your twin sisters were born?"

  Shirley paused, her sobs subdued. She looked up. "Yes ... yes, Miss. She said I ... I was angry, Miss, and ... and ... " A look of surprise came over her face. "and ... very jealous, Miss."

  "And how do you feel when your mother mentions this?"

  "I hate it ... I feel ... very ashamed, Miss."

  "Quite so." Verily paused, then continued in a gentle tone. "But Shirley, that wasn't your fault. Young children often get jealous when a younger child comes along - even worse when it's a pair of them! You were two years old. You didn't know what you were doing."

  Shirley looked gratefully at the older woman. "No, I suppose not, Miss ... thank you, Miss."

  "But Shirley ... you're eighteen now, and you do know what you're doing, don't you?"

  Shirley looked down and nodded.

  "You've allowed your jealousy to get the better of you, haven't you?"

  Shirley nodded again. "Yes, Miss."

  "And, although I can understand now why you did such a horrible thing to Bennett here, I will have to punish you. This means a very severe caning. You know that, don't you?"

  "Yes, Miss," said Shirley, drying her eyes. She looked at the Headmistress. "And I know I deserve it, Miss. I ... I almost want it, Miss ... 'specially if ..." She looked at Julia and Miss Bainbridge. " ... if it means ... you can forgive me?" Her face crumpled again and she looked down as a fresh wave of tears brimmed from her eyes.

  Verily looked questioningly at the other two. Julia stepped forward and put her hands on the sides of Shirley's shoulders, bending slightly to look up into her eyes. "Shirley," she said, "I'm sorry if I was ignoring you. But ... you should have said something ... not ... not..."

  "I KNOW!" wailed Shirley. "I know ... I'm so sorry, Julia. I ... I HATE myself for ... what I've done. I don't deserve to be your friend, not any more." She stood sobbing as Julia gently let go and stepped back.

  "Miss Bainbridge?" said the Headmistress. Edith cleared her throat.

  "Barton, in the light of what we've heard, I ... I believe I understand why you've behaved so ... abominably. But it is very hard for me to find forgiveness at this moment, because I too am feeling very ashamed. Your actions caused me to cane Bennett here for something she didn't do, and I should have known better." She turned to Julia. "Bennett, I haven't had a chance to say how deeply, deeply sorry I am that I punished you in such haste this morning. If it's any consolation, you may rest assured that I shall never forgive myself for it." She looked down to hide her emotion. "I cannot undo the wrong I've done you, but ... I don't know if your parents are coming this Friday, but if they are then I shall apologise to them in person, and if not, I shall be writing to them with a full explanation." She took a deep breath, not noticing the look of alarm on Julia's face. "I don't expect you to be able to forgive me, Bennett, but I do hope you can at least accept my most sincere apology."

  Julia looked very embarrassed and turned to Miss Markham, who simply smiled and raised her eyebrows. The sixth-former turned back to Miss Bainbridge and stammered, "Er ... well ... erm ... actually, Miss, I do forgive you. It wasn't your fault, not really. I don't blame you ... but... um ... I'd rather you didn't write to my parents if you don't mind, Miss... er ... they don't know I smoke, you see, and, well ... I really would be in trouble if they heard about that, Miss." She smiled awkwardly. Edith looked puzzled for a moment then very relieved.

  "Very well, Bennett, as you wish," said Edith. "But if you change your..."

  "No, Miss, really ... thank you, but ... " said Julia, firmly.

  "Good!" said Verily. "So, Barton, I suggest you also apologise to Patterson for involving her in your wicked schemes." She said the words in an almost humorous tone, but then became more serious. "As Patterson has already been informed, you will both be caned in front of the Upper Sixth tomorrow morning." There was a silence as this news was absorbed. "But I am happy to say that the important work has already been accomplished."

&nb
sp; 'All must be redeemed!' echoed like the chorus of a song in her mind. Won't you help to sing, Sir Stanlegh?

  "Yes, Miss. Thank you, Miss," said Shirley with an almost fervent gratitude that seemed quite incongruous coming from a girl just informed she was to receive a thrashing in front of her fellow pupils.

  "Right! Well, prep has already started, so I suggest you two run along and get on with your work." The two girls turned to leave. "But," continued Verily, causing them both to pause, "you'd both be well-advised to avoid getting any Study card marks in the near future! Though of course we would be inclined to leniency in your case, Bennett, wouldn't we Miss Bainbridge?"

  "Yes, of course, Headmistress. In the circumstances, very much so..."

  Verily smiled mischievously at her deputy.

  Julia led the way out. Shirley followed meekly, her performance as Iago a distant memory.

  34. Room for Everyone

  Monday, 27th September 1953 7.45 p.m.

  Helplessness can be the most frustrating of feelings, if indeed it is a feeling at all - more a state of limbo perhaps, of paralysis, beyond, or short of, feeling. In hardy spirits, however, the first whiff of helplessness more often than not induces a compulsion to act so strong it will not be denied.

  Nothing if not hardy, Rachel Thomas quite simply could not endure sitting helplessly through prep while the thought of Alice and Grace's expulsion gnawed at her conscience.

  Knowing Susan would make a fuss and try to stop her, Rachel waited till her beloved left their form room to go to the lavatory. Then she got up and slipped out, making her way down the main corridor and turning left into the shorter corridor that led to the Headmistress' study. Guessing today's prep punishments would have been numerous, she was relieved when she saw that there was no one still sitting on the bench due to be 'dealt with'.

  She knocked. Her heart knocked too, racing in her ribcage like a runaway train on a track to who knew where.

  She was sensible enough to not even begin to think about lying to Miss Markham - well, not unless it was something totally safe to lie about; her nerves were more to do with her audacity in coming to plead for Alice and Grace and spilling the beans about SWACK. But she was banking on the fact that the Head would not take unkindly to her acts of unselfishness and honesty.