by Linda Finlay
‘Can we sing that song you taught us?’ Monday asked. ‘Miss Sullivan said no when we asked, but we did anyway and she liked it.’
‘That was only ’cos we said we sewed faster if we got into the rhythm,’ Maggie pointed out. Picturing the scene, Sheena smiled. The girls could be very persuasive when they wanted.
‘Once everyone is busy stitching, we can all sing together, my angels. Now, Edith, show me where you’ve got to with your dress.’
‘It’s almost done,’ the girl cried excitedly as she held it up for Sheena to see. ‘I found some ribbon and am adding a sash to brighten it up.’
‘That is a splendid idea, is it not?’ Sheena cried, marvelling at the girl’s ingenuity.
‘And,’ Edith added, her eyes alight with excitement, ‘as there’s lots of material left, I thought I’d make a jacket. Miss Sullivan said it would be too difficult but I told her you’d draw me a pattern so I could follow it. You will, won’t you?’
‘Let’s see how the time goes,’ Sheena replied diplomatically. ‘You know how Miss Sullivan wants everyone to have their outfits ready for Easter.’ She smiled encouragingly. Edith was certainly talented and she didn’t wish to dampen her enthusiasm but neither did she want to cross Miss Sullivan.
‘Me stiches is sku hiffy, miss,’ June called.
‘I think you mean skewwhiff, June,’ Sheena corrected. ‘Edith, perhaps you could help?’
‘Hers probably whiff anyway,’ Ellen giggled.
When everyone was finally settled to their work, Sheena began singing and before long the girls were joining in. There was no doubt it concentrated their minds and she was proud of the way they were all knuckling down. It certainly wasn’t an easy task teaching to such a mix of age and ability. Then she noticed the cotton dress still sitting on the desk.
‘Isn’t April joining us this afternoon?’ she asked.
‘I expect Mrs Daws needed her. She left halfway through the lesson on Saturday,’ Sally said.
‘Yeah, she didn’t look happy. Strange really ’cos she was so excited when Miss Sullivan said she could have the first one as she is the eldest,’ Edith pointed out.
‘Really?’ Sheena said, frowning at the garment, which had hardly been touched since she’d last seen April.
‘It’s a shame, ’cos she’d look really lovely in that green cotton with her red hair,’ Edith sighed. ‘Wish we could grow ours.’
Sheena stared at the girl thoughtfully. Then seeing the girls were more interested in the discussion about April than their work, she resumed singing and soon the room was filled once more with the sound of their voices.
By the time the bell went, some progress had been made. It was slow going, though, and once again Sheena lamented the fact the school didn’t have a sewing machine. She picked up April’s garment. If the girl really had been so enthusiastic, it seemed a shame she couldn’t attend her lessons. She’d go and speak with Mrs Daws and see if they could come to some arrangement.
‘Hello, Mrs Daws, do you mind if I come in?’ Sheena asked, popping her head round the kitchen door. To her surprise the housekeeper was sitting at the table with her feet up on the chair.
‘Of course not, dearie. Don’t mind me,’ Mrs Daws said, holding up her cup. ‘Now the weather’s better, the children can run around outside after lessons for a bit. Gives me a chance to take the weight of my feet before dishing up supper. Plenty in the pot, if you want one,’ she added, indicating the cosy-covered teapot. Sheena looked around the room and, seeing no sign of April, sat down beside the woman.
‘Thank you but I’d just like a quick word about April. As you know, Miss Sullivan is keen for all the girls to have their new outfits completed for Easter.’
‘Yes, most insistent about that,’ the housekeeper nodded.
‘I understand April left Miss Sullivan’s lesson early on Saturday and she didn’t attend at all this afternoon. Although I understand she has her chores to do here, I’m afraid her sewing is falling behind,’ Sheena explained, holding up the cotton material.
The housekeeper frowned. ‘Well, she never came to help me get supper on Saturday afternoon and I certainly said she can come to all your lessons as long as she attends to anything that needs doing here afterwards.’
‘There seems to be some confusion,’ Sheena began just as April appeared from the hallway. Her eyes widened when she saw the mistress and she started to back out of the room.
‘Get yourself in here, young April,’ the housekeeper ordered. ‘Now you haven’t been in the kitchen helping me so what have you been doing with yourself all afternoon?’
April stared from the housekeeper to Sheena, then down at the floor.
‘It’s no good, miss,’ she muttered.
‘What’s no good, my angel?’ Sheena said, crouching down beside her.
April shook her head.
‘Come on, girl, cat got your tongue?’ Mrs Daws urged.
‘I know you find stitching difficult with your left hand, but I thought we’d found a way for you to work the material.’
‘It’s not that,’ April cried.
‘Then what is it, April? Am I not a very good teacher?’
‘You’re the tops, miss, but …’
‘But?’ Sheena encouraged. ‘You can tell me.’
‘It’s too embarrassing,’ April whispered.
‘Not as embarrassing as it will be for Miss O’Reilly when Miss Sullivan finds out your new outfit’s not ready to wear for the concert,’ Mrs Daws snorted.
‘And why would that be, April?’ They looked up as Sarah appeared in the doorway. ‘I saw you disappear from my lesson on Saturday so I think you owe us some answers.’
Noticing the way in which the girl was desperately glancing from Sarah to the hallway beyond and then to the back door, Sheena reached out and put her hand on her arm.
‘If I’m doing something wrong, then you’d better tell Miss Sullivan,’ Sheena urged.
‘But it’s not you, miss, it’s me. I’ll never fit into me dress. I must have eaten too many cakes ’cos I gone and grown too much up here,’ she cried, pointing to her chest.
‘Oh, my wee angel,’ Sheena cried. ‘That’s because you’re developing into a woman. It’s something that happens to all girls and you should be proud of your blossoming buds.’
‘Not if they mean I can’t fit into me clothes,’ April whispered.
‘Clothes can be adapted, my sweet,’ Sheena cried, her heart going out to the girl.
‘Even the new dress?’ April asked, hope flaring in her eyes.
‘Especially your new dress,’ Sheena assured her. ‘If it’s all right with Mrs Daws, you can come back to the classroom with me and we’ll make a note of your new womanly measurements.’
‘Of course, it is,’ the housekeeper replied. ‘I only wish I’d spotted what was happening but you can’t see anything under them big blooming aprons. Never gave it a thought, Miss Sullivan, what with her knowing about her monthlies like,’ she said turning to Sarah.
‘That’s all right, Mrs Daws,’ Sarah told the woman. ‘And when you’ve finished with April perhaps you could spare me a minute in my office, Miss O’Reilly?’
23
Sarah looked up from the pile of correspondence and smiled as the schoolmistress entered her office.
‘Do come in and take a seat, Miss O’Reilly.’ She couldn’t help noticing that despite it being the end of the afternoon, the woman, in her brightly coloured skirt and blouse, still looked remarkably lively although there was a wariness in her eyes. ‘How did you get on with April?’ she asked.
‘Once we’d had a little chat about how women’s bodies change and why, she perked up no end. Then the poor wee angel began worrying about being behind with her sewing. I know she’s only missed a couple of classes but it takes her that long to do her stitching in the first place. She began fretting about letting you down if her dress isn’t ready for Easter so I …’ Her voice trailed off.
‘So you?’ Sarah
prompted.
‘You’ll probably be horribly cross with me, Miss Sullivan, but I couldn’t bear to see the poor girl upset. I promised to unpick her dress at home and pin it out to her new measurements so that we could make a fresh start on Wednesday.’
‘And you thought I’d disapprove?’ Sarah asked, staring at the woman in surprise.
‘Well, you did make it plain that you wanted the girls to do the adaptations themselves, which I quite understand,’ Sheena added hastily. ‘But April is so sensitive at the moment, I thought a little extra encouragement would help.’
Sarah shook her head. Did she really come across as being so hard?
Sheena, misunderstanding her gesture, got to her feet.
‘I’m sorry, Miss Sullivan, I really don’t seem to be meeting your needs here, do I?’
‘No, Miss O’Reilly, you don’t,’ Sarah replied. ‘You far exceed them,’ she smiled. ‘Oh, I can’t deny I was a little concerned about your methods at first, but having seen the girls’ work and, more importantly, listened to how they feel about you, I am impressed.’ She paused as the mistress gaped at her in astonishment.
‘You are?’
‘Yes, Miss O’Reilly, I am. However, there is something I’d like to discuss with you,’ Sarah said, gesturing for her to be seated again.
Still looking stunned, the mistress took her chair.
‘Since my arrival here last autumn, I have been aware that the school gives no formal instruction on girls’ development and this incident with April highlights the fact that we need to put something in place. Although Mrs Daws does an admirable job of dealing with feminine issues, I feel a more structured approach to the subject would benefit the girls. How would you feel about incorporating such a lesson into your timetable?’ There was silence as the mistress contemplated the idea and Sarah hoped she hadn’t overstepped the mark.
‘That’s a really good idea. I could start with the basics, maybe tell a story of a young princess growing up, to engage the younger ones without worrying them. Then I could add more detail individually as they needed it. So many young girls have no idea of what to expect, don’t they?’
‘Indeed they don’t. Well, if you are agreeable, I will leave it to you to encompass that aspect into their curriculum. Of course, I am here if you encounter any problems, although somehow I don’t think you will. As I said, the girls have really warmed to you.’
‘Thank you, Miss Sullivan, for, to be sure, I have warmed to the little angels myself.’
‘As for encouraging April with her sewing, if you are happy to work on her dress at home, that would be most kind of you. I only wish we had the funds to remunerate you,’ Sarah said sadly.
The mistress waved her hand dismissively. ‘It will be enough to see those girls looking pretty in their new outfits at the concert,’ she said, but she was frowning.
‘Do I sense a but, Miss O’Reilly?’
‘It is their hair, or rather lack of it. I realize for hygiene purposes they need to keep it short but could they not be allowed to grow it just a bit? Their shaven heads make them look like waifs from olden times. The girls are well looked after here but I would be happy to undertake the job of nit-picking, if it were necessary, for did I not do that for my siblings back home?’
‘It’s nice to know we share the same ideas, Miss O’Reilly. I will have to discuss that with Master Higgins and Mrs Daws, then let you know their views. Now, is there anything else?’
‘Just one more question, Miss Sullivan. Would you have any objection to my showing Edith how to make a simple bolero? She’s already finished her dress and, although she is assisting the slower pupils, I don’t wish to discourage her enthusiasm.’
‘By bolero, you mean a jacket?’ Sarah asked.
Sheena nodded. ‘A simple jacket with short sleeves. I’m happy to draw up a pattern so it would be quite easy and quick to do, but I thought I’d better check with you first.’
‘You have my permission. Thank you, Miss O’Reilly, you really are going to be an asset to Red Cliffs.’ Sarah and Sheena exchanged their first warm smiles, knowing they were on the same wavelength at last.
Harry hurried down the hallway, his mind on the school roof. Langham and his men had made good, if somewhat noisy progress, although he’d had the devil’s own job getting the children to concentrate on their sums that morning. Thank heavens he’d had the idea of getting them to count the sheets of tin in the pile outside the classroom then devise a lesson on subtraction as they were taken away.
The afternoon had been easier, as he’d got Solomon to talk them through the various tools they’d salvaged and what they were used for. He was a bright boy with eyes like a hawk and had seen through Harry’s excuse to talk to Sheena. He’d have to be more careful in future.
Now he was off to report on the progress Langham had made, before keeping his side of the bargain and sorting out the man’s books. It was yet another call on his time but he had got a good price in return, he reminded himself as he knocked on the office door.
‘Come in, Master Higgins,’ Sarah called.
‘It might not be me,’ he quipped as he strode into the room. Then he saw Sheena and his pulse quickened.
‘Oh, sorry, I didn’t realize you were here, Miss O’Reilly.’ He smiled at her genially only to receive a stiff nod in return. ‘I won’t keep you, Miss Sullivan,’ he said turning to Sarah. ‘Just thought you’d like to know Langham reckons his men should have the job finished by the end of the week.’
‘That is good news. Thank you,’ Sarah replied. ‘No, don’t go,’ she added as he turned away. ‘Sit down, there’s something I would like your opinion on.’
‘Well, in that case …’ Sheena said, jumping to her feet, but Sarah frowned.
‘Please stay, too, Miss O’Reilly. In fact, why don’t you put your proposal to Master Higgins yourself?’
Harry turned to the schoolmistress and saw two bright spots staining her cheeks. ‘You were going to propose to me, Miss O’Reilly?’ he asked, placing his hand on his heart.
‘Certainly not,’ she retorted sharply. ‘I merely suggested that the girls would look prettier at the concert if they were permitted to grow their hair a little.’
Harry couldn’t resist raising his brows in mock horror.
‘Don’t tease, Master Higgins,’ Sarah admonished. ‘I think it’s a wonderful idea, especially as Miss O’Reilly has promised to nit-pick.’
Harry almost laughed aloud at the picture that conjured up and could see from Sarah’s eyes that she, too, was finding the thought funny. As if she’d sensed their amusement, Sheena stared at each of them in turn, her emerald eyes turning stormy. Not wishing to upset her further, Harry pulled himself together.
‘Actually, I agree that would be a good idea. Bring them into this century,’ he replied.
‘Good, for that was exactly what I was thinking,’ Sheena said, getting to her feet. ‘Now if you’ll excuse me, Nanna will be waiting for her tea. Good afternoon.’ Although she spoke politely, her voice had none of the warmth he associated with her and she left the room without looking in his direction.
‘I hope you don’t mind,’ Sarah began, bringing him back to the present. ‘When I met Josephine Harmon earlier, I briefly ran through the idea you had of teaching the boys to make and repair tools. She thought it could indeed bring in extra funding. However, she pointed out that the Local Authority would probably insist on a dedicated workshop being set aside for the project.’
‘Hadn’t thought of that,’ he admitted. ‘I can see it would make sense, though. I’ll speak to Langham and see if he can come up with a solution.’
‘Good. Is everything all right, Harry? I couldn’t help noticing things seemed a bit strained between you and Miss O’Reilly earlier.’
He shrugged for in truth he still had no idea what he’d done wrong.
‘I’m pleased you agreed with her suggestion of allowing the girls to grow their hair.’
‘Well, the days of Vi
ctoria’s asceticism are over and we should move with the times. Talking of which, it’s high time I was moving, too. I’ll see you in the morning, Sarah.’
Left alone with her thoughts, Sarah stretched, then moved her seat nearer to the dwindling fire. Although it was still an ongoing battle with finances, she did feel that at last Red Cliffs was moving forward, and hoped her godfather would be proud that she was doing justice to his legacy. She stared around the room, taking in the shabby décor and threadbare rugs. One day I shall refurbish all this, Uncle, she promised. Half expecting him to answer, she waited, but the only sound was from the hearth as the last of the coals shifted in the grate.
In contemplative mood, she returned to her musing. Although she’d had some reservations about Miss O’Reilly, the girl’s heart was in the right place and her sympathetic dealings with April’s predicament earlier had proven that. She’d be the right person to teach them about their bodies, too. It was a good idea to let the girls grow their hair and she was pleased Harry had agreed. She frowned. When she’d asked if everything was all right between him and Miss O’Reilly earlier, he hadn’t really given her a proper answer. Had she imagined the atmosphere between them? And where did she stand with Harry now, she wondered.
Her meeting of the NUWSS had been both inspiring and motivational. The desire for women to have more say in the running of the country was gathering momentum and with plans to spread the word to every town and village, she fully intended doing her part. She’d make it her mission to ensure the girls understood the advantages attaining the right to vote would make to their lives and insist that Harry teach the boys, too. After all, theirs would be the first generation to experience the changes. It was a thrilling time and she enjoyed supporting a cause she felt so passionate about. She’d also relished exchanging views and opinions with Josephine over tea and cake in the café.
Thoughts of the café conjured up an image of the dark-haired man with intense eyes. Bertram J. Brightling, he’d said his name was. Although she hadn’t liked to admit it, Josephine had been right. He had appeared to be showing an interest in her and she felt a frisson of excitement tingle through her. As well as being a boost to her morale, it would distract her from her preoccupation with Harry Higgins and Sheena O’Reilly.