good time, chickie,” said Aunt Jean.
Then it was Polly’s turn. She couldn’t speak as Maud hugged her and whispered, “Remember the rules! See you in ten days!”
Maud turned and followed Miss Guppy back inside. The heavy door closed firmly behind them.
“Well!” said Aunt Jean in the taxi.
“There’s
a woman who knows her own mind! She made me feel like a young girl!”
“She’s terribly overbearing, but she appears to be an excellent and committed headmistress,” said Noni.
“And Maud seems to like her,” said Aunt Jean. “That’s the most important thing.”
“Yes, Maud seems to like
everything
about the school. I’m sure she’ll be happy there. And of course she’ll get a good classic education. I wish
I’d
had that opportunity.”
On the way out they passed a group of uniformed girls walking up the drive. They were laughing and talking so intently that they didn’t even glance at the taxi. They were part of a secret world, as alien as Maud now seemed to Polly.
To Polly’s relief she was sent to bed early, after supper on a tray—which she hardly touched—that came to the room. She sat on her cot in her nightgown and watched Noni and Aunt Jean get dressed for dinner. “If you need anything, just phone the desk and they’ll come and get us in the dining room,” said Noni. She tucked Polly in and kissed her. “You go right to sleep, hen. Don’t fash yourself about Maud—remember that you’ll see her soon.”
For a long time Polly lay on the bed, all the events of the day marching through her mind. Then she sat at the window and watched the lit-up boats in the harbour. People strolled by on the sidewalk, laughing and chatting. Everyone looked happy—everyone but her.
She got back into bed, burrowed under the blankets, and let herself cry.
Polly knew that Maud and Miss Guppy would prevail. Miss Guppy would persuade Noni to let Maud be a full boarder. She wouldcome home a week this Friday, but then she’d stay for the whole term and Polly wouldn’t see her until Christmas!
Now Polly had no one. No Maud, no Daddy, no Grannie … and no mother, even though she couldn’t remember her. And she didn’t understand what had happened in August and no one would tell her, not even Maud! She was tired of going on trains and boats and staying in new places. She didn’t want to start a strange new school with scary-looking girls like Alice in it. The future was a dark tunnel she was being forced to enter, but it wasn’t like the tunnels on the train because she didn’t know when or if she would come out on the other side.
“Oh, oh!” sobbed Polly. Her tears choked her they came so fast.
“Why, chickie, what on earth is the matter?” Aunt Jean rushed in and sat on the edge of the cot. She took out her handkerchief and wiped Polly’s face. Then she held her shuddering body. “Poor wean, this is so hard for you. Things will get better, I promise. We’ll take good care of you, and you’ll come to like living with us.”
“I want to live with my
Daddy,
like I always have!” cried Polly.
“Whisht, now. You mustn’t think about your father—it will only make you sad. Be a good lassie and try to go to sleep. Everything will look better in the morning.”
Polly’s sobs diminished to gulping breaths. She let Aunt Jean tuck her in. “Where’s Noni?” she croaked.
“She ran into someone she knew, but she’s coming up soon. Go to sleep now, chickie.”
Aunt Jean rubbed Polly’s back and began to sing:
Dance to your Daddy
My little babby
Dance to your Daddy
My little one.
You shall have a fishie
In a little dishie.
You shall have a fishie
When the boat comes in.
“Jean!” Noni hurried over from the door. “How can you sing that to Polly? It’s completely inappropriate!”
“Sorry, Polly,” said Aunt Jean. “I wasn’t thinking. That was Gregor’s favourite lullaby.”
“I liked it,” murmured Polly.
“Polly has been
Then it was Polly’s turn. She couldn’t speak as Maud hugged her and whispered, “Remember the rules! See you in ten days!”
Maud turned and followed Miss Guppy back inside. The heavy door closed firmly behind them.
“Well!” said Aunt Jean in the taxi.
“There’s
a woman who knows her own mind! She made me feel like a young girl!”
“She’s terribly overbearing, but she appears to be an excellent and committed headmistress,” said Noni.
“And Maud seems to like her,” said Aunt Jean. “That’s the most important thing.”
“Yes, Maud seems to like
everything
about the school. I’m sure she’ll be happy there. And of course she’ll get a good classic education. I wish
I’d
had that opportunity.”
On the way out they passed a group of uniformed girls walking up the drive. They were laughing and talking so intently that they didn’t even glance at the taxi. They were part of a secret world, as alien as Maud now seemed to Polly.
To Polly’s relief she was sent to bed early, after supper on a tray—which she hardly touched—that came to the room. She sat on her cot in her nightgown and watched Noni and Aunt Jean get dressed for dinner. “If you need anything, just phone the desk and they’ll come and get us in the dining room,” said Noni. She tucked Polly in and kissed her. “You go right to sleep, hen. Don’t fash yourself about Maud—remember that you’ll see her soon.”
For a long time Polly lay on the bed, all the events of the day marching through her mind. Then she sat at the window and watched the lit-up boats in the harbour. People strolled by on the sidewalk, laughing and chatting. Everyone looked happy—everyone but her.
She got back into bed, burrowed under the blankets, and let herself cry.
Polly knew that Maud and Miss Guppy would prevail. Miss Guppy would persuade Noni to let Maud be a full boarder. She wouldcome home a week this Friday, but then she’d stay for the whole term and Polly wouldn’t see her until Christmas!
Now Polly had no one. No Maud, no Daddy, no Grannie … and no mother, even though she couldn’t remember her. And she didn’t understand what had happened in August and no one would tell her, not even Maud! She was tired of going on trains and boats and staying in new places. She didn’t want to start a strange new school with scary-looking girls like Alice in it. The future was a dark tunnel she was being forced to enter, but it wasn’t like the tunnels on the train because she didn’t know when or if she would come out on the other side.
“Oh, oh!” sobbed Polly. Her tears choked her they came so fast.
“Why, chickie, what on earth is the matter?” Aunt Jean rushed in and sat on the edge of the cot. She took out her handkerchief and wiped Polly’s face. Then she held her shuddering body. “Poor wean, this is so hard for you. Things will get better, I promise. We’ll take good care of you, and you’ll come to like living with us.”
“I want to live with my
Daddy,
like I always have!” cried Polly.
“Whisht, now. You mustn’t think about your father—it will only make you sad. Be a good lassie and try to go to sleep. Everything will look better in the morning.”
Polly’s sobs diminished to gulping breaths. She let Aunt Jean tuck her in. “Where’s Noni?” she croaked.
“She ran into someone she knew, but she’s coming up soon. Go to sleep now, chickie.”
Aunt Jean rubbed Polly’s back and began to sing:
Dance to your Daddy
My little babby
Dance to your Daddy
My little one.
You shall have a fishie
In a little dishie.
You shall have a fishie
When the boat comes in.
“Jean!” Noni hurried over from the door. “How can you sing that to Polly? It’s completely inappropriate!”
“Sorry, Polly,” said Aunt Jean. “I wasn’t thinking. That was Gregor’s favourite lullaby.”
“I liked it,” murmured Polly.
“Polly has been
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