Theatre Shoes by Noel Streatfeild Page B

Fossil.”
    She said Pauline Fossil in exactly the same voice as Alice had said “Didn’t you know Henry Warren was your uncle?” so Sorrel hurried to explain their ignorance.
    â€œI’m afraid we haven’t. We’ve spent our holidays in the vicarage, and in a vicarage you don’t see stage people much.”
    Hannah gave a snort.
    â€œBrought up very decently, they’ve been.”
    Madame Fidolia gave her a lovely smile and came across to her, holding out her hand.
    â€œI’m sure they have. Mrs.…?”
    â€œMiss Fothergill,” said Hannah firmly. “Looked after the children’s grandfather, I did, and there’s nothing about vicarages anyone can teach me.”
    â€œBut nobody calls her Miss Fothergill,” said Holly. “Everybody calls her Hannah.”
    Madame Fidolia was shaking Hannah’s hand.
    â€œAnd may I call you Hannah too? Now, if you’ll come with me, I’m going to take the children to a classroom; we must see what they can do.” She was leading the way out of the room when she thought of something. “You children will call me Madame, and when you first meet me in the morning and last thing at night, and before and after a class, or any time when we meet, you make a deep curtsey and say ‘Madame.’ And you, Mark, lay one hand on your heart and bow.”
    None of the children dared look at each other, because they all wanted to giggle, and obviously Madame was not the sort of person that you giggled in front of.
    â€œNow let me see you do it,” said Madame firmly. She looked at Sorrel. “You start.”
    Sorrel and Holly had learnt dancing at Ferntree School, but curtseying had not been part of it. Sorrel, crimson in the face, did the best she could. She bowed both knees a little and muttered “Madame” while she did it. Madame Fidolia shook her head. She gave Mark her stick.
    â€œYou hold this. I’ve had a little trouble with rheumatism in my knees but I can still show you.” She moved one foot sideways, put the other leg behind it, held out her skirts and swept the most beautiful curtsey down to the ground, saying politely, “Madame.” Then she stood up took her stick back from Mark and nodded at Sorrel. “Now, child, try again.”
    Shorts are the most idiotic things to curtsey in, but Sorrel was quick and did her very best. Madame seemed quite pleased. Then she looked at Holly.
    â€œNow you.”
    Holly had been charmed by the way Madame’s skirts billowed round her and it was no trouble at all to pretend that she had skirts too, so instead of holding out her shorts as Sorrel had done, she lifted her hands as if she were holding up silk, and swept down to the floor. “Madame,” she said politely, and then added as she got up, “I’m wearing pale blue with little stars all over it.”
    Madame laughed.
    â€œI could see you were wearing something very grand. Now, Mark.”
    Sorrel prayed inside her, “Oh, please God, don’t let Mark argue.” But Mark, oddly enough, did not seem even to mind being made to bow. He swept a really grand bow. “Madame.” The only thing he did not do very well was saying her name. He spoke it in a low deep growl. Madame’s eyes twinkled. She took Mark’s chin in her hand.
    â€œAnd what had you got on when you bowed to me?” Mark wriggled, but she smiled down at him, holding him firmly. “Tell me.”
    Mark looked cross for a moment and then something in Madame Fidolia’s face made him feel friendly.
    â€œI was wearing a bearskin. I was a bear in the Antarctic who’s travelled miles to call on the Queen there.”
    Hannah was thoroughly ashamed.
    â€œReally, Mark, what a way to talk!”
    But Madame did not seem to mind at all. She took Mark’s hand in hers.
    â€œAnd a very nice thing to be,” she said cheerfully. “We’ll lead the way, shall