First term at fernside, p.19
First Term at Fernside, page 19
‘The hens were just scratching around; nobody wanted them. It was easy to put them in a sack and carry them here. Their laying days are done, but they enjoy themselves.’
Prompted by the girls, she told them about all the animals. The sickly black cat had found her own way to Rowanbank, with her kittens in tow. The other litter could, she admitted, have been described as stolen, but she had overheard the owner say she planned to drown them.
‘She says you stole her cat as well, though,’ Robin said.
Doctor Anne laughed. ‘I’m not a thief,’ she said. ‘The cat followed her kittens; she knew where she was well off. The goat was unwanted because he was male.’
She poured herself another cup of tea from the big charred pot on the range. ‘During the war,’ she said, ‘I felt helpless. There were so many men, horribly injured, and often I couldn’t even ease their pain as they died.’
Robin shuddered and Doctor Flynn looked at her with a kindly, expectant interest.
‘My father,’ Robin whispered. ‘He – you know…’
Doctor Anne nodded. ‘I do know,’ she said. ‘So many fathers, and husbands, and brothers.’
Linnet remembered that Uncle Robert had been killed in the war. Robin never mentioned it.
‘And then there was that terrible flu,’ Doctor Anne went on, ‘as if people hadn’t suffered enough. And afterwards, I just wanted to hide away.’
‘No, you didn’t,’ her brother said. ‘Hiding away’s not your style.’ He grimaced. ‘Anne moved here for me. The war left me … as you see. And sometimes the pain … well …’ He looked embarrassed. ‘I needed somewhere quiet. Somewhere people couldn’t see me.’
‘Or hear you scream?’ Linnet asked, and yelped as a sharp elbow dig into her ribs. ‘Ouch – Robin! That hurt.’
Captain Flynn smiled at Robin. ‘She’s right. Sometimes I don’t manage to hide the pain.’
Linnet thought of those raw, anguished cries, and shivered. She knew, without him having to say so, that the pain he was talking about wasn’t only physical.
‘That’s why we wanted somewhere quiet,’ Doctor Anne said. ‘But not too remote because Theo attends the hospital regularly for injections in his back and legs. I didn’t intend to start an animal sanctuary. It just sort of happened. The cat came, and then’ – she reached down to fondle the greyhound’s ears – ‘I found old Tod. He was used for coursing – chasing hares. I came upon his owner dragging him home one morning; he said he was useless. I persuaded him to let me have him.’
‘He said the dog was stolen!’
Doctor Anne shrugged. ‘Maybe he didn’t want to admit he’d sold him. I should have called him Shadow because he never leaves my side. I can see he’s useless as a hunter. He doesn’t even bother with the hens, but he excels at being a friend.’
Linnet remembered hearing Tod bark that long-ago day they had cut through Rowanbank. How funny to have thought he was a fierce guard dog. And she thought of what Miss Rea had said, that first morning: Everyone has something she excels at; it’s simply a matter of finding it. She looked round at her friends. Fran was easy – she was wonderful with animals. Robin was pretty good at most things as well as being kind. And Sadie – well, she was determined and brave, even if she made a face when you said so.
‘I’d love to do what you do,’ Fran said.
‘It’s rewarding,’ Doctor Anne said, ‘but hard work.’ Her face clouded. ‘And we don’t have a lot of money. One of these days I’m going to have to go back to work.’
‘Doctoring?’
She shook her head. ‘It wouldn’t be easy to do that and look after things here.’
‘You could teach science at Fernside,’ Fran said. ‘They’re desperate for someone.’
Doctor Anne laughed. ‘I’m not a science teacher.’
‘You’re a doctor! I bet you know enough to teach the juniors,’ Linnet said. ‘There’s a real science master for the seniors. Oh, please do it! I can ask Miss Rea for you. She’s not as scary as you’d imagine. And you’d have lots of time to look after the animals.’
‘And we could help,’ Fran said. ‘I miss my pony so much; I’d love to help with yours. I’m going to be a vet.’
Linnet saw how it might be, and the thought of being in Rowanbank without fear of discovery, of mad doctors and ravening dogs, was so joyous that she felt a little happy hum start in her throat and she had to suppress it.
Doctor Anne looked thoughtful. ‘We couldn’t have lots of people coming and upsetting the animals. But I could trust you four.’
‘I don’t think, though,’ Robin said, bringing Linnet down to earth and making Fran look very cross, ‘that Miss Rea would let the four of us do something that other people aren’t allowed to do.’
‘But we’re the ones Doctor Anne’s inviting—’
‘And it’s her house.’
‘I know, but school doesn’t work that way,’ Robin said.
‘Well, it should.’ Fran sounded huffy.
Doctor Anne looked from one to the other. ‘Maybe,’ she said slowly, ‘I should go and have a word with this headmistress of yours. It’s time I introduced myself. I didn’t intend to be quite so unneighbourly, but …’
‘It’s my fault,’ her brother said. ‘This is the first place I’ve lived in after – well, quite a long time in various hospitals and convalescent homes. I’d become so used to being in an institution that it’s taken time to adjust to ordinary life. Anne was trying to protect me by keeping people out.’
‘Especially when we realised there was a school next door,’ his sister said. ‘The house agent didn’t exactly make that clear.’
‘And at first,’ Captain Flynn admitted, ‘I found the noise and the bells – oh, the constant bells! – jarred my nerves terribly.’
‘Me too,’ Linnet said. ‘Even now I sometimes feel I have to get away somewhere peaceful. Somewhere like here,’ she added quietly.
‘Talking of bells,’ Robin said. ‘I hope we haven’t missed the breakfast one. Not that we’re hungry. We’ve had a lovely breakfast here. But we are here without permission. We need to sneak back.’
Doctor Anne looked at her watch. ‘It’s ten past eight,’ she said, and Tod gave a startled yelp when all four girls jumped up.
‘We’ll be murdered,’ Sadie said dramatically, reaching for her crutches.
‘Not actually murdered,’ Robin said quickly to Linnet. ‘But we do need to get back to school this instant.’
Chapter 39
Second Chance
Fernside felt like a different world. Sneaking out of the Lilac dorm seemed to have happened yesterday, or last week, or in another life. As for the row with Linnet and the others – it felt too silly to remember. Robin’s head was so crowded with rescued animals and injured soldiers, that she didn’t know how she would focus on lessons, and half term, and netball – obviously she would have to go and cheer on the junior team, no matter how it would needle her to see Gillian Moffatt running on to the court instead of her.
But before that there was the little matter of getting safely back to Lilac. They made it up the garden, and across the yard. There was only the back door to negotiate now, and if they ran into Cook or Josie, they wouldn’t actually be in trouble, not like being caught by—
‘Matron!’
Robin felt Linnet slide to a halt beside her just before she spluttered out the word.
‘And where have you four been?’
‘N-nowhere,’ Fran said.
‘That is patently untrue as well as being physically impossible,’ snapped Matron. She looked pointedly at their wellingtons.
‘We went for an early walk, Matron,’ Robin said.
‘We wanted to take advantage of the fresh air,’ Fran said. ‘After being cooped up yesterday.’
‘You know the doctors said I needed as much fresh air as possible,’ Sadie said sweetly.
‘It’s not against school rules,’ Linnet added.
‘Indeed, Miss Grey? Well, it’s against my rules to go outside before you’ve done your dormitory work. Are you telling me you’ve already made your beds?’
The girls looked at each other and then Linnet, who never lied, said, ‘Yes, Matron. All our beds are made.’
Robin’s insides shivered, remembering the dorm as she and Sadie had crept out at dawn, those incriminating empty, unmade beds. What was Linnet thinking of? Whatever trouble they were in now would only be made worse when Matron found out the truth.
‘Well, let’s just see, shall we?’ Matron said. ‘And if I find out you’re lying, you’ll be spending this afternoon mending sheets with me instead of watching the netball matches. And take off those filthy boots!’
As they trooped after her, Robin’s stomach plummeting with anticipatory doom, she nudged Linnet. ‘What did you have to say that for?’ she mouthed. ‘You’ve only made things worse.’ But Linnet smiled. ‘It’ll be fine,’ she mouthed back.
They dragged up the stairs after Matron, all the magic and excitement of the morning evaporating with every step. And, ouch! – Robin’s leg, where she’d bashed it on Captain Flynn’s wheel, was sore!
All the dormitory doors were open, the usual early-morning sounds drifting on to the landing: Hurry up! Oh, where’s my hair-ribbon? Has anyone seen …?
We really are going to be murdered, Robin thought, as she stepped into the Lilac dorm, bracing herself to find—
Six neatly made beds.
‘Told you so,’ Linnet whispered.
‘Hmm,’ Matron said. ‘But kindly tidy yourselves for breakfast. Linnet Grey – that hair is disgraceful.’
‘Thank you, Matron,’ Linnet said.
When they were sure Matron had gone, Babs and Evangeline ran up to the adventurers.
‘I thought you’d been kidnapped!’ Evangeline said, her brown eyes wide.
‘I didn’t,’ Babs said.
Robin wondered if she was annoyed at being left out, but she didn’t seem annoyed, more relieved to see them.
‘How did you know about the beds?’ she asked Linnet. ‘I can’t believe you lied to Matron!’
‘It wasn’t a lie,’ Linnet said. ‘I said they were made, and they are – I didn’t say we’d made them.’
‘But how did you …?’
‘I knew we could rely on Evangeline to do it,’ Linnet said simply.
Evangeline beamed. ‘Babs helped,’ she said.
‘But Babs never even believed there was a mystery!’ Robin exclaimed.
Babs shrugged. ‘Doesn’t mean I wanted my friends getting into trouble,’ she said. ‘Now tell us what you found!’
‘Get ready while you talk,’ Evangeline advised. ‘The bell will go soon.’
Robin was suddenly exhausted, and glad for Fran and Sadie to do most of the talking.
The six Lilac girls walked down to breakfast, on time, and tidy, though Linnet’s hasty plait wasn’t one of Madame Françoise’s very best coiffeurs and Fran smelt faintly of carbolic. As for Robin, she was concentrating hard on not limping.
It was quite an effort not to yawn at breakfast. At least, Robin thought, there’s only morning lessons to get through, and then all I have to do is watch the match. Maybe I can find a cosy seat at the back for a wee doze.
But as it happened, there was too much excitement in class that morning for anyone, even someone who had been adventuring since dawn, to think about dozing.
The first thing, of course, was telling Enid about Rudy. They managed to get her in a huddle on the way to Prayers and she listened in shock.
‘I thought you’d be pleased,’ Robin said.
‘I’m glad he’s not dead but … three legs?’ Enid winced. ‘I don’t think we’d like a dog with three legs.’
‘Well, that’s fine,’ Fran said, ‘because I don’t think Doctor Flynn would give him back to you anyway.’
‘It’s not up to her,’ Enid said. ‘He’s still our dog!’
‘What Fran means,’ Sadie said, ‘is that he seems happy where he is, and maybe they’re better able to care for him.’
‘Ugh,’ said a voice behind them. ‘Three legs? That’s disgusting. I wouldn’t even want to look at a dog with three legs.’
‘And he wouldn’t want to look at you either, Gillian Moffatt,’ Fran said.
‘This is a private conversation,’ Linnet added.
All morning, Robin felt only half there. Partly tiredness, partly the nagging ache in her leg, partly looking forward to half term, but mainly the strangeness of knowing what was really going on next door. If Fernside was its own world of lessons and games and friendships, then there was a completely different, no less important world next door. And oh, how she wanted the two worlds to come together! She hadn’t known how much she had missed Rowanbank until today. When would they know? I must speak to your headmistress, Doctor Anne had said, but she seemed so busy and so caught up in her work – she might not visit Miss Rea for weeks, or months, or at all …
Just after break, a knock came to the classroom door, and Delia, one of the duller prefects, handed Miss West a note. She read it, frowned, and looked up.
‘Gillian – you’re to go and see Miss Rea.’
Gillian wrinkled her forehead. ‘Why?’
‘Excuse me?’ Miss West asked, with that mock-shock that mistresses always employed to suggest that you had said something unbelievably outrageous, though usually you’d only said Can I instead of May I. ‘That is for Miss Rea to tell you. Go now, please.’
‘I expect you’ve won a prize for helpfulness,’ Babs said, and a few people snickered.
‘Babs,’ Miss West, but her tone was by no means as sharp as it had been to Gillian.
They carried on with the rivers of Ireland, Robin giving them only half her attention, and mixing up the Bann and the Blackwater. Gillian didn’t return. In the middle of French, the door knocked again, but it wasn’t Gillian. It was Lucy.
‘Sorry to interrupt, Mademoiselle, but Miss Curran would like to see Robin Grey.’
‘Me? May I be excused, Mademoiselle?’
‘Bien sûr, ma chère.’
In the corridor, she dared to ask Lucy, ‘What have I done?’
Lucy glanced around. ‘Well … I don’t know if you’re meant to know but …’
‘Oh, go on.’
‘It’s Gillian Moffatt. She’s been suspended.’
‘Suspended!’ Robin had heard of this punishment, second only to expulsion, but had never imagined it happening, least of all to a lower fourth.
‘She’s been caught bullying. You know the little girl with white hair in the second form?’
‘Alice. Of course.’
‘Gillian’s been horrid to her all term – calling her names, that sort of thing.’
‘That sounds like Gillian. Anyone the least bit different – I don’t know what her problem is.’
‘Well, this time she did it in front of the wrong people – me, and your cousin Linnet. Linnet was very quick to tell tales.’ Lucy sounded admiring rather than anything else.
Robin smiled. ‘She would be.’
‘Anyway, she’s been suspended for a week.’ Lucy looked serious. ‘I think Miss Rea will want to have a talk with the lower fourth about it all before she comes back. There are some things you should know … But that’s for another day. In the meantime’ – her voice brightened and she turned her warm smile on Robin –‘we need another netball player in the junior team. And that’s you!’
Chapter 40
Team Player
Robin gaped at Lucy in stunned delight. ‘Really?’
‘Of course really. You’re the reserve. Well done!’
‘I don’t know why you didn’t make the team in the first place,’ Miss Curran said, when they reached her office.
‘I let myself be distracted,’ Robin admitted. ‘But I promise that won’t happen today. I’ll play my heart out!’
‘I know you will,’ Miss Curran said. ‘Now, you’re playing wing attack, and I know you’re more used to centre, but don’t worry about that. There’s no time to feel nervous!’
‘I’m not nervous; I’m thrilled,’ Robin said. ‘Mother will be so proud! She likes me being good at sport.’
‘Is she sporty herself?’ Lucy asked.
Robin shook her head. ‘F-Father was – he played cricket for his college. He was killed in the war.’ She didn’t usually say this; something seemed to have happened this term – maybe it had happened that very morning, in Rowanbank – that made her not mind talking about Father. Maybe at half term she would start to ask Mother about him. She could tell her about Captain Flynn and let that lead on to talking about Father.
Miss Curran looked at her watch. ‘You’ve half an hour before lunch. You can tell your classmates. I know they’ll be pleased for you. Well done, Robin. Now hurry back to class!’
Robin obeyed, her heart singing. This almost made up for being left out in the first place! To have had the disappointment and then the reprieve! It was worth that heart-stopping moment when she’d checked the list and her name hadn’t been there. Worth that whole day of trying to pretend she didn’t mind. She’d make Miss Curran glad she chose her. And after half term there would be other fixtures, and she’d make sure she was a regular on the team. She imagined herself today, fast and strong, all over the pitch, the cornerstone of her team. Girl of the match! She couldn’t imagine herself shooting the winning goal, because wing attack wasn’t allowed in the goal circle, but she’d make sure that the ball got to the people who could score. That was what teamwork was all about.
And then, just as she turned into the bottom corridor, her steps slowed and she crashed into a very unwelcome thought: what about my leg?
It would be fine! It was only a bruise. She had hardly felt it the whole time she’d been talking to Lucy and Miss Curran. She could just as easily dismiss it for the duration of the match. Mind over matter! Miss West always said. But now that she was thinking about it, the thought wouldn’t go away – and neither would the pain. But it was a niggle, not a constant ache. She wasn’t limping – couldn’t have been, or Lucy and Miss Curran would have noticed. How lucky they hadn’t noticed! Imagine if they had, and thought she wasn’t fit to play. No – she wouldn’t mention her leg to a soul, and would play her heart out as she’d promised. She would be like one of the heroines of Sadie’s School Friend stories. Brave and stoical. She thought of the shuddering little dog she had held this morning. Blind and battered, with no reason to do anything but hate and fear humans, it had been brave enough to trust Fran. Compared to that, running round a court, throwing a ball around – well, it was nothing!
