ensued, had her attack proved fatal, and I fully expected to receive around of distressing reprimands from my school-mates and teachers at breakfast. However, as I wearily took my seat at the dining-table the next morning (Hannah was still confined to bed, and the teachers had yet to join us), to my surprise, I encountered the opposite reaction.
“That was quite a performance last night,” smiled Mary, as she sat down beside me.
“I have never heard such a thrilling story!” exclaimed Susan, beaming. “I forgot all about being homesick.”
“I thought I was going to die of fright, just listening to it!” cried Martha Taylor with enthusiasm.
“Hannah nearly did die of fright,” Amelia pointed out acerbically.
“That was not Charlotte’s fault,” said Ellen.
“Next time,” said Leah, smiling at me (the first time Leah had ever smiled in my direction, and this was quite an approving and appreciative smile), “we will meet in Charlotte’s room, and Hannah can stay behind.”
“There will not be a next time,” I insisted. “Miss Wooler was quite put out. We do not want to be fined for late-night talking.”
“Then we will just have to do our talking earlier, ” said Martha.
“Or be careful not to get caught,” added Mary—a statement met by laughter and a lively chorus of agreement.
Susan glanced cautiously towards the doorway; there was, as yet, no sign of the teaching staff. In a conspiratorial tone, she said, “Tell us how the story ends.”
“Charlotte,” gasped Ellen, worried, “you dare not answer.”
“Miss Wooler did not say anything against talking at breakfast, ” insisted Martha.
“Yes, yes!” cried Leah. “How does it end?”
Such a round of eager questions followed—“Did Emily fall?” “Did William save her?” “Did she marry?”—that I could not help but smile. I deemed it safe to reply.
“What happened is this: When William saw Emily atop the tower, he called out her name. Although it was far too great adistance for his voice to reach her, particularly over the howling wind, somehow Emily clearly heard his voice, and awoke with a start. Upon seeing where she was, Emily regained her footing, safely descended from the wall, and fled back to William, who raced to join her. They were wed the next day, and lived a long, happy life together, bearing five children, who were all perfect, beautiful, and extremely intelligent.”
Susan sighed happily. “That is the perfect ending.” 16
From that day forward, my standing amongst the girls at Roe Head School was immeasurably and permanently improved. I was never again teased about my looks, my clothing, or my accent. I became accepted for who I was, even by Amelia. Ellen and Mary became my closest friends, and those girls who had once regarded me with disdain, now seemed to view me with new-found respect, and often came to me for help and advice with their studies.
As the term continued, I was persuaded on many occasions—despite the danger to our fortunes and reputations—to tell stories after hours. In an effort to avoid detection, we gathered in a far corner of my room by the light of a single candle, and spoke in hushed tones. Hannah conquered her timidity and joined us. Sometimes I spun tales aloud; other times, we exchanged secrets, shared treasured memories, or expressed our hopes and dreams for the future. On the one occasion that we were assessed a fine for “talking after hours,” my conspirators and I privately admitted that we did not mind being caught. It had been worth it; and it was a thrill to have done something, for once in our lives, that was against the rules.
I applied myself with such devotion to my studies at Roe Head, that I completed the course of instruction in only eighteen months. There was only one subject in which, although Iloved it, I could not excel: music. I had such small fingers that I could not span the keys of the piano, and I was so short-sighted that I had great
“That was quite a performance last night,” smiled Mary, as she sat down beside me.
“I have never heard such a thrilling story!” exclaimed Susan, beaming. “I forgot all about being homesick.”
“I thought I was going to die of fright, just listening to it!” cried Martha Taylor with enthusiasm.
“Hannah nearly did die of fright,” Amelia pointed out acerbically.
“That was not Charlotte’s fault,” said Ellen.
“Next time,” said Leah, smiling at me (the first time Leah had ever smiled in my direction, and this was quite an approving and appreciative smile), “we will meet in Charlotte’s room, and Hannah can stay behind.”
“There will not be a next time,” I insisted. “Miss Wooler was quite put out. We do not want to be fined for late-night talking.”
“Then we will just have to do our talking earlier, ” said Martha.
“Or be careful not to get caught,” added Mary—a statement met by laughter and a lively chorus of agreement.
Susan glanced cautiously towards the doorway; there was, as yet, no sign of the teaching staff. In a conspiratorial tone, she said, “Tell us how the story ends.”
“Charlotte,” gasped Ellen, worried, “you dare not answer.”
“Miss Wooler did not say anything against talking at breakfast, ” insisted Martha.
“Yes, yes!” cried Leah. “How does it end?”
Such a round of eager questions followed—“Did Emily fall?” “Did William save her?” “Did she marry?”—that I could not help but smile. I deemed it safe to reply.
“What happened is this: When William saw Emily atop the tower, he called out her name. Although it was far too great adistance for his voice to reach her, particularly over the howling wind, somehow Emily clearly heard his voice, and awoke with a start. Upon seeing where she was, Emily regained her footing, safely descended from the wall, and fled back to William, who raced to join her. They were wed the next day, and lived a long, happy life together, bearing five children, who were all perfect, beautiful, and extremely intelligent.”
Susan sighed happily. “That is the perfect ending.” 16
From that day forward, my standing amongst the girls at Roe Head School was immeasurably and permanently improved. I was never again teased about my looks, my clothing, or my accent. I became accepted for who I was, even by Amelia. Ellen and Mary became my closest friends, and those girls who had once regarded me with disdain, now seemed to view me with new-found respect, and often came to me for help and advice with their studies.
As the term continued, I was persuaded on many occasions—despite the danger to our fortunes and reputations—to tell stories after hours. In an effort to avoid detection, we gathered in a far corner of my room by the light of a single candle, and spoke in hushed tones. Hannah conquered her timidity and joined us. Sometimes I spun tales aloud; other times, we exchanged secrets, shared treasured memories, or expressed our hopes and dreams for the future. On the one occasion that we were assessed a fine for “talking after hours,” my conspirators and I privately admitted that we did not mind being caught. It had been worth it; and it was a thrill to have done something, for once in our lives, that was against the rules.
I applied myself with such devotion to my studies at Roe Head, that I completed the course of instruction in only eighteen months. There was only one subject in which, although Iloved it, I could not excel: music. I had such small fingers that I could not span the keys of the piano, and I was so short-sighted that I had great
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