Arabella in the Upper School - Chapter 4

Arabella started to climb the imposing staircase. She had been here before, what seemed like many years ago, when her parents had first delivered her to the Rottingdean Prep School. She had been introduced to Miss Guthrie, the Headmistress, before she and her school chest had been transferred to her dormitory in Forest House. She had been eight years old, away from home for the first time, facing a long, grey Autumn and Winter in England. And then, for all she knew, a long, grey Spring.

"Don't dawdle, Fiennes!" Nancy Stewart's voice cut into Arabella's reminiscence. "Miss Guthrie won't wait forever!"

Nancy tightened her grip on Arabella's shoulder, forcing her to quicken her pace. The two girls made the final turn of the staircase as one and mounted the last few steps to the main upper corridor.

"To your right!" Nancy guided Arabella in the direction of the Headmistress's study. She pointed to a leather-seated bench beside the entrance.

"Sit there and don't move. The Headmistress will call for you when she is ready."

The older girl knocked quietly on the door and entered without seeming to wait for a response.

Arabella was alone. There was no casual traffic along this corridor. Only those who had business with the Headmistress or her secretary, Miss Brookes, would venture this way. She sat demurely on the bench, remembering her mother's strictures - in England, you must act like a young lady, not a savage from the bush. Walk, don't run. Sit up straight, don't slump. Always sit with your knees and ankles together. And always, always wear your underwear!

Life at home in Africa had been free and fun. She had been able to do more or less as she wished. Even, Arabella remembered, if her mother had taken a switch to her on occasion. It stung for a while but it didn't interfere with her play.

Anyway, that was all behind her now. She was no longer a child. She was, as her mother had said, a young lady.

So she waited patiently, looking forward to renewing her acquaintance with Miss Guthrie.

Arabella was so content with her circumstances, she was not aware of time passing. She failed to notice the door to the Headmistress's study opening. It took her a moment to react to Nancy Stewart's words.

"Come along, Fiennes! The Headmistress is ready for you now."

Arabella jumped to her feet. As she stepped into the study, she thought, "I do wish that girl would stop calling me Fiennes. My name is Arabella!"

The door closed behind Arabella. She found herself back in a large room, with oak-paneled walls and an extensive bow window. The polished parquet floor was partly covered by a deep maroon Persian rug. Most of the furniture was polished wood and brown leather.

Directly opposite her as she entered, Arabella saw the Headmistress, Miss Guthrie, sitting upright behind a broad, leather topped desk. Just as she had all those years ago.

"This is Fiennes, Ma'am."

Nancy's voice, from behind Arabella. sounded louder in this hushed environment.

"One of the girls who came up this term. You wanted to talk to her."

Miss Guthrie looked up from the file she was studying. She smiled at Arabella, a thin and mirthless smile.

"Ah, yes! Fiennes!"

The Headmistress looked past Arabella to the Head Girl.

"Thank you, Stewart. Bring her forward here!"

Nancy's hands gripped both of Arabella's shoulders. Marched her forward until she was standing directly in front of the Headmistress's desk.

Miss Guthrie's cold grey eyes locked on to Arabella's soft blue. Her fingers tapped the open file on the desk in front of her.

"Fiennes. Yes. I've been reading about you. Thought it was time we had a little chat, so to speak."