Arabella in the Upper School - Chapter 2
Arabella almost turned around to see who Miss Wilkinson was addressing. Recovering her senses, recognising her own name, she looked up at her teacher.
"Yes, Miss?" She pretended to politeness.
"Stand up, Fiennes, when you talk to me!" Miss Wilkinson did nothing to disguise her annoyance.
Arabella rose slowly to her feet.
"Sorry, Miss!"
"The Headmistress wants to see you straight away, Fiennes. Stewart will take you to her study."
Miss Wilkinson's words chilled the classroom. Her tone of voice presaged nothing but trouble for Arabella, who could sense the rising excitement among her classmates. There was always joy to be gained from someone else's troubles. Arabella knew this, had felt it herself many times. Now, for some reason she could not fathom, she was herself the centre of attention.
"Yes, Miss." Arabella remained standing. She cleared the few items from her desk, lifted the top and placed them safely inside. She was careful not to make a bang when she closed her desk.
"Right away, Miss!"
Arabella walked towards the space at the front of the class. Stood in front of the Head Girl.
Nancy Stewart put her right hand firmly on Arabella's left shoulder. Steered her towards the classroom door, where she paused.
"Thank you, Miss Wilkinson." Her voice was confident. "I will deliver Fiennes direct to the Headmistress."
Stewart opened the classroom door and pushed Arabella out into the corridor.
"Yes, Miss?" She pretended to politeness.
"Stand up, Fiennes, when you talk to me!" Miss Wilkinson did nothing to disguise her annoyance.
Arabella rose slowly to her feet.
"Sorry, Miss!"
"The Headmistress wants to see you straight away, Fiennes. Stewart will take you to her study."
Miss Wilkinson's words chilled the classroom. Her tone of voice presaged nothing but trouble for Arabella, who could sense the rising excitement among her classmates. There was always joy to be gained from someone else's troubles. Arabella knew this, had felt it herself many times. Now, for some reason she could not fathom, she was herself the centre of attention.
"Yes, Miss." Arabella remained standing. She cleared the few items from her desk, lifted the top and placed them safely inside. She was careful not to make a bang when she closed her desk.
"Right away, Miss!"
Arabella walked towards the space at the front of the class. Stood in front of the Head Girl.
Nancy Stewart put her right hand firmly on Arabella's left shoulder. Steered her towards the classroom door, where she paused.
"Thank you, Miss Wilkinson." Her voice was confident. "I will deliver Fiennes direct to the Headmistress."
Stewart opened the classroom door and pushed Arabella out into the corridor.
61-69, F
