After a good night’s sleep, Mary was first up and in the shower. The others paid her little attention over breakfast, and she did not want to bring up the matter of what had happened in the courtyard the previous night until she had time to find out more on her own. Assembly was a predictably dull affair, until it came to the time for the head, Miss Tibbs, to address the girls. After welcoming the newcomers to the first form, she then went on to say that she had been warned by the local constabulary that an armed man was on the loose in the area. Mary’s heart beat slightly faster. Could it be the man she had seen last night, she wondered?
‘I need hardly remind you, girls, that it is forbidden for any girl to leave the school grounds unless accompanied by a teacher or a responsible adult. In particular, I have to emphasise the fact that the Abbey ruins are as of today totally out of bounds, and if anyone is caught there they will be severely punished. The only occasion on which I will allow anybody to visit the Abbey is if they are accompanied by a member of staff. Do I make myself clear?’ Three hundred girls chorused their agreement that Miss Marigold Tibbs had indeed made herself perfectly clear, and then the head went on to other things.
‘Now it gives me great pleasure to introduce two new teachers to the Crypt, and I’m sure you will give them the time-honoured Cryptian welcome at the appropriate time! Firstly, on my right, at the extreme end of the stage, is Monsieur Casseau, who will be teaching you advanced French. And at the opposite end of the stage is Miss.....’ Miss Tibbs turned to gesture towards the other end of the stage, but the only vacant seat was empty. Suddenly the hall door opened noisily and in rushed the woman Mary had seen from the dorm window the previous night. Looking flushed and a little harassed, she tumbled up the stairs, raising a titter of laughter from some of the younger girls, and sat down trying to look as though she’d been there the whole time.
‘......Eggleton,’ Miss Tibbs finished haughtily. ‘Miss Eggleton joins us from Cheltenham Ladies’ College, and will be teaching English Literature. She is also an accomplished athlete and will take some of the senior girls for hockey and tennis. Now, girls, I believe it is time to raise the roof with the school song and to welcome our two new teachers to the Crypt!’ One of the sixth form girls played the introduction on the piano, and then three hundred voices rang out with “Carmen Cryptiensis”, the school song that spoke of valour and courage and faith.
The first lesson of the day was English literature. Mary found herself with twenty-three other girls in a classroom on the ground floor, where there was a splendid view of the Abbey ruins. Some of the girls were talking excitedly whilst others sat and read their textbooks quietly. Then the door opened and in walked Miss Victoria Eggleton. She was of average height, with short brown hair, chestnut-coloured, very wavy, a flawless complexion and deep blue eyes. She was beautiful! Mary fell in love with her at first sight, and every time the new teacher’s eyes caught hers, which they seemed to do quite often, for no apparent reason, Mary blushed fiercely and lowered hers to her book. The lesson passed quickly, too quickly for Mary’s liking. She enjoyed the way Miss Eggleton taught, and was very disappointed when the lesson came to the end.
‘Before you go, girls, I’ve been asked by the Head to produce this year’s school play, which will be A Midsummer Night’s Dream, with which I am sure you are all familiar already. I shall be auditioning for the major parts in the school hall after tea. I trust I will see some of you there later?’ She turned to the board and started to write in preparation for her next lesson. Mary was the last to finish collecting up her work and as she passed the teacher, their eyes met once again, and this time Mary could not look away.
‘Mary, I particularly enjoyed the way you read the Tennyson poem for us. I think you would make a splendid Titania. Do try and get to the auditions, please?’
Flattered that the new teacher already knew her name, Mary hurried off to her next class, forgetting entirely what she had seen through the dormitory window last night!
After tea she and Ros made their way to the hall. Ros had already decided that she wished to read for the part of Hermia, and was thrilled when Mary told her what Miss Eggleton had said.
‘She’s very modern, isn’t she? I wouldn’t be surprised if she didn’t have a boyfriend somewhere in the village!’ Ros said confidentially.
Mary’s eyes widened in astonishment. ‘Do you really think so?’ and of course, at that moment she remembered what she had seen through the window. It was on the tip of her tongue to say something to Ros, but she had already promised herself that she would wait until she’d had time to investigate further herself, though quite what she was going to do about it she simply didn’t know. They entered the hall to find quite a crowd. Miss Eggleton was up on the stage disclaiming a speech from Midsummer Night’s Dream in a loud, actressy sort of voice, and it was clear that her heart was firmly in amateur dramatics. As the evening passed, one by one the parts were allocated, and then it came to Titania.
Miss Eggleton handed the book to Mary and said, ‘please, will you read this short speech for me, Mary?’
Mary scanned the speech briefly, then read: ‘Then I must be thy lady: but I know when thou hast stolen away from fairy land, and in the shape of Corin sat all day, playing on pipes of corn and versing love to amorous Phillida. Why art thou here, come from the farthest steppe of India? But that, forsooth, the bouncing Amazon, your buskin'd mistress and your warrior love, to Theseus must be wedded, and you come to give their bed joy and prosperity.’
‘Brilliant, Mary! Anyone else here want to read for Titania?’ There were no takers, and it was generally agreed that Mary was perfect for the part. To her amazement, Ros got the part of Hermia, so they left the hall arm-in-arm, laughing happily, and were halfway down the corridor when Miss Eggleton called them back.
‘Mary, I need a word, please.’
Intrigued, Mary went back into the hall. All of the other girls had left. Miss Eggleton stood with her back to the piano, smiling.
‘Mary, I think you and I are going to get on just famously.’
‘Yes, Miss.’
‘I think you know what I’m talking about. Loose talk and all that sort of thing.’
‘Miss?’
‘Just don’t gossip about me, if you know what I mean.’
‘I don’t gossip, Miss.’
‘Good. That’s what I wanted to hear. Now cut along and get your homework done before supper, there’s a good girl.’ She gave Mary a big beaming smile, but Mary thought she saw something behind the smile. She hesitated in the doorway until Miss Eggleton caught up with her.
‘Miss, are you in some kind of trouble?’
The hesitation in the teacher’s reply was barely noticeable. ‘Trouble, Mary? Why, whatever makes you say such a thing?’
Mary shook her head and turned away. ‘Nothing, Miss, I just got the impression that there was something else you wanted to say to me.’
‘No, I think I’ve said all I need to. I’m pleased you’re going to be Titania. I was Titania at my school, you know.’
‘Yes, Miss?’
‘Run along, Mary. I’ll see you at supper. And get to bed nice and early. We’ve plenty to do tomorrow. I believe I’m taking you for hockey.’
Mary assumed that by that remark, she was warning her not to spy on her through the window tonight. Well, if Miss Eggleton was intending on meeting her mysterious friend again tonight, Mary was jolly well going to follow her. She wouldn’t spy on her through the window. She’d wait in the Abbey!
