Dancing the Charleston Read online

  ‘Why are you taking everything down, Miss Nelson? Can’t you leave them on the wall during the holidays?’

  ‘Mr White has recommended the whole school be painted. He feels it’s too dark and gloomy,’ she said. ‘Though personally I disagree.’ She ran her hand lightly over the green and brown wall.

  ‘What colour is it going to be?’

  ‘Daffodil yellow,’ said Miss Nelson, shaking her head. ‘He says it will make everywhere look sunny. I suspect it will make the children feel bilious, but then what do I know? I’ve only had thirty-five years’ experience.’

  ‘I think daffodil yellow will look lovely,’ I said.

  ‘Yes, I dare say you do. But you won’t be here to see it, will you?’

  I stared at her. ‘Why not?’ I suddenly thought she might be expelling me. She’d expelled Mad Jethro because he’d grabbed her cane and tried to hit her back when she was punishing him. I’d never done anything as terrible, but I knew she didn’t like me.

  She sighed. ‘Really, Mona, I thought you were supposed to be bright! Why on earth do you think you won’t be here? You’ve passed the examination to go to Hailbury High School.’

  ‘I’ve passed?’ I thought of the arithmetic test, the grammar, the eglantine and Titania fiasco, and the lamentably scrappy story. How on earth could I have passed? ‘I haven’t had word from the school, Miss Nelson,’ I said.

  ‘No, they sent the letter to me last week.’ She took it out of her desk and handed it to me. I skimmed it quickly, scarcely able to believe it. The typewritten words on the page wavered up and down, but I could just about make out my name and the wondrous phrase passed the examination.

  ‘Why didn’t you tell me?’ I asked.

  ‘I’m telling you now. I didn’t say anything previously because I didn’t want you showing off and unsettling the others,’ said Miss Nelson. ‘I know you, Mona Smith.’

  ‘You don’t know me at all, Miss Nelson,’ I said. ‘Please may I go now?’

  She nodded. I couldn’t even bring myself to say goodbye to her. For an entire week she’d known that I’d passed and yet she hadn’t said a word, watching me trail around miserably, convinced I’d failed. How had I passed when I knew I’d done so badly?

  But it didn’t matter! I’d passed! The letter said so.

  I ran down the street, all the way to the churchyard, and burst through the lychgate. I capered wildly around the old yew, crying, ‘I’ve passed, I’ve passed, I’ve blooming well passed!’

  Then I flung myself down on Mother’s grave. ‘I’ve passed the high school exam, Mother! I’m going to be properly educated! You’ll be so proud of me!’ I waited for a reply, straining my ears. At first all I could hear was the pulse of my own blood, but then Mother said, ‘Well done, my darling, clever girl.’

  I ran home, leaping and singing.

  ‘I’ve passed the exam, Aunty,’ I shouted, running into her workroom, though I knew perfectly well that she wasn’t there. Unfinished dresses and romper suits hung from hangers all around the room. I imagined rosy-cheeked heads poking out of the little white collars, chubby arms thrusting through the short sleeves, pink legs kicking below the tacked hems. ‘I’ve passed, I’ve passed, I’ve passed,’ I told them.

  Sixpence emerged from a little nest in the basket of satin ribbons, stretching luxuriously.

  ‘I’ve passed, Sixpence,’ I said, picking her up and giving her a cuddle.

  She mewed at me loudly, but I think she was only asking for food.

  I gave her some leftover fish that was on a plate in the pantry, hoping that Aunty wasn’t planning to make it into a fish pie. Then I ran upstairs to my bedroom and told my reflection in the mirror. I saw that my face needed a good wash. My knees were gritty too, and my dress covered in grass stains. I had an all-over wash, and put on clean socks and knickers and my daisy dress. I rubbed my scuffed shoes with my grubby socks, undid my plaits, brushed out my hair, and did my best to tie it into one fat pigtail at the back. Then I walked up to the manor, telling every tree and bush that I’d passed.

  I went to the front door and Ella opened it for me. She sighed at the sight of me. ‘You’re meant to go round the back, Mona. I’ve got better things to do than run to open doors for you, like you’re Lady Muck,’ she said.

  ‘I’ve passed, Ella!’

  ‘You what?’

  ‘I’ve passed the examination to Hailbury High School!’

  ‘Well, you’re a clever little miss, aren’t you,’ said Ella grudgingly. ‘Come on in then. I suppose you’re here to show off to Mr Benjamin …’

  ‘Has he got company?’ I asked her anxiously.

  ‘Shedloads are expected tomorrow, worst luck, but right now there’s only that waste-of-space Mr Ambrose. He’s more an unwanted pet than a proper person. A cat! He only wakes up to be fed, and he’s got fingernails like claws,’ she said. ‘He gives me the creeps. My, things haven’t half changed since Lady Somerset passed away. I’m forever on the brink of handing in my notice, but Mr Benjamin’s got such a way with him you find yourself forgiving any imposition.’

  ‘Is he in the drawing room?’ I asked.

  ‘I think so,’ said Ella.

  I didn’t wait for her to take me. I burst in, not even bothering to knock. Mr Benjamin was sitting cross-legged on the rug, absorbed in a big fat book.

  ‘Oh, Mr Benjamin, I’ve passed the exam!’ I cried, and flew at him to give him a hug. I very nearly tipped him over, but he only laughed merrily.

  ‘Well done, Mona! You clever child! I just knew you’d pass, didn’t I? What did your aunt say?’

  ‘I haven’t told her yet. She’s at Harrods today. My teacher only just told me,’ I said breathlessly, sitting down cross-legged beside him.

  ‘And was she pleased for you?’

  ‘Not in the slightest! She doesn’t like me much.’

  ‘Well, I like you a great deal, Mona, and I’m very happy for you. We must have a celebratory lunch! It will be served any minute now. And meanwhile you can help me peruse this excellent book, though you might find it a little difficult,’ said Mr Benjamin, putting it in my lap.

  ‘I can read even the hardest books,’ I said, a little indignantly, but when I looked at the page I realized he was teasing. It was written in an entirely foreign language. It wasn’t a story, more like a long list – and there was a black-and-white picture of a big pot of some kind of stew.

  ‘I can so read it!’ I said. ‘It’s a recipe for beef stew!’

  ‘Oh my Lord, there’s no flies on you, Mona Smith. It is indeed – boeuf bourguignon. Cook says she’s no idea how to make it, so I’m trying to work it out myself so I can show her. I’m planning it for dinner tomorrow. When you’re a little older you must come to one of my dinner parties, Mona.’

  I wasn’t sure I’d ever want to eat foreign food with a funny name, and I hadn’t liked Mr Benjamin’s choice of guests so far, but I thanked him anyway.

  ‘Though I think I’d like it best if it was just you and me, Mr Benjamin,’ I said daringly.

  ‘Your wish is my command,’ he said. ‘Ambrose has actually bestirred himself this morning and is out in the garden consulting with a team of builders. He is encouraging me to build a little lido. It will be such a lark to have my own pool! I’m not sure when he’ll be joining us.’

  The door opened, and the new butler announced that lunch was indeed served.

  ‘Thank you so much, Harold. As you can see, I have a little guest. Could you rustle up another plate, please, and I hope Cook has got a pudding. Mona has a very sweet tooth.’

  ‘Certainly, sir.’ Harold smiled at me. ‘I have a very sweet tooth too, Miss Mona. Wait till you sample Cook’s raspberry meringue!’ He was much friendlier than old Mr Marchant, who had looked at me as if I was something the cat had brought in.

  The meal was superb. We had asparagus soup to start with. I’d never even heard of such a vegetable, and looked at the green liquid anxiously, but it was extremely tasty. Then we ha