The Whole Truth (6 page)

“Should I get the summer uniform now?” asked Maud.

“Let’s wait,” said Noni. “You may have grown by the summer term.”

Maud needed other clothes as well as her uniform. Polly was glad for her as she watched her try on the “simple frocks for indoor wear” that were on the list. Finally Maud had clothes that fit!

“Would
you
like to get a new dress, Polly?” Noni asked.

Polly nodded with surprise. She had never had a store-bought dress. They found a pretty blue one with a pattern of small flowers on it. Then Noni bought her two brand new pairs of shoes: strapped black ones for church and brown oxfords for school. Polly couldn’t help being pleased.
“Thank
you!” she whispered.

Maud insisted on wearing her uniform for the rest of the day. She held her head high as they walked along the street and in and out of stores. Aunt Jean bought Uncle Rand some underwear and Noni bought a special magazine about Scotland. Then they went to a grocery store and ordered a lot of food to be sent to the island.

Finally they took everything to the hotel and had tea in the garden. Noni kept getting up to inspect the roses and the enormous dahlias. “Why can’t mine be like this?” she said.

Maud tucked a napkin under her chin so she wouldn’t spill anything on her tunic. She wouldn’t take off her blazer, even though her face was beaded with perspiration. She devoured a piece of pie, but Polly shook her head at the tray of sandwiches and pastries. In a few hours Maud was going to leave her!

“Look, Polly!” Maud pointed out an older girl in a St. Winifred’s uniform having tea with her parents. The girl glanced over at Maud and smiled.

“Oh, Noni, can’t we go to the school
now?”
asked Maud.

“I told them not to expect us until six,” said Noni.

“But the brochure says you can arrive any time after lunch. Please, Noni—I can’t wait that long!”

“Very well, Maud,” said Noni, “if you’re sure that’s what you want.”

How could Maud want to leave them so soon? Polly clutched Noni’s hand all the way to the taxi.

The school was on the edge of the city. The taxi drove through a stone gate and along a winding driveway, past woods and a large playing field.

“That must be where they play grass hockey,” said Maud. “I’m sure I’ll be good at it because I like running.”

“Your mother liked running too,” Noni told her. “She was also an excellent tennis player.”

“She must have inherited that from Gilbert,” said Aunt Jean. “Neither of
us
is athletic!”

Maud wasn’t listening. Her eyes were fixed on the large stone house they were approaching. “That must be where the boarders
live,” she told Polly, “and the other two buildings must be the classrooms and the gym.”

The taxi dropped them off at the entrance and the driver carried Maud’s suitcase up the wide stairs and into a large, dark hall. One wall was covered with photographs of uniformed girls playing sports or in class groups. Three large oil paintings on another wall portrayed solemn women. They seemed to stare right at Polly.

“Former headmistresses, I imagine,” said Aunt Jean, taking out a cigarette. “They look rather severe!”

Many girls were coming in and out, some in uniform and some in their own clothes. Other parents and girls stood in the hall in chattering groups.

A very tall woman hurried over to them. She was just as formidable as the women in the portraits. “This must be Maud Brown and her family!” she said.

Polly wished she could hide behind Noni, but that would be babyish.

“I’m Mrs. Whitfield, Maud’s grandmother,” said Noni.

The woman shook Noni’s hand. “I am Miss Guppy, the headmistress of St. Winifred’s,” she said grandly. Her voice was like a bark from a very large dog.

“This is my sister, Mrs. Stafford,” said Noni.

Miss Guppy had bristly grey hair that stood out untidily from her bony face. She stared coldly down her long nose. “I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you to extinguish your cigarette. We don’t allow smoking here. It sets such a bad example, don’t you think? You’ll have to butt it outside—we have no ashtrays.”

Aunt Jean flushed. She quickly left, then returned without the cigarette.

“And this is Maud!” For the first time, Miss Guppy smiled warmly. “I’m delighted to welcome you to St. Winifred’s. You’re the only new girl this term, you know—I’m afraid our little population has shrunk in these hard times. We’re delighted to have you join us.” She shook Maud’s hand and gazed hungrily at her. Then she spotted Polly and crushed her hand. “And you must be Maud’s little sister. What is
your
name?”

Polly hung her head, trying not to rub her released hand.

“It’s Polly,” said Maud.

“I’m very sorry about your father, girls. I lost mine as a child as well.” It was hard to imagine this strong, horsey-looking woman as a child. “It’s a difficult trial God has sent you, but I know you’ll be able to bear it. Let me show you around.”

The next hour went by far too fast for Polly. Miss Guppy showed them a dining room with an ornate ceiling and the sitting room where the girls had free time in the evenings. She took them to a long building full of classrooms. Another building contained a gymnasium and a science laboratory and two piano-practising rooms.

“It’s so large!” marvelled Aunt Jean.

“We have all the modern conveniences,” said Miss Guppy proudly. “Everything a young lady needs for a proper education.”

They went back to the stone building. “The other members of your dormitory are already here,” the headmistress told Maud. “I’ll introduce them to you after your family leaves.”

They sat in Miss Guppy’s study while she told them how delighted she was to have a new student. “Many families can’t afford private schools these days. I’ve had to take a cut in my own salary, but I would never leave, even if I had to work for free—St. Winifred’s is my life. I know you will soon feel the same, Maud.”

Miss Guppy frowned at Noni. “I was slightly confused when you told me Maud would be a weekly boarder.”

“I thought I made it clear that Maud will be coming home every Friday after this one,” Noni answered.

“That will be difficult for her. All of our boarders stay for the weekend, even if they live nearby. We go on special outings on Saturdays, and on Sundays we have spiritual discussions in the afternoons. The boarders are a tightly knit group at St. Winifred’s. Maud will feel left out if she can’t participate fully in their activities.”

“Nevertheless, Maud will be coming home every weekend,” repeated Noni firmly.

“Oh, but—” started Maud. Noni put up her hand and Maud was silent.

“Let’s see how it goes,” said Miss Guppy just as firmly. Maud turned to her with a relieved smile, and Polly’s stomach hurt. Already Maud and Miss Guppy seemed to be in a private league that shut out the rest of them.

“Now, Maud, why don’t you say goodbye to your family? I ordered a taxi for six o’clock and it must be here by now.” Miss Guppy had them outside before they knew what was happening.

“Goodbye, hen,” said Noni, kissing Maud. “Enjoy your new friends. You can tell us all about them when you come home.”

“Have a good time, chickie,” said Aunt Jean.

Then it was Polly’s turn. She couldn’t speak as Maud hugged her and whispered, “Remember the rules! See you in ten days!”

Maud turned and followed Miss Guppy back inside. The heavy door closed firmly behind them.

“Well!” said Aunt Jean in the taxi.
“There’s
a woman who knows her own mind! She made me feel like a young girl!”

“She’s terribly overbearing, but she appears to be an excellent and committed headmistress,” said Noni.

“And Maud seems to like her,” said Aunt Jean. “That’s the most important thing.”

“Yes, Maud seems to like
everything
about the school. I’m sure she’ll be happy there. And of course she’ll get a good classic education. I wish
I’d
had that opportunity.”

On the way out they passed a group of uniformed girls walking up the drive. They were laughing and talking so intently that they didn’t even glance at the taxi. They were part of a secret world, as alien as Maud now seemed to Polly.

To Polly’s relief she was sent to bed early, after supper on a tray—which she hardly touched—that came to the room. She sat on her cot in her nightgown and watched Noni and Aunt Jean get dressed for dinner. “If you need anything, just phone the desk and they’ll come and get us in the dining room,” said Noni. She tucked Polly in and kissed her. “You go right to sleep, hen. Don’t fash yourself about Maud—remember that you’ll see her soon.”

For a long time Polly lay on the bed, all the events of the day marching through her mind. Then she sat at the window and watched the lit-up boats in the harbour. People strolled by on the sidewalk, laughing and chatting. Everyone looked happy—everyone but her.

She got back into bed, burrowed under the blankets, and let herself cry.

Polly knew that Maud and Miss Guppy would prevail. Miss Guppy would persuade Noni to let Maud be a full boarder. She would
come home a week this Friday, but then she’d stay for the whole term and Polly wouldn’t see her until Christmas!

Now Polly had no one. No Maud, no Daddy, no Grannie … and no mother, even though she couldn’t remember her. And she didn’t understand what had happened in August and no one would tell her, not even Maud! She was tired of going on trains and boats and staying in new places. She didn’t want to start a strange new school with scary-looking girls like Alice in it. The future was a dark tunnel she was being forced to enter, but it wasn’t like the tunnels on the train because she didn’t know when or if she would come out on the other side.

“Oh, oh!” sobbed Polly. Her tears choked her they came so fast.

“Why, chickie, what on earth is the matter?” Aunt Jean rushed in and sat on the edge of the cot. She took out her handkerchief and wiped Polly’s face. Then she held her shuddering body. “Poor wean, this is so hard for you. Things will get better, I promise. We’ll take good care of you, and you’ll come to like living with us.”

“I want to live with my
Daddy,
like I always have!” cried Polly.

“Whisht, now. You mustn’t think about your father—it will only make you sad. Be a good lassie and try to go to sleep. Everything will look better in the morning.”

Polly’s sobs diminished to gulping breaths. She let Aunt Jean tuck her in. “Where’s Noni?” she croaked.

“She ran into someone she knew, but she’s coming up soon. Go to sleep now, chickie.”

Aunt Jean rubbed Polly’s back and began to sing:

Dance to your Daddy
   My little babby
   Dance to your Daddy
   
My little one.
   You shall have a fishie
   In a little dishie.
   You shall have a fishie
   When the boat comes in.

“Jean!” Noni hurried over from the door. “How can you sing that to Polly? It’s completely inappropriate!”

“Sorry, Polly,” said Aunt Jean. “I wasn’t thinking. That was Gregor’s favourite lullaby.”

“I liked it,” murmured Polly.

“Polly has been feeling sad,” said Aunt Jean. “But do you know what, chickie? You’re talking!”

“So you are!” said Noni. “I’m glad of that, but I’m sorry you’re feeling sad.” She took Aunt Jean’s place on the bed and stroked Polly’s hair.

Then
she
began to sing:

Lula lula lula bye-bye.
   Do you want the stars to play with?
   Or the moon to run away with?
   They’ll come if you don’t cry.

Polly fell asleep to Noni’s husky voice.

P
olly sat at the kitchen table and forced herself to eat a few mouthfuls of porridge, wondering what to do with herself. The rain drummed on the roof like a waterfall. Being without Maud was like being without a limb.

“Isn’t it good to be home?” Aunt Jean had said the night before. But where
was
home? Polly wondered. It didn’t feel like here, but neither did Winnipeg without Daddy. Maud’s new home was her school, but Polly had nowhere.

“Why don’t you take another pot of tea up to your grandmother?” suggested Mrs. Hooper, who was rolling out dough. “I’ll set out a cup for you as well.”

“All right,” said Polly, since she didn’t seem to have a choice.

She had to put the heavy tray down to knock on Noni’s door.

“Come in,” called the gravelly voice.

Polly felt shy going into Noni’s bedroom. But Noni smiled at her, sitting up in bed in an embroidered dressing gown. Her loose hair made her face look softer. She put down her book.

“Ah, Polly, what a treat! And more tea! Come and sit beside me on the bed. Have you had breakfast?”

Polly nodded as she pushed off her shoes and scrambled onto the high bed.

“Why, look at your feet—they’re sopping! You’d better take off your socks and get under the covers. How did you get so wet?”

“Going to the privy,” Polly explained.

“We should have bought you gumboots in Victoria! Never mind, we’ll find you some at the store. Now, hen, how many spoonfuls of sugar would you like in your tea?”

“Two, please.” Polly was trying not to stare too obviously at Noni’s things. “What are you reading?” she asked shyly.

“It’s a book of poetry called
The Golden Treasury.
I read it every morning, and often during the night. I don’t sleep very well. My arthritic hips make it hard to get comfortable, and I can’t seem to turn off my mind. That’s why I find it hard to get up in the mornings. Would you like me to read some poems aloud to you?”

“Yes, please.”

Now Polly could stare freely. She slurped her sweet milky tea and listened to Noni read a short poem about daffodils, then a longer one about going down to the sea.

Like the rest of the house, Noni’s room was stuffed full of objects: photos, cushions, books, magazines, and clothing were piled and draped everywhere.

Noni put down the book and picked up her cup. “Just listen to that rain! Isn’t it cozy, being inside in a warm bed? Sometimes I think I could stay here all day! But the morning awaits us. I’d better get dressed before Jean arrives, or she’ll be disgusted with me.”