Chapter 25 #2
“I apologise, you have caught us in a most unpleasant moment. We had to chasten some most undesirable behaviour, born from a faulty character difficult to correct. This girl is a liar and a thief!”
Elizabeth’s eyebrow arched. “Mr. Mullen, I would suggest we continue this conversation privately.”
In the doorway, she noticed a large group of teachers, most likely alerted by the servant. She nodded to them, then said, “Since we are all here, it would be an excellent moment to make the introductions. Is there anyone who can supervise the girls?”
“Yes ma’am. The monitors. I shall instruct them immediately,” Mrs. Russell said.
“Good. Do you have a large room where we may all fit? Perhaps a breakfast room?” Elizabeth asked.
Mr. Mullen’s face changed. “The breakfast room is not a proper place for your ladyship. We will find a more suitable place… If we knew of your visit we would have made the arrangements.”
“What do you mean, sir? Is it not large enough? Do the girls not eat there?”
“Yes they do, but…”
“Then it must be suited well enough. Let us not waste time,” Elizabeth said, leaving the class.
In the hall, the entire group of teachers were waiting.
“Well? The breakfast room, please?” Elizabeth repeated and they were finally directed towards it.
When they entered, the reason for Mr. Mullen’s reluctance became clear.
It was a large, low-ceiled, gloomy room, with many tables and chairs aligned in order. A woman—the cook—was boiling something and the smell was most uninviting.
At their entrance, the woman remained still, gazing at Mr. Mullen.
“Please sit down,” Elizabeth invited the teachers, while she remained standing.
“As you may have heard, I am Lady Barrington. These are my brother and sisters, my friend and adviser, Miss Cecilia, and Mr. Hoskins, our solicitor. You might remember the two of them, since they visited the school with Lady Sedgewick some years ago.”
“I do remember,” Mrs. Russell said. “Most of the teachers are new; they did not meet Lady Sedgewick.”
“I see. Please introduce yourselves and tell us a few words about yourself,” Elizabeth asked the teachers.
The cook approached with a humble bow and asked, “Forgive me, ma’am, would you like some tea and biscuits?”
“No thank you. May I ask, what are you cooking?”
“Some porridge, madam. For dinner.”
“I must say it does not smell pleasant at all. What else is for dinner?”
“Else, ma’am?”
“Yes. Surely the girls will not only eat this gruel.”
“There is nothing else, madam.” Confused, the cook glanced at Mr. Mullen for support.
Elizabeth struggled to control her fury. “Do the teachers share the same meal?”
“No, ma’am,” the cook answered, appalled by such a notion.
“But you do know to cook a good meal, I assume?”
“Yes, ma’am. I cook whatever I am told to.”
“So the girls are fed as poorly as they are dressed.”
Mr. Mullen stepped forward and declared with much seriousness and utter solemnity.
“Lady Barrington, since I was appointed as manager of this establishment, it has been my purpose to raise these children in the spirit of humility, to rid them of any sentiment of pride or vanity. We teach them discipline and obedience, and they must learn to live with little means. We cannot allow them to be spoiled.”
“Proper food, clothes, shoes and shelter does not mean spoiling, Mr. Mullen! It is our purpose in supporting this school to offer these girls more than they can receive in the outside world. And after being here just half an hour, I dare say they benefit from none of this!”
Elizabeth’s voice—growing louder and more imposing by the moment—brought puzzlement and astonishment to those in attendance.
“They do benefit from simple attire, unsophisticated accommodations, and better education than they could dream of! We teach them rudimentary habits, so they can learn their place in the world. Most of them are, after all, here out of charity. This is an institution for educating orphans or children unwanted by anyone else. We must keep this in mind!”
Anger defeated Elizabeth’s patience, and she hit the table with her fist so hard that the entire room froze.
“Starving children is not a rudimentary habit but evilness, and a man spanking a girl is not discipline but perversity, Mr. Mullen!” she shouted in anger, arousing a tumult of bewilderment and vexation.
“I...Never before…I have never been so insulted in my life! I cannot admit… Lady Sedgewick never…”
“Lady Sedgewick never saw what you are doing here, because she always announced her arrival and you had time to prepare and conceal the truth from her!” Elizabeth continued. “Why are little girls outside, doing hard labour during school hours?”
“The orphans must work to cover their expenses,” Mr. Mullen declared coldly.
“We cannot afford to feed everyone with sophisticated food, nor to buy them fashionable clothes, or to hire enough servants to support fifty girls and ten teachers! So those who cannot pay, must work,” he concluded in a derisive tone.
“Is that so, Mr. Mullen?” Elizabeth enquired with a sharp calmness, her threatening gaze fixed on the man’s face.
“Let us do the sums. Let us calculate the school’s income from the families’ payments and the amounts paid by the trust, take off the cost of clothes and food—as now we have a clear image of them—and the teachers’ salaries.
And then I would be very interested to know what has happened to the rest of the Sedgewicks’ money! ”
The astonishment was now universal and the silence heavy and menacing. Mr. Mullen turned red with resentment and struggled to reply, while Elizabeth continued.
“One of you should go and fetch all the girls that are working outside. This moment. I want to see the girls’ bedchambers, the teachers’ rooms, the rest of the classes, the pantry.
I want to speak with the servants and then with the pupils.
And when I have finished, all of us will dine with the girls and share the same food. ”
Murmurs of opposition and indignance filled the room, but Elizabeth ignored them.
“I intend to remain here for two more days, so please prepare some rooms for us if they are available. If not, we will stay at the inn in the village. Mr. Mullen, Mrs. Russell, please join me now.”
She exited in haste, followed by her own party, equally astounded by Elizabeth’s outburst.
The inspection proved the worst of her suspicions: the bedchambers were as gloomy and cold as expected, with grey walls, thin sheets on the beds and only one basin for washing for every five girls.
The cleaning was obviously scarce and the majority of the building looked just as neglected as the rest of the estate.
The pantry, however, was rich and full, like a treasure forbidden to those who deserve it.
Beyond the edge of her patience and to Mr. Mullen’s deepest horror, Elizabeth demanded the cook to prepare a proper dinner with soup, meat, potatoes and dessert for everyone.
“But, Lady Barrington, this might send the wrong message to the girls! Spoiling them one evening could damage their expectations!” the clergyman said patronisingly.
“It will not be for one evening only, Mr. Mullen, I believe it is clear to both of us that our collaboration must cease today,” Elizabeth declared.
“Cease? But that is not possible! Someone else must have a word in this! I have been a loyal servant of Lady Sedgewick, my great aunt, for years! I wish to speak to Mr. Reeves or Mr. Thorn!”
“Mr. Mullen, let us be clear. We may separate by mutual agreement now. If you choose otherwise, I shall ask for a detailed examination of all the expenses for the last five years and will demand due compensation, if needed. I am more than agreeable to discussing the subject with the trustees and even with a judge, if you prefer. Do not take me for a fool, sir! I am only being indulgent because you are Lady Sedgewick’s relative and a clergyman.
You should accept my offer before I withdraw it. ”
For a moment, Elizabeth was certain Mr. Mullen would suffer a stroke. But he did not. He left the school within an hour, together with three of the teachers—his sisters and his cousin—under the gaze of many faces, staring from the windows.