Maud was waiting for us in her ‘Private Room.’ We came to it
through long corridors with notices on the walls, and a place
with pegs, and rows and rows of hats and coats. There was a smell
of disinfectant, and ink, and books. It was different from the
smell at Ellsfield, but reminded me partly of that.
The ‘Private Room’ was pleasanter. There was a big window with
green serge curtains, and a table with a green serge cover, and
lots of books on it. There were daffodils on the table in a green,
‘art pottery’ jug, and reproductions of pictures by Watts on
the walls, in broad, dark oak frames.
Maud came forward to meet us. She was tall and fair; she seemed
much taller and more powerful than Walter; she looked healthier,
and more athletic. Her hair was parted in the middle, and pushed
forward, very neatly, with little combs behind each ear. She
was wearing a very clean, well ironed, white silk shirt, with
a dark blue tie, a tie-pin, and a long, navy blue serge skirt;
she had pince-nez, rimless ones, fastened by a fine, black cord.
She smiled in a bright, business-like way, as though she were
accustomed to smiling.
‘My dear Walter, how do you do? How do you do, Helen?’
She kissed us both, brightly too, and led us back to the tea-table,
which was waiting by the hearth-rug. There was no fire, though
the day was rather cold; the kettle was boiling on a brass spirit
lamp, on the table.
‘Your train must have been late,’ she said, as she made the tea.
‘I expected you a quarter of an hour ago. Fortunately, to-day
is my “free day,” and I have an hour and a half, quite free,
after tea.’
She made us feel that it was our fault that the train was late,
but that she forgave us.
Walter murmured an apology, and she smiled again:
‘It is of no consequence, none whatever. I have kept myself entirely
at your disposal this afternoon. I had to take the chair at a
staff meeting between three and four; we have a staff-committee
now, you know, Walter, to decide on internal questions of policy
in the school, slight variations in curriculum, and so forth,
as far as our governing body will permit: it meets on Saturday
afternoon. I find it a useful experiment. I find that it encourages
keenness in the staff, more especially the younger members, if
they feel they have some say in the management of the school.
I have, of course, a casting vote myself, but I seldom use it.
It is surprising to find how often we are unanimous, or practically
so. Sugar, Helen and milk?’
She gave me sugar and milk, without waiting for my reply, and
handed me the cup.
‘Let me see,’ she went on, ‘where were you at school? Walter
did tell me, I believe.’