Chapter 14 Chapter Thirteen

On the third weekend of school, everything went according to the usual plan.This is the first weekend that parents can take students out.The Yerba Grass Girls' School campus is deserted, and only twenty girls will be left for lunch this Sunday.Some faculty members take weekends off and return late Sunday night or Monday morning.In this particular case Miss Bulstrode herself offered to leave school for the weekend.This was unusual as she was not traditionally away from school during term time.But she has a reason.She intended to spend a few days with the Duchess of Welsham at Wersington Abbey.The Duchess had made a point of this invitation, and said that Henry Banks would also be a guest at her place.

Henry Banks is the chairman of the school.He was an important industrialist and one of the school's original supporters.The Duchess's invitation was therefore almost commanding.This did not mean that Miss Bulstrode would be content to have orders dictated to her if she did not wish to. But the truth is, she gladly accepted the invitation.She would never show indifference to duchesses, and the Duchess of Welsham was an influential duchess, and her own daughters had been sent to Yerba Meadows.She was also particularly pleased to have the opportunity to speak with Henry Banks about the school's prospects and to express her views on recent unfortunate events.

Miss Springer's murder was brought up very strategically in the papers, because Yerba Meadows was connected with some influential persons in society.It was said to be an unfortunate death rather than some mysterious murder.Although not stated, the impression is given that a mob of youths may have broken into the gymnasium and that Miss Springer's death was accidental rather than premeditated.According to vague reports, several young people were called to the police station to "provide assistance to the police".Miss Bulstrode herself was impatient to water down any unpleasant impressions these two very influential patrons of the school might have received.She knew they wanted to talk to her about her imminent retirement, which had been vaguely hinted at here.Both the Duchess and Henry Banks were eager to persuade her to stay.Miss Bulstrode felt the time was ripe for Eleanor.Vansittart boasted, pointing out her abilities and how fitting she was to carry on the tradition of Yerba Meadows.

Miss Bulstrode had just finished writing the letter with Ann Shaplan on Saturday morning when the telephone rang.Ann went to answer the phone. "Prince Ibrahim on the phone, Miss Bulstrode. He's at the Claridge's and he wants to get Shesta out tomorrow." Miss Bulstrode took the telephone from her and had a brief exchange with the prince's aide-de-camp.She said Shesta could leave any time after eleven-thirty on Sunday.The girl must be back at school at eight o'clock in the evening. She hung up the phone and said: "I wish these Orientals would sometimes say hello beforehand. We have made arrangements for Shesta to go out with Giselle Dobre tomorrow. Now that has to be cancelled. Have we written all our letters?"

"It's all written, Miss Bulstrode." "Well, I can go away in peace. You type out your credits and post them. Then you're free this weekend too. I don't have anything to ask of you until lunchtime on Monday." "Thank you, Miss Bulstrode." "Have a good time, dear." "I will," Ann said. "With the lad?" "Well—yes." Ann blushed a little, "but I haven't seriously considered our relationship yet." "Then it's time to seriously think about it. If you're going to get married, don't put it off too late."

"Oh, he's just an old friend, nothing exciting." "Exciting," said Miss Bulstrode admonishingly, "is not always a good basis for conjugal life. Would you please call Miss Chadwick?" Miss Chadwick came in hastily. "Chady, Shesta's uncle, Prince Ibrahim, intends to take her out tomorrow. If he comes in person, tell him Shesta is making great progress." "She's not very bright," said Miss Chadwick. "She is intellectually immature," agreed Miss Bulstrode, "and that is a great disadvantage in life." "Perhaps I don't quite agree with you on this point, my dear."

Miss Chadwick said, "I'm going to tell Shesta about her uncle's coming. Go ahead and take your weekend and don't worry about anything." "Oh, I won't worry," said Miss Bulstrode. "Really, this is a good chance to put Eleanor Vansittart in charge, and see what she can do. You and her Take responsibility together, and there will be no mistakes." "I hope so. I'll go find Shesta right now." Shesta looked a little surprised, she was not happy to hear that her uncle had come. "He's taking me out to-morrow?" she murmured. "But, Miss Chadwick, it's been arranged. I'm going out with Giselle Dobre and her mother."

"I think you'd better go out with them next time." "But I'd rather go out with Giselle," Shesta said sullenly. "My uncle isn't very nice at all. He'll eat, and then he'll mutter. It's boring." "You shouldn't say such things, it's impolite," said Miss Chadwick. "As far as I know, your uncle is in England for a week, and he would naturally like to see you." "Perhaps he has arranged a new marriage for me," Shesta said cheerfully. "It would be interesting if that were the case." "If that's the case, no doubt he'll tell you. But you're too young to be married at the moment, and you'll have to finish your books first."

"Study is so boring," Shesta said. The Sunday morning was clear and cloudless -- as soon as Miss Bulstrode left on Saturday, so did Miss Shapland.Miss Johnson, Miss Rich, and Miss Black all left on Sunday morning. Miss Vansittart, Miss Chadwick, Miss Rowan, and Miss Blanche stayed on to hold on to the school work. "I hope not all girls are talkative," said Miss Chadwick uncertainly. "I mean talking about poor Miss Springer." Eleanor Vansittart said, "Hopefully the whole thing will be forgotten soon." After a pause, she added, "If any parent ever talks to me about it, I'll put Off topic. I think we'd better take a firm approach."

At ten o'clock the girls went to church, accompanied by Miss Vansittart and Miss Chadwick.Four Roman Catholic girls were escorted by Angel-Le-Blanchet to the rival religious institution.Then, around half past eleven, cars began to roll into the driveway.Miss Vansittart was standing in the little hall with poise, poise, and dignity.She greeted the mothers with a smile and led their daughters out.If anyone brought up this recent misfortune in an ill-advised manner, she was always tactful in breaking the subject. "It's dreadful," she said, "yes, it's dreadful. But, you know, we don't talk about it here. Children's minds are so immature—thinking too much about it." It's unfortunate for them."

Chardy was there too, greeting old friends of the family, discussing holiday plans with them and talking fondly about their respective daughters. "I wish Aunt Isabel would come and take me out," said Julia.She was standing with Jennifer in a classroom with her nose pressed against the glass, watching people go by on the driveway outside. "My mom is taking me out next weekend," Jennifer said. "My dad has some important people visiting this week, so she can't come today." "Isn't that Shesta?" said Julie Kie, "all dressed up for London. Oh yes, look at the heels of her shoes! I bet old Miss Johnson wouldn't like them." A driver in livery was opening the door of a large Cadillac, Shesta stepped in, and the car drove away. "You can go out with me next weekend if you want." "I told my mom I was bringing a friend," Jennifer said. "I'd love to," Julia said. "Look at the way Vansittart handles the situation." "She's quite the person, isn't she?" Jennifer said. "I don't know why," said Julie Kie, "somehow it amused me. It's another Miss Bulstrode, isn't it? Pretty, but it's like Joyce Glenn Foer is still someone doing a parody." "Isn't that Pam's mother?" Jennifer said. "She brought the little boy. I don't know how they could fit in that little Morris Minor car." "They're going to have a picnic," said Julie dumbly. "Look at those baskets." "What are you going to do this afternoon?" Jennifer asked. "If I see my mother next week, I don't think there is any need to write to her this week, what do you think?" "You're lazy writing letters, Jennifer." "I can't think of anything to write about," Jennifer said. "I can think of it, yes," said Julia. "I can think of a lot to write about." Then she added sadly: "But there's really no one to write to right now." "How about writing to your mother?" "At least not writing to them all the time." "Where do you send your letters when you write them?" "Oh, consulates everywhere. She gave a list. Istanbul was first, then Ankara, and the next one was a funny name." She went on, "I told her where my mother was, She seemed disturbed to hear that." "It can't be for you." Jennifer said, "Didn't you get into any trouble?" "As far as I know, I haven't," Julia said. "Maybe she wanted to tell my mother about Springer." "Why did she tell your mother about it?" Jennifer said. "I think there's at least one mother who doesn't know about Springer. She's just happy about it." "You mean maybe mothers think their daughters are murdered too?" "I don't think my mother is so confused," Jennifer said. "But she was a little agitated about it." "If you ask me," said Julia thoughtfully, "I think there's a lot they haven't told us about Springer." "Which aspect?" "Oh, there seems to be some weird stuff going on. Like your new tennis racket." "Oh, I was going to tell you," Jennifer said. "I wrote to Aunt Gena to thank her. I got a letter from her this morning. She said she was glad I had a new racket, But she never asked someone to bring me a racket." "I told you there was something odd about the racket," said Juliet triumphantly. "There were burglars in your house, weren't there?" "Yes, but they didn't steal anything." "That would be more interesting. I think," Julia added thoughtfully, "that we might well have a second murder soon."' "Oh, seriously, Julia, why would we What about a second murder?" "Well, there's always a second murder in the books," said Julie Key. "What I thought was, Jennifer, you've got to be very careful that you don't get murdered." "Me?" Jennifer said startled, "Why would someone murder me?" "Because you're somehow involved in this," continued Juliet thoughtfully, "and we'll have to get some more information from your mother next week, Jennifer. Maybe in Lamar Someone in Tena gave her some secret documents." "What kind of secret document?" "Oh, then how do I know." Zhu Liji said, "A blueprint or formula for a new type of atomic bomb, something like that." Jennifer still looked skeptical. Miss Vansittart and Miss Chadwick were in the staff common room when Miss Ron came in and said: "Where's Shesta? I can't find her anywhere. The Prince's car is here for her." "What?" Chardy looked up in surprise. "It must be a misunderstanding. The Prince's car came three quarters of an hour ago, and I saw her get in it. She was the first one to go." Eleanor Vansittart shrugged. "I guess it must have been called twice, or some sort of misunderstanding." She went out herself to speak to the driver of the car. "It must be a mistake," said she. "The lady left here for London three quarters of an hour ago." The driver looked surprised. "If you say so, ma'am, I think it must be a misunderstanding," he said. "I have been given definite instructions. Come and fetch the young lady from Green Meadow Girls' School." "I suppose sometimes mistakes are inevitable," said Miss Vansittart. The driver didn't seem disturbed or surprised. "It happens all the time," he said. "Get the call, write it down, and forget it. There's always that sort of thing. But our company prides itself on the fact that we don't make mistakes." Yes. Of course, with all due respect, you can never quite figure out these Orientals. They sometimes have such a huge squire that the same order is given twice or even three times. I think that's the case today. The situation." He turned his big car around deftly and drove away, and Miss Vansittart looked momentarily puzzled, but then she decided that she had nothing to worry about, and began to look forward with satisfaction to being able to Have a quiet afternoon. After lunch, some of the girls who stayed at school were writing letters, and some were walking around the campus.Some people played tennis for a while, and quite a few visited the swimming pool.Miss Vansittart picked up her fountain pen and letterhead and went under the shade of the cedar tree.At half-past four the telephone rang and it was Miss Chadwick who answered. "Yerme Meadow?" said the voice of a well-bred young Englishman. "Oh, is Miss Bulstrode in?" "Miss Bulstrode is out today. I am Miss Chadwick." "Oh, I'm talking about one of your students. I'm on the phone from Prince Ibrahim's suite at the Claridge's Hotel." "Oh, is it? You want to talk about Shesta?" "Yes, the Prince is very annoyed that he has not been informed of anything." "Notification? Why should he be notified?" "Well, he should have had a notice that Sheesta couldn't come, or wouldn't come." "Not coming! Do you mean she hasn't arrived yet?" "No, no, of course she hasn't arrived yet. So she has left Greenfield Meadow?" "Yes, a motor came for her this morning—well, I think it was about half-past eleven, and she rode away." "It's very strange, because she didn't come here ... I'd better call the company that supplied the Prince with the car." "Oh, dear," said Miss Chadwick, "I wish there hadn't been any accident." "Oh, let's not think the worst," said the young man brightly. "You know, if there had been a car accident, you would have heard about it. We should have heard about it. If I were in your position , I won't worry." But Miss Chadwick was really worried. "I see something strange about it," she said. "I think—" the young man hesitated. "Well?" said Miss Chadwick. "Well, I don't intend to make such a hint to the Prince, but just to talk between us, is it - er - er, is there a boyfriend who is pursuing her, is there?" "Certainly not," said Miss Chadwick solemnly. "Don't get me wrong, I don't really think there is. But, well, we're never sure about girls, are we? You'd be surprised if you knew some of the things I've had." "I can assure you," said Miss Chadwick solemnly, "that anything of the kind is impossible." "But, is it really impossible? Are we sure about the girls?" She put down the receiver and went, rather reluctantly, to Miss Vansittart.There was no reason to think that Miss Vansittart was in a better position to deal with the situation than she was herself, but she felt the need to find someone to consult with.Miss Vansittart immediately asked: "Ever came the second car?" They looked at each other. "Do you think," said Chady slowly, "that we should call the police?" "Can't report to the police." Eleanor Vansittart's tone showed shock. "You know, she did say," said Miss Chadwick, "that there was an attempt to kidnap her." "Kidnapping her? Nonsense!" shrieked Miss Vansittart. "Do you think—" Miss Chadwick persisted. "Miss Bulstrode has me presiding over here," said Eleanor Vansittart. "I won't permit anything of the sort. We don't want the police here to make trouble." Miss Chadwick looked at her impassively.She thought Miss Vansittart short-sighted and stupid.She went back to the house and rang up the Duchess of Welsham's apartment, but unfortunately no one was home.