Alice's Education: strict discipline in a girls' college by Susan Thomas

Author:Susan Thomas [Thomas, Susan]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: LSF Publications
Published: 2016-05-03T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 12

Supervisors must always be caring but their duties are paternal in nature and any other form of relationship is contrary to their role. Guidance for Supervisors 1933

Mark kept thinking about Alice for several days. He especially chewed over why she had gone to Zoe's over Christmas. What was it that she was hiding? Or at least hiding from him. Perhaps Zoe knew or perhaps Alice had tricked her in some way into getting to her place. His agitation on the matter of Alice grew and grew until one evening shortly before lights out he marched down to Zoe's room, knocked, and was admitted by a surprised Zoe.

"I want a word with you young lady."

Zoe backed away, alarmed at Mark's agitation. Her hands went without thought to her bottom fearing she had done something terrible that would earn her instant discipline.

"What about?"

"Alice. Why was she with you over Christmas?"

Zoe was so surprised she just gaped for a moment and Mark impatiently demanded she answer.

"Well I insisted she come and stay with me, that's why. We're friends and I wanted her to stay. We had a great time. We didn't do anything wrong - you can ask my parents."

"She should have gone home to her own folks. Why didn't she? What do they have to say about it?"

It took Zoe a good few seconds to process Mark's ignorance, and when she did she was angry with him. He was Alice's supervisor and yet he didn't know and hadn't asked! That wasn't good enough and she snapped out her reply in very frosty tones.

"Why? Because she hasn't got any Mr. Accourt, that's why. Her mom died two years ago and she has no dad and no other living relatives. She is utterly alone in the world and makes no complaint about it. She is brave and loving and you should be ashamed that you didn't know."

Mark was stunned. "She didn't tell me!"

"Well you're her supervisor. Why didn't you ask?"

Mark felt foolish again. Why indeed hadn't he asked? Because Alice disturbed him so much that was why. The only time she hadn't disturbed him was when she was ill and even then he had spent a great deal of time with her. Now he felt silly and cross. He left Zoe's room and stood in the corridor for a few moments before knocking hard on Alice's door.

Like Zoe she was alarmed by his agitation and stepped back, her hands covering her bottom. It was an entirely unconscious defense.

"I ought to spank you! Why didn't you tell me?"

"Tell you what?"

"That you don't have any parents. That you're all alone in the world."

"Well you didn't ask and I don't like broadcasting it. I don't want anyone feeling sorry for me."

"You should have told me."

Both were unaware their voices were getting louder and Zoe next door grew alarmed for Mark didn't normally raise his voice and nor did Alice.

"Why should I? You could have asked. As it is you always seem suspicious of me except when I was ill.

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