The Runaways of Haddington Hall by Vivian French

Author:Vivian French [French, Vivian]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781406396607
Publisher: Walker Books
Published: 2021-11-04T00:00:00+00:00

IF MRS KRICK HAD HOPED MINNIE WOULD calm down as a result of being locked in the scullery, she was mistaken. When Nellie finally unlocked the door several hours later, she was still simmering with rage.

Nellie had intended to give Minnie a hard slap as a sign of her personal disapproval; she was dissuaded from this, however, by the presence of Gobbler, who greeted Minnie with quivering delight while simultaneously growling darkly at her would-be attacker and showing his teeth.

Backing hastily away, Nellie said, “You’re wanted upstairs. Bring a mop and bucket. I want those floors cleaned before the girls go to bed, and when I says ‘clean’, I means it. I’ll be watching you, every minute. And hurry up about it!”

As Minnie filled the bucket with water and went to find the mop, Nellie took herself up to the dormitory where Peg, Molly, Cissy and Sal were sitting in a row on one of the beds, and whispering to each other.

They had bonded over the discovery that they loathed Mrs Haddington, and had been trying to outdo each other in calling her names.

“She’s a hornswoggling hag,” Peg offered.

Molly giggled. “I likes that! Hornswoggling hag-bag!”

“More of a rubbishy ratbag,” Cissy suggested, and it was Sal’s turn to giggle.

“She’s a wailing whooperup,” said Sal, looking pleased with herself. “All noise and nothing good.”

They fell silent as soon as Nellie appeared, and looked at her with suspicion: was she a spy for Mrs Haddington? It seemed she had some kind of role in the house, but it hadn’t been made clear to them what exactly this was.

Nellie gave the girls a sly wink. “Planning and plotting?” she asked.

Peg, Molly and Sal looked doubtfully at her, but Cissy chuckled. “Got to look out for number one.” She fingered her dress. “Going to sell this, soon as I gets out of here.”

Sal nodded at Nellie. “Me too.” She looked round the gloomy dormitory, with its dark and dusty rafters and rough wooden floors. “We was promised big windows. Gran said we was going to better ourselves, and me and Cissy, we’re going back—”

“Shut it!” Cissy clamped a hand over her sister’s mouth. Although Nellie appeared friendly, Cissy knew enough of the world to be suspicious of anyone in a position of authority, however minimal that authority might be. They were always happy to use information to their own advantage.

Nellie gave Cissy a knowing nod. “It’s all right: I won’t tell her high and mightiness. Not blooming likely! Now, d’you want some fun?”

Peg and Molly sat up. “Fun?”

Nellie nodded, and pointed to the door as Minnie, laden down with the heavy bucket, came staggering in.

“This here’s called Mangle. Watch her! She’s got a temper like a raging bull … but she’s here to work. Ain’t that right, Mangle?”

Minnie, her lips pressed tightly together, nodded. She knew Nellie was trying to make her angry, and she was doing her best not to rise to her taunting – but it was hard.

“Shocking awful, she is,” Nellie went on.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.