And Nothing But the Truth by Kit Pearson Page B

into Miss Guppy’s study. Once more, Miss Guppy told Polly she was never to talk to boys on a school outing.
    “But I didn’t know he was going to be there!” said Polly.
    “Don’t talk back, young lady. That’s no excuse. While you are at school, I am your guardian. I want you to promise me you will never do this again.”
    “Yes, Miss Guppy,” muttered Polly.
What a stupid fuss over nothing!
she thought as she got ready for church.
    The twenty-eight boarders walked in a crocodile down the hill to St. Matthew’s Anglican Church. Polly thought they looked like nuns, in their identical outfits: navy-blue dresses, maroon blazers, mustard-coloured felt hats, and white gloves. As her roommates had warned, everyone in the congregation stared when the girls trooped up the aisle and slid into the front pews.
    The service was much as it was on the island. Insteadof mild Uncle Rand leading it, however, a lugubrious rector named Canon Puddifoot preached as if his own words made him tired.
    If only this were home!
Polly thought. Aunt Jean would be sitting beside her, commenting on someone’s hat, while Noni shushed her. At coffee time, Polly and Biddy and Vivien would giggle in a corner.
    As the congregation came out of church, a scruffy man approached them and held out his hand. “Please, can you spare a penny or two?” he asked. “I’m so hungry!”
    “Poor thing,” said Eleanor. “I wish we could help him but I gave all my change to the collection.”
    Polly looked around: Miss Guppy was talking to Canon Puddifoot. She dug in her pockets and found a nickel. They went up to the man and Polly held out the money.
    “Thank you, Miss!” he said.
    “You’re welcome,” said Polly. The man’s desperate expression reminded her of Daddy when he had been so poor.
    “I’m sorry that’s all we have,” said Eleanor.
    “Eleanor and Polly! Get into line at once!” bellowed Miss Guppy.
    They scurried over and joined the crocodile. “I will see both of you in my study immediately after lunch,” snapped the Guppy.
    “What did you
do
?” whispered Daisy on the way back.
    “Nothing worth fussing about, but she’ll think so,” said Eleanor.
    Sunday lunch, at least, was a welcome change from the rest of the week’s food: roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. For dessert there was treacle tart and cream. Polly gobbled up two helpings to cushion the coming lecture.
    “What did you two think you were up to, talking to a tramp?” thundered Miss Guppy as soon as they had closed the door. “Did you give him money?”
    Polly gulped and nodded.
    “He was hungry,” said Eleanor.
    “He was a dirty, disreputable beggar!” spat the headmistress. “You are not to speak to
anyone
when you are out, do you understand? Polly, I thought I had already made that clear.”
    She told them they were not allowed to have any dessert or treats from their tuck boxes for the whole week. “If I ever catch you speaking to strangers again, there will be far more serious consequences,” she finished.
    The Guppy’s stinging words had been much more severe than the punishment. “She makes me feel so guilty, when we did nothing wrong!” said Eleanor, once they were back in the dorm.
    After lunch, they had to lie on their beds for a full hour to nap or read. Then they were sent downstairs to sit in the dining room and write letters home. Polly scribbled short notes to Noni, Maud, and Daddy. She yearned to tell them about Miss Guppy’s unfairness, but all she wrote was how interesting special art had been. “I can hardly wait to see you again,” she ended each letter, blinking away tears.
    Mrs. Blake was on duty today; she and Miss Poirier alternated on Saturdays and Sundays. “How is your little boy?” Polly asked her.
    “Thank you for your interest, love. Johnny is thriving—he’s talking in sentences now.”
    Mrs. Blake sent them upstairs to sort out their laundry and polish their oxfords for tomorrow. Each boarder had a laundry bag