The teacher rose and came to greet Kate, stretching out her hands to take Kate’s. For the first time since she had arrived at this place, Kate found herself looking into a face that was smiling and welcoming. Miss Ogden was a pretty, dark-haired young woman with a kind smile and merry, dancing eyes. ‘Welcome to Class Two, Katharine. We’ll introduce you to everyone tomorrow.’

Kate glanced briefly at the other pupils and her heart sank when she saw that the three girls whom she had met half an hour earlier were sitting there, their heads bent demurely over their sewing.

‘We’ll see you at dinner this evening,’ Miss Ogden said as the matron ushered Kate out of the classroom door and continued to show her around the school.

The ground floor consisted of the Principal’s study and private sitting room, the dining room and, at the rear of the house, the kitchens where the cook reigned over her kitchen maid and the parlourmaid who had answered the door. On the first floor were three classrooms, an art room and a domestic science room. Upstairs were three large dormitories with ten beds in each, Miss Denham’s bedroom and those of her two assistant teachers and the Matron. There was also a small room set aside as the sickroom, whilst up in the attic were the domestic servants’ bedrooms.

‘There, now you have seen everything, Katharine, I expect you not to get lost. Miss Denham cannot abide unpunctuality either for lessons or meals, or indeed for anything. Dinner is at half-past six. You may go and unpack your trunk which I believe has now arrived from the station.’

With the briefest of nods, she dismissed Kate.

‘We speak French at meal-times.’ In the dining room, Miss Denham was towering above her. ‘I presume you know a little French?’

‘No, Miss, I dun’t.’

‘She can’t speak English properly,’ came a voice from somewhere behind her, but Miss Denham chose to ignore the remark.

‘You’d better sit next to me this evening, but from tomorrow you will sit at Miss Ogden’s table.’

With an outward meekness she did not feel inside, Kate followed the Principal, thinking that she would rather sit near Miss Ogden, French or no French.

Miss Denham’s deep voice boomed out above their bowed heads, saying the Grace in French. Then there was a scraping of chairs on the bare wooden floor and everyone sat down.

Two girls from each table went to the serving hatch at the end of the dining room and returned carrying plates with a portion of meat on each. The procedure was repeated until everyone was served. Then, starting with the teacher at the head of each table, the vegetables were passed round and everyone helped themselves. Only when everyone was served was the signal given that they might start eating.