“Yes.” Mrs. Medlock’s smile widened triumphantly. “You’re to go to school, girl. We’ve already packed your possessions. The car will be here to collect you tomorrow afternoon!”

20

A Way Out

Mary stared at Mrs. Medlock in horror. “School! No, I’m not ready! I can’t go!”

“You have no say in it, child,” Mrs. Medlock said, her eyes glinting victoriously. “It’s all arranged. It’s a school that is full of the right sort of people—and the right sort of discipline.”

Mary saw her uncle walk by below. She flew down the stairs. “Uncle. No!” she appealed.

“Oh, no you don’t,” gasped Mrs. Medlock, hastening after her. “You leave your uncle alone!”

“Uncle . . . Mr. Craven . . . sir! Please don’t send me away. Please! I need to be here!” Mary begged.

Her uncle carried on walking without even looking at her. Fury burst through Mary. Blinded by rage, she grabbed his arm. “Colin doesn’t have a hump!” she shouted. “Why do you keep saying he does?”

“What are you talking about now?” her uncle snapped, shaking her off.

“Colin! He doesn’t have a hump and you know it!” She took in the astonishment on his face and suddenly realized something. “But of course,” she breathed. “You haven’t seen his back, have you? You don’t visit him enough to know what it’s actually like.”

“When Colin was younger, the physician said that he believed that he would develop a hump like mine unless Colin had medicine and followed his orders,” Mr. Craven said stiffly. “I have done as he recommended. I do not want my son to suffer as I have suffered. His body is weak.”

“But not because he has a hump!” Mary exclaimed. Suddenly she saw the chance to make things better for Colin. “It’s only because he’s shut up and made to believe he’s an invalid and never gets to use his legs. You can change that,” Mary said passionately. “He isn’t dying. Please! You’ve got to believe me!”

A puffing Mrs. Medlock had now reached Mary and tried to pull her away. “Stop with your talking or this will get much worse.”

But Mary fought her off. She had to make her uncle understand. “This isn’t what Aunt Grace would have wanted for Colin,” she cried passionately. “Don’t you see, Uncle? This isn’t what she would have wanted for either of you!”

Mr. Craven erupted. “Silence, child. You know nothing of my wife.”

“I’m sorry, sir,” Mrs. Medlock gasped. “I shall see that she’s punished.”