Monty got us to discuss what we thought “Being a Woman” meant.

Flossie said, “Well, ah don’t rightly know if ah could say, sir, maybe ah could show you . . .” And she started her Southern belle routine, sashaying around the room.

Monty clapped his pudgy hands. “Marvelous, marvelous, Flossie. I know, girls, let’s go with physical expression to feel our way into the mood. Let’s pursue Flossie’s idea of being a spoiled Southern belle! I’ll start.”

At the very last bell, Sidone burst into the classroom.

She was a vision in fur.

Well, she was in fur.

I don’t know what kind of animal is purple.

She leaned against the door, panting.

Monty flung his arms wide. “Girls, girls, here we have it before us: Woman!!!”

Sidone blew kisses to us all individually which went on for quite a long time, then said, “So sorry, my dears, not to be here to welcome you back, but the Blubberhouses ladies were very demanding. Such big, big women. The poles will have to be replaced of course.

“Anyway, I wanted to be here to welcome you, but such is life. In order to keep Dother Hall going, sometimes I must rent my services out to amateur groups. I do it willingly, of course, but the headaches are quite violent afterwards. . . . But . . . what do I matter??? It is you, my dears, who are the hope for the future. I am just a dim light from the past, blinking in the firmament of you bright little starlets.”

Monty leapt in. “Nay, nay, madam, you remain the brightest light, the brightest!”

Sidone tinkled with laughter and shook her head at him. “Too kind . . . and yet perhaps I still have some of the old skills.” She suddenly did a high kick that only just missed Monty’s chin. He was ecstatic and clapped like a seal in a suit.

I noticed Sidone was holding her leg as she said, “Girls, here are your instructions for tonight, your FIRST night of many first nights, if you will excuse the theatrical pun.”

Which we did because we had no idea what she was talking about.

She handed us each an envelope.

“Open it this evening and bring your ideas for Ms. Fox tomorrow. Till then, my dears, my dearie dears.” Kissing her hands, she withdrew from the room.

I said to Flossie, “Did you think she was limping slightly as she went out?”

We were all tired at the end of the day. The Tree Sisters gave me a hug and went off for supper and a lie-down. Flossie said, “If Bob hasn’t burned our beds for firewood.”

I wish I could just have my dinner and pop upstairs instead of trailing all the way into the village. Even though the Dobbinses are nice.

When I got to the village I kept my eyes peeled for signs of the Bottomlys, but they weren’t around. But I saw Ruby bundled up in her coat on the doorstep of The Blind Pig with Matilda. They both looked glum.