Page 14 of Rivals at Ashmore Castle

Alice wanted to distract Richard from the present topic, and asked, with a nod at the newspaper, ‘What’s this election all about?’

‘All about?’ Richard said. ‘It’s a very big all. The nonconformists don’t like the Education Act, the temperance folk don’t like the Licensing Act, the social reformers are up in arms about poverty after the Rowntree report, and there’s the ongoing row about free trade versus protectionism. A debate that, like the poor, we have always with us. Which topic would you like me to expound on?’

‘I heard someone say that the Conservatives have been in power too long, that they’ve run out of ideas and that it’s time to give the Liberals a turn,’ said Alice, desperately.

Richard laughed. ‘Oh, my dear girl, the last thing we want is a government with ideas! It’s not the government that runs the country, it’s business – the people who actually make the money to pay for things. And what we principally want is a government that will leave us alone to get on with it. But I suspect this sudden interest in politics is a deflection, because you think I’m going to bring up the subject of your living in lodgings. I must say, I’m not sure it’s entirely safe.’

‘Oh really!’ Alice said, exasperated. ‘I’m perfectly capable of walking from Gower Street to Old Burlington Street and back without getting lost or run over.’

‘Hmm. I’m not sure you’ve grasped the kind of safety I’m talking about.’

‘But we’ve been through it and through it. The housekeeper, Mrs Harris – she’s called “the superintendent” for a reason, you know. She’s very strict.’

‘I don’t know how you can even think of it,’ Rachel said, with a shudder. ‘Going out in public without an escort? And walking! Why not take a cab?’

‘Because my allowance will have to stretch and won’t allow for luxuries.’

‘Well, I think it’s horrid. Suppose some rough person speaks to you?’

‘Then I shall speak right back,’ Alice said.

She did feel a misgiving when she saw the room, shown into it by Mrs Harris, who clanked as she walked, thanks to a massive bunch of keys attached to her waist with a chain, like the chatelaine of a mediaeval castle. She was a tall, strong woman in her fifties with iron-grey hair and gimlet eyes. Alice thought she must have been beautiful in her youth because of the bone structure of her face – it was a face you instinctively wanted to draw – but it did not look as though she ever smiled.

The room seemed very bare to Alice, after staying with Aunt Caroline the previous term. There were two single beds with plain white counterpanes, a massive tallboy, which was a combination of wardrobe and drawers, a small, plain deal table pushed against the wall, and a washstand with basin and ewer. The walls were covered with what seemed like very old wallpaper in light brown with a pattern of dark brown flowers. There was a daguerreotype of The Boyhood of Raleigh, and a Victorian sampler with the words in cross-stitched capitals, GOD WATCHES YOU. Alice supposed it was meant to be reassuring but it sounded more like a threat.

She felt her friend Bron, with whom she was to share, start to shake with giggles. Mrs Harris was expounding the rules of the house, which was not a subject for levity. ‘I’ll leave you young ladies to settle in,’ she concluded at last, and clanked away, and Bron was able to collapse onto a bed and give way.

‘What? What is it?’ Alice demanded.

‘It’s the sampler,’ Bron managed at last, weakly. ‘It’s facing the beds. I couldn’t help wondering if God was going to watch us get undressed.’

‘Oh, Bron!’ Alice said reproachfully.

Bron pulled herself to her feet. ‘I suppose He must know what we have under our chemises, if anyone does. What do you think, eh?’ She gestured around the room.

‘It’s a bit…plain,’ Alice said mildly.

‘You’ve been spoiled by luxury. It will look fine once we have a few of our things put out.’ She walked across to the window. Over the roofs of the terrace opposite could be seen the tops of great plane trees, while below traffic passed and the pavements were busy with pedestrians. ‘Look at all the people walking about! Students, lots of them female. We’re free at last!’

‘Except for Mrs Harris,’ Alice reminded her.

There was a small fireplace with an overmantel, and a shabby armchair to either side. ‘’Imagine making toast at that fire,’ Bron coaxed. ‘And there’s a trivet – we could make cocoa too.’

‘Mrs Harris said no food or drink in the rooms,’ Alice reminded her.

‘People only remind you of the rules they know you’re going to break because everyone does,’ Bron said wisely.

‘How do you know that?’ Alice asked.

‘One of the older girls told me. Oh, Alice, we shall have fun – and no-one to tell us off or watch what we’re doing!’

‘Except God,’ Alice reminded her solemnly, and Bron grinned.

‘Shall we go and walk round Gamages and see the chimpanzees?’

‘Shouldn’t we unpack?’

‘We can do that later.’