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Authors: Linda Stratmann
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the individual’s account in my strongbox and small amounts handed out weekly.’
‘There is £20 here. Do you know where Matilda might have obtained such a sum?’
Mrs Venn sat down on the bed, her face creased with thought. ‘She may have saved it over a number of years, I suppose, but why keep it in her room – why not with me, where it would be safer?’
Frances examined the coins and shook her head. ‘These are recently minted. They were not saved over a long period of time.’
‘Perhaps she saved the money in a smaller denomination and then changed it?’ Mrs Venn suggested.
‘But again, why hide the savings in her room?’ asked Frances. ‘There was no reason to keep it from you. Or was there?’
Consternation and even a little fear was in the headmistress’s expression as she shook her head. ‘No, none at all.’
‘So this cannot have been come by honestly. Indeed, it may have been payment for putting the pamphlets in the desks, although it does seem excessive for such a trivial commission. Which suggests that either the matter is not trivial or there have been others. What do you have to say to that?’
‘I am sorry but I really don’t know what to say,’ said Mrs Venn unhappily.
‘So we have two difficulties now,’ declared Frances, ‘and the conundrum is far from solved. If Matilda has indeed run away, why would she leave so large a sum of money behind? And if, as we now suspect, it was she who placed the pamphlets in the desks, it was not for any reason of her own but for payment, and so the real culprit is as mysterious as before.’
Frances had pressed her advantage and now had some leisure to feel sympathy for the headmistress, who had clearly received a shock. ‘Mrs Venn, I wish you to be perfectly frank with me. Nothing must be hidden. Matilda may be in danger and I can see that you are concerned for her welfare. Tell me first of all – does she have family or friends who might have seen her?’
Mrs Venn looked relieved. ‘You are not going to inform the police?’
‘I will speak to her family first. There may be some simple explanation. If not, then the police must be told.’
‘She may have gone to her mother,’ suggested Mrs Venn. ‘That is my hope.’ She turned to look closely at Frances and for the first time her expression suggested a measure of confidence. ‘I would go there myself, but —,’ she paused and looked uncomfortable. ‘There is something you should know. May I be assured of your complete discretion?’
‘Of course.’
‘Matilda’s family live in Salem Gardens, near Moscow Road. Her mother is a widow and supports herself by taking in lodgers, which is why Matilda has a room here. She has a brother, I believe, and there is a young man, a friend of his called Davey who wishes to marry her. Also —,’ there was the faintest flush of embarrassment on her cheeks, ‘There is a child living with them.’
‘A child?’ said Frances.
Mrs Venn nodded. ‘There is no easy way to say this. Matilda has a child. A little girl about seven years of age. Her mother cares for her.’
‘And – forgive me if this is an indelicate question, but I need to know all the truth – is her sweetheart the child’s father?’
‘No, she has only known him a year or two. It is the old story, I am afraid. Matilda was very young and trusting, and a man who lodged at her mother’s house promised her marriage. When he realised her unhappy position he abandoned her. The world, Miss Doughty,’ said the headmistress with a sigh, ‘is full of such scoundrels, as it is of innocent girls who suffer the blame while the men go free to ruin others.’
‘If Matilda has a child and a sweetheart and £20 in gold,’ said Frances, ‘it is very hard to understand why she should run away.’ She rose. ‘I will go and speak to her mother. Could you supply me with a letter on the school’s notepaper so that I may introduce myself?’
‘I will do that at once,’ said Mrs
‘There is £20 here. Do you know where Matilda might have obtained such a sum?’
Mrs Venn sat down on the bed, her face creased with thought. ‘She may have saved it over a number of years, I suppose, but why keep it in her room – why not with me, where it would be safer?’
Frances examined the coins and shook her head. ‘These are recently minted. They were not saved over a long period of time.’
‘Perhaps she saved the money in a smaller denomination and then changed it?’ Mrs Venn suggested.
‘But again, why hide the savings in her room?’ asked Frances. ‘There was no reason to keep it from you. Or was there?’
Consternation and even a little fear was in the headmistress’s expression as she shook her head. ‘No, none at all.’
‘So this cannot have been come by honestly. Indeed, it may have been payment for putting the pamphlets in the desks, although it does seem excessive for such a trivial commission. Which suggests that either the matter is not trivial or there have been others. What do you have to say to that?’
‘I am sorry but I really don’t know what to say,’ said Mrs Venn unhappily.
‘So we have two difficulties now,’ declared Frances, ‘and the conundrum is far from solved. If Matilda has indeed run away, why would she leave so large a sum of money behind? And if, as we now suspect, it was she who placed the pamphlets in the desks, it was not for any reason of her own but for payment, and so the real culprit is as mysterious as before.’
Frances had pressed her advantage and now had some leisure to feel sympathy for the headmistress, who had clearly received a shock. ‘Mrs Venn, I wish you to be perfectly frank with me. Nothing must be hidden. Matilda may be in danger and I can see that you are concerned for her welfare. Tell me first of all – does she have family or friends who might have seen her?’
Mrs Venn looked relieved. ‘You are not going to inform the police?’
‘I will speak to her family first. There may be some simple explanation. If not, then the police must be told.’
‘She may have gone to her mother,’ suggested Mrs Venn. ‘That is my hope.’ She turned to look closely at Frances and for the first time her expression suggested a measure of confidence. ‘I would go there myself, but —,’ she paused and looked uncomfortable. ‘There is something you should know. May I be assured of your complete discretion?’
‘Of course.’
‘Matilda’s family live in Salem Gardens, near Moscow Road. Her mother is a widow and supports herself by taking in lodgers, which is why Matilda has a room here. She has a brother, I believe, and there is a young man, a friend of his called Davey who wishes to marry her. Also —,’ there was the faintest flush of embarrassment on her cheeks, ‘There is a child living with them.’
‘A child?’ said Frances.
Mrs Venn nodded. ‘There is no easy way to say this. Matilda has a child. A little girl about seven years of age. Her mother cares for her.’
‘And – forgive me if this is an indelicate question, but I need to know all the truth – is her sweetheart the child’s father?’
‘No, she has only known him a year or two. It is the old story, I am afraid. Matilda was very young and trusting, and a man who lodged at her mother’s house promised her marriage. When he realised her unhappy position he abandoned her. The world, Miss Doughty,’ said the headmistress with a sigh, ‘is full of such scoundrels, as it is of innocent girls who suffer the blame while the men go free to ruin others.’
‘If Matilda has a child and a sweetheart and £20 in gold,’ said Frances, ‘it is very hard to understand why she should run away.’ She rose. ‘I will go and speak to her mother. Could you supply me with a letter on the school’s notepaper so that I may introduce myself?’
‘I will do that at once,’ said Mrs
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