Read Online Theatre Shoes by Noel Streatfeild - Free Book Online Page B

seven in the Russian Imperial Ballet School, and when I gave up dancing after the first world war, and founded my school over here, I had hoped to run it on the old Imperial Ballet School lines; but it was, of course, impossible, and so I have become the director of a school for general stage training. But dancing, classical dancing, is my life, and it is to turn out dancers that is my great ambition. Any child that shows unusual promise I teach myself; and I still insist, or try to insist, on some dress that will make the children feel in a dancing mood. White tarlatan is not on coupons, but with everybody so busy, Winifred has told me it is impossible for the mothers to keep these dresses laundered; and, instead, we have designed a short tunic with plain knickers underneath, it could be made out of anything. I think that the children’s grandmother must have some old dresses put away that would alter.”
    Hannah was perfectly certain that she was not going to approach grandmother. She did not mean to sound grumpy, but she did rather.
    â€œI couldn’t say, I’m sure. There wasn’t nothing in the vicarage suitable, I do know.”
    Madame smiled.
    â€œNever mind, I’ll write to Miss Shaw.”
    The night before Alice had explained to Hannah that actresses were usually known by their stage names; and so, though to Hannah grandmother was Mrs. Warren, she accepted that Madame would call her Miss Shaw.
    â€œWhat about these overalls?” she asked, tapping the list. “They’ve got the cotton frocks they had for school.”
    Madame smiled.
    â€œThere we are fortunate. The overalls have always been made of black sateen from a Russian design, and have wide black leather belts. Black-out material is not rationed and these overalls are still made. The belts and the buttons we get from our old pupils. The real difficulty is shoes. The law allows that children at a recognised dancing school may have one pair of ballet shoes a month. Those have block toes, you know, but the children will not want them for a long time yet; it’s the shoes for character dancing and the sandal shoes that are our trouble.”
    â€œBoth the girls have sandal shoes. They had them for their school dancing. And Mark’s got a pair of plimsolls, if that’ll do.”
    Madame shook her head.
    â€œNo, they will not. But I expect we shall manage. Old pupils send us shoes second-hand; and if the girls have sandals, that’s something.” She looked at Hannah with a sweet smile. “You think it all a lot of nonsense, don’t you?”
    Hannah squeezed her bag tightly in her hands.
    â€œIt’s none of what I’m used to. I give respect where respect is due, and I’m sure you mean well, Madame; but all this dancing and that isn’t what was meant. The Reverend took a lot of looking after, what with being busy with his Bible animals and that, and his clothes were a perfect disgrace, with all my trying; but I could see what we were at. He was never a minute late for his services and he never missed a call from the village. Where we’re living now isn’t what I’m used to. No good pretending it is.”
    Madame nodded.
    â€œI know, but you have to look at their grandmother’s point of view. Nobody knows if the children’s father will ever come back.”
    Hannah’s hand shot up to her mouth.
    â€œOh, don’t say that, Madame! Such a nice gentleman! And the gentlemen in the Navy only said missing, and they’ve never said worse.”
    â€œI certainly shall not say it to the children, and I’m full of hope that we shall hear from him; but meanwhile there are these children to think of. They come from an immensely famous theatrical family, and blood tells. It would be a curious thing indeed if none of these children had any talent. Of course, they will probably never need to earn their living; their uncles and aunts are doing well, and their