CHAPTER FOUR: A Visit to the School

It was three months later, and Andrew was beginning to like the dirty old town and its strange, but kind, people.

Feeling extremely happy, he went out one afternoon to see a small boy of nine, whose name was Joe. He was not very ill, but as the family was poor his illness seemed likely to give the boy’s mother a lot more work.

At the end of his visit, Andrew remarked to her: ‘You must still keep his brother home from school, I’m afraid.’

Joe’s mother looked at him in surprise. ‘But Miss Barlow said that I needn’t keep him at home.’

Although he was sympathetic, Andrew felt annoyed. ‘Oh! And who is Miss Barlow?’ he asked.

‘She’s the schoolteacher. She called to see me this morning.’

Andrew did not reply. But on leaving the house, he walked straight to the school to see this teacher. When he entered the classroom, all the children were sitting at their desks. Miss Barlow was facing away from him, and did not notice him at first. Then suddenly she turned round.

She was so different from most schoolteachers he had met that Andrew paused uncertainly.

‘Are you Miss Barlow?’ he asked awkwardly.

‘Yes.’ She was a small, attractive and well-dressed young woman of about twenty-two. She looked at him for a moment, and then smiled. ‘You work for Dr Page, don’t you?’

‘Never mind about that!’ he answered coldly. ‘I am Dr Manson. You have a boy here whose brother has a serious disease that could spread to other children. He ought to be at home.’

She smiled again. ‘Yes, I know.’

Her refusal to treat his visit seriously made Andrew lose his temper. ‘Don’t you realize that you are breaking the rules by allowing this boy to come to school?’

His manner now made Miss Barlow angry. But she replied quietly: ‘Most of the children here have already had the same illness, and the others are certain to catch it in any case. And if he didn’t come to school he would miss his free milk, which is doing him such a lot of good.’

‘He ought to be at home! You must send that child home at once, ‘Andrew ordered her.

Her eyes showed her anger now. ‘I am in charge of this class. You may be able to tell people in other places what to do, but here I give the orders.’

‘You’re breaking the law!’ he shouted. ‘I shall have to report you.’

‘Then report me,’ Miss Barlow replied. She turned to the children and said: ‘Stand up, children, and say: ‘Good morning, Dr Manson. Thank you for coming.”

The children rose and politely repeated the words. She then showed him out of the door and gently closed it behind him.