FINAL SET OF INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE DAY,
TIMES.
000
"BE SURE TO WALK FEMININELY AT ALL KEEP YOUR VOICE LIGHT AND 000 IN THE HIGHER REGISTERS. USE THE MAKEUP | HAVE PUT IN YOUR LITTLE PURSE TO RETOUCH YOUR FACE FROM TIME TO TIME, THE WAY I'VE SHOWN YOU. BE CAREFUL HOW YOU SIT DOWN IN YOUR NEW SKIRTS SO AS NOT TO CRUSH THE PLEATING. AND SO ON.
000
200
88
FINALLY, AS THE CHAUFFEUR OPENED THE DOOR ON GERALD'S SIDE OF THE CAR, JOSIE KISSED HER YOUNG CHARGE ON THE CHEEK AND BADE HIM "GOOD-BYE."
THE OTHER GIRLS IN THE SEMINARY WERE THRONGING THE SIDEWALK, AND THEY TITTERED AND SNICKERED AT ALL THE ATTENTION GERALD SEEMED TO REQUIRE. BUT AS SOON AS HE JOINED THEM IN ADMIRING THEIR NEW OUTFITS, SIMILAR IN EVERY WAY TO HIS, THEY FORGOT THEIR TEASING.
AS THEY ALL FILED INTO THE LOBBY OF THE MAIN CLASSROOM BUILDING, THERE WAS MUCH OOHING AND AAHING OVER THE LACY LINGERIE EACH WORE UNDER HER (OR HIS) SKIRTS, AND GERALD BEGAN TO FEEL VERY MUCH LIKE JUST ANOTHER ONE OF THE GIRLS.
IT WAS KIND OF A PLEASANT FEELING, TOO, HE HAD TO ADMIT. THERE WAS AN INSTANT
CAMERADERIE AMONG THE STUDENTS AT THE SEMINARY WHICH RESULTS FROM ATTENDING A STRICT SCHOOL WHERE DISCIPLINE IS QUICK AND SEVERE. THE FEW MOMENTS DURING THE DAY WHEN THE STUDENTS ARE PERMITTED GIRLISH HIGH SPIRITS WERE CHERISHED BY EACH OF THEM.
JUST AFTER THE THIRD PERIOD IN THE MORNING, DURING WHICH GERALD WAS ATTEMPTING TO LEARN FRENCH, HIS TEACHER SUMMONED HIM TO HER DESK.
"MISS GERALDINE, I HAVE A NOTE HERE FROM MISS LOUISE WHICH TELLS ME THAT SHE WISHES TO SEE YOU IN HER OFFICE IN FIVE MINUTES, DECLARED MISS LORRAINE,
88
"YES, MA'AM," GERALD REPLIED WITH A BIT OF TREPIDATION IN HIS VOICE. WHAT IN THE WORLD HAD HE DONE NOW? WAS HE GOING TO BE PUNISHED?
"YOU MAY LEAVE NOW, AND SINCE THE NEXT PERIOD IS RECESS, YOU NEED NOT MISS ANY CLASSROOM WORK, MISS LORRAINE STATED. "YES, MA'AM," GERALD SAID, TERROR IN HIS HEART. "THANK YOU, MA'AM,"
"PLEASE DO NOT CALL ME 'MA', AM SHE SNAPPED. "SINCE I AM NOT MARRIED, AM TO BE ADDRESSED SIMPLY AS MISS LORRAINE.
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