Chapter 9 – Evelyn and Lizboa
On a sunny day when there was not one cloud in the blue sky, Evelyn, Alexis and Alice, the three sisters, went to Peterstown, the town close to the school, to shop. Alexis and Alice had scenery painting class, and they went back to the school earlier, while Evelyn stayed and picked out some fabric for her sewing project.
She chose purple silk, and walked leisurely back.
When she came to the front gate, she saw a very old-fashioned car pulling up, maybe even from the 30s or 40s.
She didn’t want to be nosy and interfere, but she could not hold back her curiosity. She deliberately slowed down her walking and kept turning her head to see if there was anything happening.
When she was about to step in the gates, the car door swung open and a man of about 40 stepped out. He was sweaty and was wearing a worker’s cap, an old t-shirt, brown shorts and flip flops.
Evelyn suddenly felt guilty for spying, and ran embarrassedly back to her common room. She took out her silk and cut a long strip off and tied a ribbon, then started sewing it onto the skirt that she had knitted.
At that moment, a junior girl came in and said, “Would Lizboa Gordon please go to the headmistress’s room.”
Evelyn looked up, mildly surprised. Lizboa stood up and went out of the room.
She went to Miss Caty’s room, and to her surprise and delight, she saw her father there! He was the man that Evelyn had seen outside the school, and he gave a loving smile to his daughter.
“Hello, Lizboa!” he said in a coarse voice. “How are you doing?”
“Fine,” said Lizboa, overwhelmed with joy. She could not recall the last time she had seen her father.
“Your Granny is done with her surgery and out of the hospital. She’s at home now. Your mother of course is looking after her.”
“Glad to hear it! Why didn’t you write and tell me that you were coming, you sly thing?”
“Why, I wanted to give you, I hope, a pleasant surprise!” he paused. “Well, I came to see you. Darling, if it hadn’t been Miss Caty sending for you, I wouldn’t know that this beautiful young lady is my Lizboa! I drove up here last night, just to say to you: You were the one who saved Granny’s sight! Granny said she would have written a little note to you, but her eyes are still bandaged, and your mother sends hugs and kisses.”
Lizboa was happy, so happy! She didn’t have a present, or even one material thing – but the love and praise of her family was sweet. She reddened and didn’t know what to say.
“Well, Lizboa, I’m afraid I can’t stay with you much longer, because I can’t afford to be away from work so long. I started my leave two weeks ago when the diagnosis of your Granny was made, and after the surgery we only have a few bucks left from your scholarship. So I have to get back to work so I can earn money,” said Lizboa’s father, after Lizboa had taken him on a thorough tour of the school premises.
“Going so quickly? Bye,” said Lizboa, a little sadly.
“Bye, darling! No need to be sad – you’ll see me very soon, when school is over in three weeks. Just remember, you’re our family’s little heroine, no matter what anybody else says!”
Lizboa went back to the common room, smiling.
Evelyn was gentle and nice. When she saw Lizboa so happy, she couldn’t help smiling and asking, “Why are you so happy, Lizboa?”
Lizboa said joyously, “My father came to see me today!”
“Is your father the man who travelled in an old car to school, and wore a t-shirt, brown shorts and flip flops? With the worker’s cap? I saw him after shopping for silk today,” asked Evelyn.
Lizboa’s sunny face suddenly was black. She glared and Evelyn and said, “Oh, so just because I’m not so rich as you are, Sister of a Princess, Daughter of a Duke, you can look down on my family’s humble ways! I suppose you despise our car!”
Evelyn was dismayed. “Why, I never would despise you! Don’t be mistaken.”
Lizboa got even angrier; she stomped out of the room, and slammed the door.
Poor Evelyn didn’t know why Lizboa was so angry with her! She was meek and kind and seeing Lizboa so frustrated made her very upset. She merely buried her head in her hands and cried.
Meanwhile, Lizboa was sitting on a tennis bench. She sighed. She was too very sad. She should be happy because she had saved her Granny’s life, but someone, Evelyn, had seen their car!
Evelyn and her sisters, Alexis and Alice, were born to a very rich family. The eldest daughter, Donna, was married to the Prince of Wales. Their mother was Princess Anna’s niece, and their father was the Duke of Devon. But the Duke was very strict, and knew that if his daughters were brought up lavishly, they would be stuck-up. The Duke was not very rich until his marriage with his wife, and understood the good effects of poverty, so he sent five of his daughters (Evelyn had two sisters in the senior section of the school) to a small and unknown school – McJone’s Foundry School. He knew that if they went to an expensive school that spoilt them, they would be proud and stuck-up, and would be secretly considered lower than average people. So to develop their good character and virtue, he sent them to McJone’s.
However, Lizboa was just the opposite! She sighed again, remembering her own poor family. She felt a little better, and went back to the common room.
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