Coffin’s Dark Number. Gwendoline Butler

it?’

      ‘No, certainly not.’ Jean was sharp. No girl was let out unattended these days. Not even Connie Read, who ought to be indestructible if anyone was.

      ‘I could take Rose Allen with me.’

      ‘Not even with Rose Allen.’

      ‘I’d only take two minutes and it’s only Scripture. No one’d notice.’

      ‘No.’

      ‘That’s gone for good then,’ said Connie in a resigned voice. ‘Can’t leave a thing behind in that place.’

      Jean gave her a gentle push in the direction of her classroom and herself turned towards the staff room. She had a free period.

      There was one woman sitting at the table by the window marking exercise books with a huge red pencil. Everyone has to have an outlet somewhere and this red pencil was Madge Cullen’s. At her elbow was a big brown teapot and a tray of cups.

      Jean put her hand on the teapot. ‘Cold,’ she said.