Cat Among the Pigeons - Agatha Christie [25]
Because Miss Bulstrode had made up her mind—a successor there must be. Firstly associated with herself in joint rule and then to rule alone. To know when to go—that was one of the great necessities of life. To go before one’s powers began to fail, one’s sure grip to loosen, before one felt the faint staleness, the unwillingness to envisage continuing effort.
Miss Bulstrode finished marking the essays and noted that the Upjohn child had an original mind. Jennifer Sutcliffe had a complete lack of imagination, but showed an unusually sound grasp of facts. Mary Vyse, of course, was scholarship class—a wonderful retentive memory. But what a dull girl! Dull—that word again. Miss Bulstrode dismissed it from her mind and rang for her secretary.
She began to dictate letters.
Dear Lady Valence. Jane has had some trouble with her ears. I enclose the doctor’s report—etc.
Dear Baron Von Eisenger. We can certainly arrange for Hedwig to go to the Opera on the occasion of Hellstern’s taking the role of Isolda—
An hour passed swiftly. Miss Bulstrode seldom paused for a word. Ann Shapland’s pencil raced over the pad.
A very good secretary, Miss Bulstrode thought to herself. Better than Vera Lorrimer. Tiresome girl, Vera. Throwing up her post so suddenly. A nervous breakdown, she had said. Something to do with a man, Miss Bulstrode thought resignedly. It was usually a man.
“That’s the lot,” said Miss Bulstrode, as she dictated the last word. She heaved a sigh of relief.
“So many dull things to be done,” she remarked. “Writing letters to parents is like feeding dogs. Pop some soothing platitude into every waiting mouth.”
Ann laughed. Miss Bulstrode looked at her appraisingly.
“What made you take up secretarial work?”
“I don’t quite know. I had no special bent for anything in particular, and it’s the sort of thing almost everybody drifts into.”
“You don’t find it monotonous?”
“I suppose I’ve been lucky. I’ve had a lot of different jobs. I was with Sir Mervyn Todhunter, the archaeologist, for a year, then I was with Sir Andrew Peters in Shell. I was secretary to Monica Lord, the actress, for a while—that really was hectic!” She smiled in remembrance.
“There’s a lot of that nowadays amongst you girls,” said Miss Bulstrode. “All this chopping and changing.” She sounded disapproving.
“Actually, I can’t do anything for very long. I’ve got an invalid mother. She’s rather—well—difficult from time to time. And then I have to go back home and take charge.”
“I see.”
“But all the same, I’m afraid I should chop and change anyway. I haven’t got the gift for continuity. I find chopping and changing far less dull.”
“Dull … ” murmured Miss Bulstrode, struck again by the fatal word.
Ann looked at her in surprise.
“Don’t mind me,” said Miss Bulstrode. “It’s just that sometimes one particular word seems to crop up all the time. How would you have liked to be a schoolmistress?” she asked, with some curiosity.
“I’m afraid I should hate it,” said Ann frankly.
“Why?”
“I’d find it terribly dull—Oh, I am sorry.”
She stopped in dismay.
“Teaching isn’t in the least dull,” said Miss Bulstrode with spirit. “It can be the most exciting thing in the world. I shall miss it terribly when I retire.”
“But surely—” Ann stared at her. “Are you thinking of retiring?”
“It’s decided—yes. Oh, I shan’t go for another year—or even two years.”
“But—why?”
“Because I’ve given my best to the school—and had the best from it. I don’t want second best.”
“The school will carry on?”
“Oh yes. I have a good successor.”
“Miss Vansittart, I suppose?”
“So you fix on her automatically?” Miss Bulstrode looked at her sharply, “That’s interesting—”
“I’m afraid I hadn’t really thought about it. I’ve just overheard the staff talking. I should think she’ll carry on very well—exactly in your tradition. And she’s very striking-looking, handsome and with quite a presence. I imagine that’s important, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. Yes, I’m sure Eleanor Vansittart is the right person.”
“She’ll carry on where you leave