A story in two parts by Tanya Gupta, Class IX B
[Part 2]
The next morning we all got up and got ready. Amanda called me aside.
‘Amanda, what is the matter? Is everything alright?’
‘No Emily, yesterday when I went to the matron, I saw Mrs. Rivers in that room which got burned. She had a candle in her hand and was laughing quietly. I think it has a connection with this incident.’
‘But what can we do?’
‘I think we should keep an eye on Mrs. Rivers and see whether she is the one who was behind all this.’
I agreed and went to my class. All this seemed really astonishing. I pondered and pondered. The whole day I did not pay attention towards my lessons and unfortunately Miss. Bronte caught me. At the end of the class she asked me to report to her in her study. I walked after her and went inside. She lectured me about how I need to pay attention in class, but I was least bothered. Suddenly, I caught sight of something unusual. On a small desk near the table, I could see a white gown, a wig and a candle kept beside it. The white gown was similar to the one which Mrs. Rivers often wore at night. Was Miss. Bronte the one who had plotted all this? But why would she do this? I asked myself. I apologized for my behaviour in the class and rushed out to find Amanda.
She was standing outside the class. I narrated everything to her and we decided to inform the police and leave further investigation on them. We told them everything and they instructed us not to tell this to anyone until the real culprit was found. The next day Miss. Bronte did not come to the class. I became more and more anxious to know what was going on. Then suddenly Mrs .Rivers called for me and Amanda. We went to her room and stood solemnly. She told us that it was Miss. Bronte who had plotted the fire. She wanted to become the head mistress and thought that by imitating Mrs. Rivers she would burn that room so that people blame her as an irresponsible headmistress.Mrs. Rivers appreciated us and commanded us not to tell this to anyone as Miss. Bronte had done various things for our school and revealing her name would spoil her reputation. We agreed.
Mrs. Rivers was proud of us and blessed us that one day we would surely lead St. Josephs to great heights.
Within a year, people had almost forgotten about this tragic incident. Amanda and I participated in several competitions and succeeded as well. St. Josephs is now counted amongst the top five schools in England.
Mrs. Rivers was right, we did bring St. Josephs to a great height.
[The end]
