Henry Handel Richardson

Name: The Getting of Wisdom — Chapter V
Author: Henry Handel Richardson

The Getting of Wisdom — Chapter V (1910)

Summary

“The Getting of Wisdom — Chapter V”, published in 1910, is a work by Henry Handel Richardson. It explores elements such as Laura, governesses and Chapman.

Quotes from The Getting of Wisdom — Chapter V (Henry Handel Richardson)

Henry Handel Richardson, The Getting of Wisdom — Chapter V (1910)

“ Fifty-five heads turned as if by clockwork, and fifty-five pairs of eyes were levelled at the small girl in the white apron who meekly followed Mrs. Gurley down the length of the dining-room. Laura crimsoned under the unexpected ordeal, and tried to fix her attention on the flouncing of Mrs. Gurley’s dress. The room seemed hundreds of feet long, and not a single person at the tea-tables but took stock of her. The girls made no scruple of leaning backwards and forwards, behind and before their neighbours, in order to see her better, and even the governesses were not above having a look. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Handel Richardson, The Getting of Wisdom — Chapter V (1910)

“ Laura then saw that there was nothing else. But she saw, too, the smiles and signs that again flew round: the new girl had said no.
Humbly she accepted the butter and the cup of tea which were passed to her in turn, and as humbly ate the piece of rather stale bread. She felt forlornly miserable under the fire of all these unkind eyes, which took a delight in marking her slips: at the smallest further mischance she might disgrace herself by bursting out crying. Just at this moment, however, something impelled her to look up. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Handel Richardson, The Getting of Wisdom — Chapter V (1910)

“ Here she found herself on a verandah facing the grounds of the school. There was a long bench, on which several people were sitting: she took a modest seat at one end. Two of the younger governesses looked at her and laughed, and made a remark. She saw her room-mate, Lilith Gordon, arm in arm with a couple of companions. The winker of the tea-table turned out to be a girl of her own age, but of a broader make; she had fat legs, which were encased in thickly-ribbed black stockings. As she passed the bench she left the friend she was with, to come up to Laura and dig her in the ribs. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Handel Richardson, The Getting of Wisdom — Chapter V (1910)

“ Just at this moment, however, in marched Maria Morell. “Here, I say, stop that!” she cried. “You’re teasing that kid again. I won’t have it. Here, come on, Kid—Laura Tweedledum come and sit by me for supper.”
For the second time, Laura was thankful to the fat girl. But as ill-luck would have it, Miss Chapman chanced to let her eyes stray in their direction; and having fingered her chain indecisively for a little, said: “It seems a pity, doesn’t it, Miss Day, that that nice little girl should get in with that vulgar set?” ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Handel Richardson, The Getting of Wisdom — Chapter V (1910)

“ Stop teasing the kid,” said Maria Morell, when the laughter caused by the last admission had died away. But the squint spied a friend, ran to her, and there was a great deal of whispering and sniggering. Presently the pair came sauntering up and sat down; and after some artificial humming and hawing the newcomer began to talk, in a loud and fussy manner, about certain acquaintances of hers called Tweedledum and Tweedledee. Both the fat girl and the squint “split” with laughter. Laura sat with her hands locked one inside the other ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Handel Richardson, The Getting of Wisdom — Chapter V (1910)

“ There were four tables, with a governess at the head and foot of each to pour out tea. It was more of a hall than a room and had high, church-like windows down one side. At both ends were scores of pigeon-holes. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Handel Richardson, The Getting of Wisdom — Chapter V (1910)

“ Gurley, then the Principal and his wife—a tall, fair gentleman in a long coat, and a sweet-faced lady, who wore a rose in her velvet dress.
“Let us sing in the hundred and fifty-seventh hymn,” said the gentleman, who had a Grecian profile and a drooping, sandy moustache; and when Miss Chapman had played through the tune, the fifty-five, the governesses, the lady and gentleman rose to their feet and sang, with halting emphasis, of the Redeemer and His mercy, to Miss Chapman’s accompaniment, which was as indecisive as her manner, the left hand dragging lamely along after the right. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Henry Handel Richardson, The Getting of Wisdom — Chapter V (1910)

“ She did not even halt at poison or the knife: a big cake, sent by Mother, of which she invited all alike to partake, and into which she inserted a fatal poison, so that the whole school died like rabbits ”

Henry Handel Richardson

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