And Nothing But the Truth Read Online Free PDF Page A

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    “Off you go to your classroom now,” Miss Guppy instructed.
    Polly paused at the door. “Miss Guppy, when will the extra art classes begin?”
    “Probably next week. I’ve had to look for a new teacher, but I think I’ve found one.”
    The morning chugged along in its allotted slots just as tediously as yesterday. At break, Polly again noticed some girls staring curiously, then whispering to one another. At lunchtime, she was nibbling another dry sandwich when she heard her name called.
    Alice! The red-haired girl rushed over to Polly’s table and pulled up a chair. “Welcome to St. Winnie’s, Goldilocks! I’m sorry I wasn’t here before. I had a toothache, so I had to go to Sidney to have it out.”
    Polly was so relieved to see someone from home she wanted to weep. “Noni told me,” she said. “Are you better?”
    “I’m fine. See?” Alice opened her mouth and pointed to a raw-looking cavity. “Now, tell me who’s in your dorm,” she ordered.
    Polly introduced the Fearless Four. Alice quizzed each girl so boisterously that they were all intimidated, even Rhoda.
    “Has anyone at school asked you about your father?” said Alice as they walked back to the school building together.
    Polly shook her head. “Some of them stare at me, but no one’s said anything.”
    “You come and tell me if anyone bothers you,” said Alice. “I’ll take care of them!”
    Polly smiled, remembering how fierce Alice could be.
    The last period of the day was drawing. Polly lifted her head as Pauline announced, “Stand for Miss Netherwood!”
    Miss Netherwood, a tired-looking woman with a sallow face, handed out pencils, rulers, erasers, and drawing paper. Polly’s hand itched to make the first lines on its crisp white surface. She gazed out the window and decided that she would draw the majestic beech tree that stood against the blue sky.
    First she had to listen as Miss Netherwood explained what they would be doing this year. “St. Winifred’s follows the curriculum of the Royal Drawing Society in England,” she said. “At the end of the Easter term you will complete a prescribed set of drawings, which will be sent to England to be evaluated. At the end of the year, those of you who were successful will receive a certificate saying you have passed the first level.”
    A certificate from England!
thought Polly. Noni would be so proud.
    “For the whole of this term we will be studying perspective,” said Miss Netherwood. “No one can draw properly until she knows the rules of depth and distance. We will begin by drawing a cube in one-point perspective. Please copy what I draw on the blackboard.” She instructed them to pick up their rulers and draw a horizontal line.
    After Miss Netherwood had drawn a cube, she came around to inspect their progress. “Your lines are crooked,” she informed Daisy. “Erase it all and start again.”
    Rhoda was next. “Excellent work!” said Miss Netherwood. “Have you done this before?”
    Rhoda looked proud. “I took art lessons in Bellingham.”
    Polly sat back and waited for Miss Netherwood to praise her, as well.
    But when the teacher reached Polly, she drew in her breath. “No, no, child—what is your name?”
    “Polly.”
    “You can’t draw it freehand! You have to do it as I’ve shown you, with lines to a vanishing point.”
    “But I don’t have to. Watch!” Polly quickly sketched another perfect cube.
    Miss Netherwood’s pale cheeks turned pink. “Of course you have to! I won’t tolerate insubordination, do you understand? I’m giving you an order mark.”
    “I
don’t
understand,” whispered Polly. “What have I done?”
    “You are disobedient and a show-off. Now, draw it again properly.”
    Polly’s cheeks blazed. She picked up her ruler and tried to draw the cube the way it was on the board, but her hand wouldn’t obey her brain. Making sure Miss Netherwood’s back was turned, she drew a cube freehand first,
then
filled in the required