2 Mistress Mary Quite Contrary For a time Mary lived with an English clergyman nearby He had fi ve children in shabby clothes who quarreled constantly Their house was never clean and Mary spent most of her time alone outside snarling whenever another child would come to tease her Everyone seemed relieved when Mary’s uncle was discovered in England She learned of it from the clergyman’s son Basil I heard Father and Mother talking about your uncle he said He lives in a big old house in the country No one goes near him He’s so cross he won’t let them and they wouldn’t come if he did let them He’s a hunchback and he’s horrid 10
I don’t believe you Mary said She turned her back and stuck her fi ngers in her ears She would not listen to any more He’s as horrid as you Basil danced around her and sang Mistress Mary Quite Contrary Basil’s mother confi rmed that Mary would be going to live with her uncle Mary made the long voyage to England under the care of an offi cer’s wife Although Mary threw no tantrums during the voyage the young wife was happy to hand her over to the woman Mr Archibald Craven had sent to meet her in London Mary’s cross little face and cold speech had made the trip quite gloomy Mary looked up at her new caretaker She was a stout woman with very red cheeks and sharp black eyes She wore a purple dress a black silk mantle with fringes and a black bonnet with a purple velvet fl ower that trembled when the woman moved her head 11
I am Mrs Medlock the woman said I am the housekeeper for Mr Craven Mary merely nodded coldly She felt Mrs Medlock was disagreeable and common so she tried to walk a bit apart from her so no one would think they were together In the railway carriage Mary sat silently with her thin black-gloved hands folded in her lap Her black dress and hat made Mary’s skin look yellower than ever Mrs Medlock watched her for a while then said I suppose I may as well tell you something about where you are going Did your father and mother tell you much about your uncle No said Mary frowning as she tried to remember her father or mother ever telling her anything at all You are going to an odd place Mrs Medlock said The house is 600 years old and it’s grand but gloomy There’s near a hundred rooms in it though most are not used There’s a big park around it but nothing else 12
Mary had found herself interested The house sounded nothing like India But when the woman stopped talking Mary only sat silently Eh Mrs Medlock said What do you think of it It doesn’t matter said Mary I will be going there whatever I think You are right enough there said Mrs Medlock Your uncle won’t trouble himself about you He never troubles himself about 13
