“Yes, it is. Let’s try again,” she said.
Blanche just wanted to get up and run down the hall and pound Alice, but she knew that was not in her best interest.
“Did you hear that Blanche is taking after her mother?”
She licked her lips. Was it true? Could she be taking after her mother? Papa always said she looked just like her.
“My papa said I look just like my mother. That sometimes I would say something and it sounded just like her. But I don’t want to be her.”
Was that a good thing? All she knew about her mother was that she had run away with the pan salesman, leaving Blanche behind. And even now that hurt.
“Excellent,” Mrs. Newton told her. “This is not going to be easy. And knowing Alice Burns, she will try to start trouble again. Prove to me that your lessons are working. Show me that you’re a lady by responding not with your fists, but your words.”
Blanche wasn’t certain she could keep her fists from exploding on the woman, but she had to try.
“I’ll do my best.”
“Good, now let’s practice the art of serving tea. The last girl arrives next week and we’ll be leaving shortly thereafter.”
A tingle of fear spiraled up her spine. Could she go off and leave the only place she’d known? Did she really have any choice?