by Jacqueline Scott
Smack! Smack!
"Owww! No! Please! It hurts..."
The noise of hand striking bare flesh and the immediate protests of a young lady were heard through the door of the school room at Hagley Hall, a large mansion set in a substantial estate to the north of Newcastle. As servants passed the doorway while going about their business that morning, the smiles on their faces showed that they approved of what was happening inside the room. Indeed, had any of the servants employed at Hagley Hall been asked for their views, almost without exception they would have said it was high time the Ripley twins were taught to behave themselves, and it was very much to the credit of the new governess that she appeared to be doing just that!
Inside the room, Celia, one of the twins, was spread-eagled across the lap of her governess, her bottom exposed while a firm hand relentlessly struck each buttock in turn. Meanwhile her sister, Martha, was standing in a corner of the room with her face to the wall. Martha was holding up her skirts revealing that she too had a bare bottom which was a deep shade of pink.
The governess applying her hand to Celia Ripley's bottom was Jane Elliot, the eldest daughter of hard working ordinary parents who owned a shop in a village near Kelso in the Scottish Borders.
Although it was a large family and the eldest child would normally have been expected to find a job and help the family finances as soon as possible, Jane proved at school that she was bright and clever. When she reached the age to leave, her headmaster and the local minister combined to persuade her parents to allow her to stay on at school and then to go to Edinburgh University. Even more importantly, they were instrumental in finding a benefactor to pay for her. The large city of Edinburgh opened Jane's eyes to many new things but she continued to impress in her studies - indeed one tutor was heard to say in the staff room, "You know, that Elliot girl simply soaks up new information like a sponge. She is quite remarkable."
What might have happened if Jane had completed her studies will never be known. However, early in her third year her mother died suddenly and unexpectedly and Jane left Edinburgh to return and help in the family home. There she looked after the house and became a de facto mother to her younger siblings, while her eldest brother, Jack, helped his father in the shop. Mr Elliot was devastated by the death of his wife and never really recovered, and soon Jack was to all intents and purposes running the business. Indeed within the year the father stopped doing much at all, spending most of his time sitting in a chair and looking into the fire.
Time passed and as the young children grew up and began to make their own ways, Jane started to become restless. When her father died quietly five years after his wife, Jane was easily persuaded by Mr Beattie, her old headmaster, to apply for the position of Governess at Hagley Hall in Northumberland. To her surprise she was asked to attend the Hall for an interview.
Hagley Hall was the country residence of Sir Richard and Lady Margaret Ripley and their three daughters, Anna, Celia and Martha, the last two being twins. When Jane Elliot applied to be their new governess, Anna was 17 and a half and the twins had just turned 16.
It was a long journey for Jane to go for an interview. First she had to take a bus from Kelso to Berwick where she would catch a train to Newcastle. Then she had another bus journey which eventually dropped her outside the gates of the Hall, from where it was quite a long walk up to the mansion itself. Part of her thought that the journey was a complete waste of time, but Mr Beattie had always told her to believe in herself, and as he had insisted on paying her fare, the least she could do was try her best and see what happened.
When Jane was shown into the large room where the interview was to take place she met Sir Richard Ripley who was a tall, serious and austere looking man. His wife, who was also present, was a complete contrast. Lady Ripley was short and rather buxom and smiled and laughed a lot. By the time the interview was over, however, Jane wondered if much of the laughter was rather nervous in nature, as opposed to being genuine.
There were few preliminaries - Sir Richard suggested that they were unnecessary - and then Jane was asked to describe her qualifications and experience. After she had done so to the best of her ability Sir Richard asked, "Tell me, Miss Elliot. Why do you think that you are qualified to become a governess here?"
The young woman realised that this was a crucial question. She paused to gather her thoughts and then looked straight at Sir Richard and replied, "I will be completely honest, Sir Richard. I have no idea if I am the right person for the position. I cannot know as I have never held a similar position before. However, I do know that I am well educated. I do know that I am honest and hard working. I do know that I have experience of looking after children of approximately the same age as your daughters, and I do know that I can do that in an organised an effective manner. All of that makes me believe that I can successfully carry out the work of a governess."
Sir Richard gazed at her as he pondered the response. Then he said, "My girls, especially the twins, can be rather high-spirited at times. Do you think that you would be able to cope with that... given your background?"
There had been a distinct pause before he had uttered the last three words and Jane took them to be patronising. She steeled herself not to react, however, but replied, "High-spirited can be a great asset for a young woman if it is harnessed in the correct manner. If, however, you mean that they get up to nonsense at times, then of course they are no different from most young ladies of that age, and my background becomes irrelevant, I think. As for coping, I have plenty of experience in dealing with nonsense. Most of my younger siblings have experience of being across my lap and having their bottoms smacked for misbehaviour."
At that she paused, realising that she might be getting carried away a little. Quickly she added, "Of course, should I be successful in my application, how to treat such nonsense would have to be discussed with you and your wife."
At that, Lady Ripley began to giggle, although she stopped immediately when her husband turned to look at her with a frown on his face. He didn't pursue the subject of 'nonsense', however, but turned to more prosaic matters. A short while later the interview came to an end.
To her surprise, Jane was asked to wait in a separate room where a maid brought her tea and biscuits. She had been expected to simply retrace her steps home and wait to hear the outcome in due course. It was over half an hour later, by which time she was beginning to worry if she was going to be able to get home the same day, when she was summoned back to the room where her interviewers were waiting. Without delay Sir Richard spoke, "I am sorry that we have kept you waiting so long, Miss Elliot. My wife and I needed some time to come to a decision. We wish to offer you the position of Governess here."
Jane was astonished. It had never really occurred to her that she would be successful at her very first interview. The next ten minutes or so passed in a blur as arrangements were made about various things such as when she could start, pay and accommodation. Then she was on her way home, not on the bus to Newcastle but in a car driven by Sir Richard's chauffeur!
The next week or so was hectic for Jane. The Ripleys wanted her to start as soon as possible and there seemed so much to do. Eventually the day arrived and amid tears and hugs and promises to remain in touch, she left Kelso on the bus again for Berwick. On this occasion, however, she was met at Newcastle by Jimmy Martin, Sir Richard's chauffeur who would drive her to Hagley Hall. Jimmy was a cheery, talkative young man and kept Jane entertained for most of the journey with his patter. It was only when they neared the Hall that he sounded a more serious note.
"I wish you well in the job, Miss Elliot, and I think you will find that the whole staff at the Hall will be the same. But a word of caution to you, Miss. Them girls can be a handful. You won't be their first governess, and I doubt you won't have been told much about the others. You'll need to be strong enough to stand up to them when it's needed, Miss... and it will be needed, you mark my words. But you're a Scots lass... and if anyone can get through to them I think a Scots lass will have a better chance than most."
Jane was a little taken aback by this openness. But she thanked Jimmy for the advice and at that they turned into the long drive up to the Hall.
Soon she was being ushered into the room where her interview had been conducted. To her mild surprise only Sir Richard was there - she had assumed that she would meet the girls as well. However, his reasons for being alone soon became apparent. After formally welcoming her to the Hall and discussing some minor matters relating to her accommodation and her relationships with the other staff he said, "During your interview, Miss Elliot, one of the matters that most impressed Lady Ripley and I was your reaction to the suggestion that my girls are high-spirited. You were quick to admit that any punishments that might be merited would have to be sanctioned by myself or my wife. I think this is a good time to make that side of your job clear. I am a great believer, Miss Elliot, in corporal punishment. You have my full permission to punish any of the girls as you see fit. I do mean any of them. Although Anna is older than the twins and should give you few problems, she must not be allowed to think that she is immune to the same consequences of bad behaviour as her sisters. To assist you in such tasks, you will find a box in your room containing all the implements that you might require. I hope you understand what I am saying and are prepared to carry out what you suggested at your interview when or if the occasion arises."
Jane swallowed but quickly assured her employer that she understood exactly what he was saying. He then continued, "You will find that I am often absent from Hagley Hall. I have many interests elsewhere and often I am in London. During such absences you may find that my wife is prone to giving in to pleas from her daughters for leniency when it comes to disciplinary matters. Please ignore any such pleas, no matter who they come from. My wife knows that I am telling you these things, Miss Elliot, so you need not fear any reprisals if you simply do your job."
Thinking that that might be easier said than done, nonetheless Jane nodded and said that she understood.
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