She ought not to be so affected by death, having spent most of her life studying what was left of the long-departed. But she was, just like the rest of them: her eyes kept getting misty, and it was troubling her to maintain any more composure than that, even with the hall of students looking on for a good example.
But better to cry, she supposed, cry and grieve and feel than string oneself up in looking dignified. Tragedies happened, just so, and accidents as well. It was a sobering end to the year that had been, on the whole, a blissful one. She hadn’t known Miss Bénet, of course, but felt almost as though she had - those twins had had a reputation, both during their time at school and out of it (hadn’t they stowed away on a boat, once? Carmelina could not blame the girls for that). A brave little soul, that one. Worth every tear.
But better to cry, she supposed, cry and grieve and feel than string oneself up in looking dignified. Tragedies happened, just so, and accidents as well. It was a sobering end to the year that had been, on the whole, a blissful one. She hadn’t known Miss Bénet, of course, but felt almost as though she had - those twins had had a reputation, both during their time at school and out of it (hadn’t they stowed away on a boat, once? Carmelina could not blame the girls for that). A brave little soul, that one. Worth every tear.
