Chapter Seventeen
Agatha takes Carmella in hand
Carmella allowed herself to be shaved without protest but when Arthur informed her he was going to cut off all her dark tresses she pleaded with him to spare her that indignity.
‘This is another way we seek to kill vanity as well as being a sensible precaution against head lice. You said you were prepared to accept anything if it meant you could become a sister here. It has not taken long for you to rebel.’
By this time, the girl was out of the bath and dried and Arthur took her to a large wicker basket where he made her kneel explaining that all the girls’ hair was collected to make wigs and to be used medicinally.
He’d picked up a cane. ‘If you struggle, I will use this across your back.’
Carmella sobbed as she watched her sleek black
