Camilla: The King`s Mistress
Page 6
(Fellow Pupil
at Dumbrells) We would have games lessons on a wednesday
afternoon. The showers were freezing cold. If you dared complain,
you would be punished. It was tough on discipline. From the age
of five, children would be punished with a lash of the cane to
the bare buttocks for any misdemeanour.
Camilla was a good
pupil, quick-witted and bright. My only memory of her getting
into trouble was for being a real chatterbox. She was a bundle of
energy who found it hard to be quiet, even for a few moments. She
was always getting told off for talking.
But she had such
strength of character, nothing would upset her. That`s what I
remember most about her - she never allowed anything to get her
down.
Once, she was caned
for talking in class. She must have been about six or seven years
old. She came back into the classroom and when she sat down you
could tell she was wincing in pain. But she did not hang her head
in shame and she absolutely refused to cry. The tears were in her
eyes and her bottom lip was quivering. But she bit her lip and
sat there with her back straight and her face full ahead, looking
at the teacher defiantly. She was a tough one, that Camilla, a
real tough cookie.