4
Ianto is dressing himself. He stops, weakly holding the back of a chair for support, looking out of the window at the sun setting over the hills.
Stan-Lee is praying, his voice echoing up the stairs "Merciful Jesus, enlighten thou me with the brightness of thine inward light..."
Diana is helping Ianto down the stairs.
"And take away all darkness from the habitation of my heart..." Stan-Lee is praying over Ianto, Diana and Mary as they sit at the table. Mary catches Ianto's eye, gives him shy smile. "Join me to thyself with an inseparable band of love... For thou, even thou alone, dost satisfy him that loveth thee..."
Ianto finds himself staring at Stan-Lee, who prays ardently. "And without thee all things are vain and empty. Amen."
Stan-Lee opens his eyes and looks searchingly at Ianto. He immediately looks down as they all repeat "Amen."
"Welcome to our table, Mister Elliott." Diana smiles, passng a basket of rolls.
"I'd appreciate it if you called me Ianto. It is my own name."
"It's wonderful to see you on your feet, Master Ianto."
Ianto turns his attention to Stan-Lee. "I trust I will not be eating long at your expense, Mr Rivers."
"You wish to be independent of my charity?" he asks with amusement.
"I wish to work, sir. Show me how to work or how to seek work; that's all I ask." Ianto agrees.
"You're not fit enough to work" Diana points out.
"My sisters have always taken pleasure in keeping injured birds but I'm more inclined to put you in a way of keeping yourself - and shall endeavour to do so, if that's what you wish." Stan-Lee waves a hand to soothe his bristling sisters.
"With all my heart, sir."
"It's a shame he has no choice of helpers, Stan-Lee, and must put up with such crusty people as you." Diana snorts.
"This school you were at, Mister Elliot, this charitable institution; what did it prepare you for?"
Ianto flinches at the memory of a bundle of sharp twigs come down on a child's bare neck, like a whip.
"Was it a thorough education?"
"Most thorough."
.
.
.
.
Miss Scatcherd's bitter life is in her face and voice. "Burns, Kai Burns!"
Ianto, aged ten, looks up. he is wearing a brown stuffy suit with a cap like all the other boys and girls. Silence reigns in the school hall.
A red haired girl of about thirteen stands up; Kai Burns. Miss Scatcherd holds up an apron in which a hole has been mistakenly cut. "You're a slattern and a disgrace!"
Kai Burns undoes the back of her dress. The punishment is given; a dozen sharp, stinging whacks with the birch twigs.
Ianto is appalled. But to his astonishment and awe, Kai Burns doesn't cry; she barely changes her expression. As the strokes go on – seven, eight, nine - Kai seems like one in a trance. Ianto is deeply affected.
On the eleventh stroke, the door bursts open and a visiting party walks in: the Brocklehurst family. Miss Temple escorts two young girls dressed in peacock finery and two smart, bombastic ladies. Mr Brocklehurst follows. Kai's punishment is forgotten as the students rush to their feet.
Ianto, in a panic, drops his slate and breaks it. Brocklehurst's eyes sweep the room. They land on him. "I might have known. The new boy. Step forward, Ianto Jones."
Filled with dread, Ianto steps forward.
"It is my duty dear children, to warn you that this boy is not one of God's own lambs." Brocklehurst declares.
We see the look of frustration on Miss Temple's face.
"He is a castaway and an alien in his flock and you must be on your guard against him. For this child... is a liar!" He points to a tall stool. Ianto stands on it. "This is the pedestal of infamy - and you'll remain upon it all day. You'll receive no sustenance and no comfort, for you must learn how barren is the life of the sinner. Children, I exhort you to shun him, exclude him, shut him out from this day forth. Withhold the hand of friendship and deny your love to Ianto Jones, the liar."
.
.
.
.
The hall is empty but for the small figure of Ianto, high on his stool, feeling his isolation like pain. Across the room is the slightly bigger figure of Kai, hunched, the back of her dress still open, the skin on her neck raw. The sun is setting. At last Ianto starts to sob.
"Come now, don't cry." Kai whispers.
"You're not allowed to speak to me. I must be shunned." Ianto hisses.
"Mr Brocklehurst is not a God. He's not liked or admired here"
"He said I was a liar." Ianto pouts "I am not a liar!"
"If your own conscience approves you, then so will I." Kai decides.
Ianto is deeply gratified. "How do you bear it?"
"Bear what?" Kai seems confused.
"Being struck."
"I'm a trial to Miss Scatcherd." Kai explains "She hits me to improve me."
"If she hit me I would get that birch from her hand and break it under her nose."
"You'd just be punished even more." Kai shrugs "It's part of life here."
"I have always been excluded and alone and hated. Miss Abbott used to call me an ugly little toad." Ianto shares.
Kai approaches Ianto.
"You're not ugly. Do you know what is inside you?" Kai asks.
"What?"
"The spark of your spirit, the principle of light and thought, pure and bright, as perfect as anything created." Kai smiles as if thinking of a fond memory. Or some dream.
"What do you mean?" Ianto is not convinced.
Kai rolled her eyes, then leans forward "Your soul. Your soul is beautiful. Your soul has value - more value than anything on earth."
"Is that true?"
"Yes. God sees your beauty. Even as you stand on that stool, there is an invisible world around you, a kingdom of spirits. It is everywhere. Angels see your pain." Kai is pleased with herself "Angels know your innocence."
"Angels?"
Kai smiles a wide smile. "Do you not believe in angels?"
They hear the door. Kai runs back to her place; cowers. Miss Temple appears in a shaft of light at the door. "Come here, children."
They approach, dreading more punishment.
"I shall investigate Mr Brocklehurst's claims against you, Ianto. And unless they are proved, you will be exonerated." Miss Temple looks over her shoulder. "Also, I understand you have had no food today."
She quickly presses a slice of hard cake into each child's hand and walks away. Ianto and Kai look at one another, deeply moved by her kindness.
.
.
.
.
Ianto stands between Diana and Mary high above Moor House. They are dressed similarly in hats and cloaks. They watch a hawk dive, their heads moving in unison. Their eyes land upon Moor House.
"We've lived here all our lives but the house must be shut up now." Mary explains.
"Why?"
"We can't afford to keep it on. Diana and I will return to our charges in a few days and Stan-Lee will go to his parsonage."
Down below them, Stan-Lee leaves Moor House and walks towards the village. Ianto watches him.
"It'll be a hard parting for us. We may not see him again for years." Diana tries to hide her dismay in the wind.
"Why ever not?"
"He means to be a missionary. He's going to India to do Gods's work." Mary sighs.
Ianto is confused "Can he not do God's work here?"
"This quiet parish will never do for him; he almost raves in his restlessness. It breaks our hearts." Mary is almost in tears now.
"Stan-Lee burns with talents and ambition. But he lacks the means for advancement here. Our poverty thwarts him at every turn and so he has chosen to lay all his gifts on God's altar." Diana argues with her sister.
"We've tried to persuade him to stay but in some things our brother is - he is…" Mary struggles for the right word.
Inexorable as death." Diana finishes.
"We are now without father. We'll soon be without home and brother." Mary looks at Ianto with a shrug of acceptance.
Ianto feels a powerful compassion for them.
"In one thing you are fortunate." Ianto says softly as he looks over at the horizon. "You have each other."