# IV: Intruder Bess explained — A Popular Schoolgirl

> Chapter companion for A Popular Schoolgirl by Angela Brazil.

## What happens

Ingred returns to school after a weekend at home, struggling to focus on her studies. She has her first piano lesson with Dr. Linton, who is eccentric but encouraging. Bess Haselford arrives as a new student, and Ingred initially likes her, but when she learns Bess lives at Rotherwood—the house Ingred's family lost—she becomes cold and resentful. Meanwhile, the school prepares for a form election to choose a warden for the new College Council.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Class and Status

Ingred's resentment toward Bess is rooted in the loss of her family home, Rotherwood, highlighting class and status anxieties.

### Personal Growth and Self-Control

Ingred struggles with jealousy and prejudice, failing to listen to her inner voice of generosity, showing her need for personal growth.

### Art and Music as Connection

Music is a central theme: Ingred's piano lesson with Dr. Linton and her sensitivity to Bess's gentle voice illustrate art as a means of connection.

## Character check-ins

### Ingred Saxon

Returns to school, struggles with studies, has a piano lesson with Dr. Linton, initially befriends Bess but turns hostile upon learning she lives at Rotherwood.

### Bess Haselford

New girl who arrives at the College, pretty and friendly, lives at Rotherwood, is warmly welcomed by most of the form.

### Fil Trevor

Complains about Miss Strong's strictness and jokes about her teaching style.

### Verity Richmond

Kind-hearted, tries to cheer Ingred, tells her about the upcoming warden election.

### Nora Clifford

Comments on Bess's appearance and agrees she is pretty.

### Dr. Linton

Eccentric music teacher, gives Ingred her first lesson, assesses her potential.

## Key lines

> Miss Strong reminds me of Rehoboam! Her little finger's thicker than her whole body used to be, and, instead of whips, she chastises us with scorpions.

Fil compares Miss Strong's strictness to the biblical King Rehoboam, saying she punishes them harshly.

_Fil uses a biblical analogy to complain about the heavy workload._

> It's not talking—it's only stuttering and stammering on the piano.

Ingred apologizes for her playing, saying it lacks fluency.

_Ingred uses Dr. Linton's metaphor of music as speech to describe her nervous performance._

> Rotherwood was what the girls called 'the bee in her bonnet,' and the knowledge that Bess was in possession of the beautiful home she had lost was sufficient to check the incipient friendship.

Ingred's obsession with losing Rotherwood prevents her from becoming friends with Bess.

_The narrator explains Ingred's jealousy and its effect on her behavior._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_popular_schoolgirl_se/chapters/iv-intruder-bess
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_popular_schoolgirl_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_popular_schoolgirl_se/chapters