Main Character
Lucy Beck
- A young, seventeen-year old girl, small, and plain-looking.
- An underachiever but completes secretarial training at the Belmont Secretarial College.
- A clever and resourceful person as she manages to convince Miss Broome to leave the office permanently.
Minor Characters
Mrs Beck
- Lucy's mother is a hardworking person as she takes care of the household.
- She is also a patient person because she allows her brother to stay with them although he is a heavy drinker and she feels sorry for him.
Uncle Bert
- Lucy's uncle was once a handsome man who was close to Lucy as they used to play kites together.
- He is a heavy drinker and always borrows money from his sister.
Mr Harry Darke
- He is Mr Ross's right-hand man who has been working in the firm for 30 years.
- He is very helpful because he does all the odd jobs in the office and helps out the new employees.
- He admires Lucy's courage and determination to stay on and gives her all the information about Miss Broome.
The Spirit of Miss Broome
- This is a non-human being, a nonentity.
- She was old Mr Bannister's secretary and she worked for him for 43 years.
- She did not have any family so the office was "her home and what she lived for".
- She dies but her attachment is so great that she does not want to leave the office even after death.
Mr Ross
- Lucy's boss.
- He employs Lucy as his secretary because he is weary of losing all the new secretaries who come to work.
- He even offers to do something about the typewriter if the problem continues.
Discussion
Discussion 1
Read the extracts below and respond to the question that follows.
...On Monday Morning, at ten to nine, the door to this office was shut and locked. She was early. She smoothed down her windy hair, and waited.
“I don’t make mistakes,” Lucy said; then honestly compelled her to add, “Well, not very many. I’ve been trained. I’ve got a diploma.”
After the first moments of strangeness, Lucy was glad to be alone. No one breathing down her neck. She looked round the office with pleasure. Hers.
Discussion 2
Read the extract below and respond to the question that follows.
“Thanks,” she said, but couldn’t resist adding nastily, “I don’t get paid till Friday, you know. No good trying to touch me for a fiver.”
He flushed. “You don’t think much of me, do you? Who are you to set yourself up as judge and jury? You don’t know what it’s like...not being wanted. A little kindness would help!”
Lucy noticed his hands were shaking. His collapsing face seemed held together in a scarlet net of broken veins. His eyes were miserable.
“Uncle Bert...” she began.
“What?” He looked at her warily.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry, Uncle Bert.”
“I’m sorry too Lucy,” he said. “I know it’s a nuisance, having me here.”
“No! No, it isn’t! We want you,” she said.
They smiled at each other...each remembering the little girl and the handsome uncle, who had once flown kites together in Waterlow Park.
Discussion 3
Read the extract below and respond to the questions that follow.
“She was old Mr Bannister’s secretary. Been here forty-three years, girl, woman and old misery. Sitting there where you’re sitting now, her back straight as a ruler, and a chop-your-head-off ruler, too! Her stiff old fingers tapping out the letters one by one, with her nose nearly on the keyboard, so short-sighted she’d become by then. None of your touch-typing for her! Every letter she stared in the face like it was a criminal and she the judge. You can’t wonder she hates you young girls, with your fingers flying over the keys like butterflies, and your eyes gazing out into the sunshine. They gave her the push, you know.”
“After forty-three years?” Lucy said, shocked into sympathy.
“Well, she was past it, wasn’t she?...
Question: Do you think it was fair to ask Miss Broome to leave after she had worked in the firm for so long? Why do you say so?
You can drop your responses in a ‘post a comment’ box. You are also welcomed to discuss on the questions there. : )
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