Remember that this relates to the 1950's when we had no TV, internet or (in my case) radio and newspapers. Things are different these days
I am forced to agree totally with Kim2s' comment:
I wonder whether, despite the young lady's obvious intelligence she realised that she knew nothing about life and couldn't cope:Kim2s70-77 wrote: I was completely out of my depth, although CH had given the chameleon-like skills to present an appropriate front. There was just no depth to the presentation!
I had been effectively alone (check Mrs Bridges in Upstairs, Downstairs) in a place 13 miles from the nearest town, the three friends moved away when I was about 7 and there were no other kids around. The local language was far removed from Lunnun - only one person had been outside the immediate area and that was because he had been a stoker in WWI. Her boss put me in CH - my mother was innumerate though she could just write and could not even afford clothes or shoes for me - I was still wearing her castmedowns.I did know of at least one girl who came from a very much poorer background than I. But sadly she will not be contributing to this Forum. She was always very bright, achieved an Exhibition to Oxford, took a First, became a Nun, and then took her own life.
What did CH do? by the time I left I had absolutely no idea about the world outside the boundary fence, no knowledge of the economy or jobs or even how stuff got in shops (I saw then at the underground going home), no money and no real home. Apart from Oxbridge there were no places of further learning and you could only go there if you got S levels and weren't Jewish. CH might have taught me about the Pilkington Float Glass Process but not about life and relationships. Even when I left with a Bible (this was a few days before everyone else for outside reasons) I was treated by most staff and boys as if I was being expelled - not even a goodbye or good luck but they still pester me for money