Mrs Carter

The book is Henry James’ “The Turn of the Screw”, and I am undone with boredom. But it’s my turn to read next, so I stand up, book in hand, and begin reading the text. I’m only a couple words in when Mrs Carter loudly clears her throat and says, “Has anyone here ever seen a ghost?” My mouth hangs open for a second, then shuts with a toothy click. I sit. The rest of the class seems more awake now, but nobody speaks. “Okay. Does anybody know somebody else who’s seen a ghost?” Anthony quietly raises his hand beside me. “Yes! Anthony. Tell us about it.” “Well,” he begins, and launches into a story about a tavern in the south of France where punters are urged to hold onto their beers until finished, lest the ghost of a former proprietor who lost her husband in a bar brawl swipe them to the ground. Not a firsthand experience, of course, but his Dad claims to have lost a beer in just such a way on a recent business trip. Others in the class soon take up the challenge and offer their own stories, but they’re starting to seem more and more far fetched to my fourteen year old ears. Meanwhile, I realize I have my own tale to share: my mum, ten years old in her bedroom and trying to get to sleep when a shadow falls upon the curtains from the outside - or is it inside? She screws her eyes shut, and a moment later feels something bite her ear... This is a true story. My mum wouldn’t lie to me. But these kids are making things up as they go along! I’ve never been so sure of anything. Still Mrs Carter nods, and she smiles, chin cupped in hands, her attention rapt. And slowly, heart punching my ribs out from within, I raise my hand.

 

Mrs Carter is a rich and nuanced back-slanted font that plays like a script, but with greater versatility. It has 323 total glyphs, including dozens of ligatures, swashes, and alternates.

Check out a sample PDF, here.