This was very true, and Millicent said, ‘Well, there is a little spare time before lunch. Why don’t you go and fetch your violin, Gillian, and you can play for us in the common-room now?’
So Gillian sped off to get her violin from the dormitory, while the others gathered expectantly in the common-room. When the new girl came back, she had loosened her long curls from the ribbon that had been tying them back, and when Freddie asked why, Gillian said, ‘I always wear my hair loose when I play the violin. It makes me feel more artistic somehow.’
Then the girl placed the violin under her chin and began to play. And what a performance she gave! The fifth formers listened, enthralled, as Gillian played, her bow darting over the strings, her enjoyment clear, as beautiful music filled the room. It was quite clear that Gillian had not exaggerated at all, and was a first-class violinist. When she finished, the girls clapped and cheered like mad.
‘Simply beautiful!’
‘Top-hole! Gillian, you’re a marvel.’
‘Millicent, you simply must put her in the orchestra.’
‘I shall,’ said Millicent, pleased to have found someone so talented.
Only June said nothing. She, too, had been impressed by Gillian’s playing, but she badly wanted the girl to be on one of the tennis teams, and she had no intention of allowing Millicent to steal her away.
‘Well, Gillian, it looks as if you must make a choice,’ said Pam.
‘Yes, I suppose I must,’ said Gillian, with a grimace. ‘If you don’t mind, June and Millicent, I should like to think about it for a while.’
‘Well, don’t think about it for too long,’ said Millicent, rather coolly. ‘I need to choose my orchestra, and lick it into shape. There is no time to waste.’
June, watching Millicent closely, decided that the girl was going to be a bit of a slave-driver, and could see that she ran the risk of making herself very unpopular with her orchestra if she pushed them too hard. She herself said pleasantly, ‘Of course, Gillian, you take your time. There’s no hurry for you to make up your mind, and I want you to be sure that you have made the right choice.’
The rest of the fifth form stared at June hard. They knew her very well indeed, and if June wanted something badly, she didn’t give up without a fight.
When the fifth formers went into the dining-room for lunch, it seemed that word had got around that June was the new games captain, for many of the younger girls nudged one another and whispered as she walked by.
Hannah, of the second form, came up to her, and said shyly, ‘Congratulations, June. We second formers are simply thrilled that you are our new games captain.’
‘Thanks, kid,’ said June, in her usual careless way, though she was secretly delighted and rather touched by this. ‘You’re Hannah, aren’t you? I remember watching you play last year, when you were in the first form. I hope that you are going to try out for one of the teams this term, for you were pretty good.’
Hannah, so overwhelmed that she was quite unable to speak, merely nodded, before rushing back to her table to tell the second formers that the great June had asked her to try out for one of the teams.
Millicent, meanwhile, had watched the little by-play with a sour expression, and wondered if she would be able to inspire the same devotion in her orchestra.
She had certainly stirred people’s interest, for many girls, from different forms and different towers, put their names on the list that she had pinned up, and Millicent decided to hold auditions on the first Saturday of the term.
Auditions were being held in the big hall, and the rest of the fifth formers went along to watch.
‘There’s nothing better to do,’ said June, looking at the gloomy weather outside the window, and sighing. ‘I had planned to hold tennis practice for the lower forms, but it’s going to pour down any minute.’
The fifth formers had to sit right at the back of the hall, for it seemed that half of the school had decided that watching the auditions would be a pleasant way to while away a rainy afternoon.
Millicent stepped on to the stage, a list of names in her hand, and she called out, ‘Pam, would you like to sit at the piano and go first?’
Pulling a face at Nora, Pam walked to the front of the hall, where the piano stood, and sat down at it. She played a simple piece of music that she knew well, and, although she had intended to play a few wrong notes and spoil her chances of getting into the orchestra, found that she couldn’t, as the music took hold of her. It was a pleasant performance, and the listening girls clapped, but Millicent merely said, ‘Not bad. Hannah Dixon, you play the piano, don’t you? Let’s see if you can do any better.’
June, sitting next to Freddie, gasped as Hannah of the second form got up, and whispered, ‘Millicent is doing this on purpose! She heard me telling Hannah that I wanted her to practise hard at her tennis, and this is her way of getting back at me. I bet you anything you like that she picks Hannah to be in her precious orchestra!’
‘Yes, but you can’t blame Millicent entirely,’ Freddie whispered back. ‘Hannah must have put her name on the list in the first place.’
‘Not necessarily,’ said June. ‘Pam didn’t put her name down, but Millicent badgered her into playing anyway.’
‘Can whoever is whispering please be quiet?’ said Millicent sharply. ‘It really is very rude when Hannah is waiting to begin.’
Millicent knew very well that it was June who was whispering, but there was an unwritten rule among the fifth formers that they did not find fault with one another in front of the younger girls.
But although Millicent hadn’t named her, June was annoyed. Really, Millicent would do well to remember that she was a new girl!
Hannah played very well indeed, and Millicent gave her a word of praise when she finished her piece.
‘Very good,’ she said. ‘I shall certainly consider you as our pianist, Hannah, though I can’t say anything definite until I have heard the others.’
Several more musicians took to the stage, playing a variety of instruments. One girl played the flute, another the trumpet, and yet another the cello. There were several more pianists, too, as well as four or five violinists. Then Gillian got up, holding her violin, and Millicent said, ‘There is no need for you to audition, Gillian, for I heard you play the other day.’
‘I know, but I am in a musical mood today, and felt like playing my violin anyway, so I thought that I would play the tune that I played in the common-room the other day.’
To everyone’s surprise, Millicent smiled and said, ‘Well, that will certainly be a treat for everyone. I know that tune, so if you don’t mind, I will accompany you on the piano.’
‘For all her boasting about what a wonderful musician she is, I’ve never heard Millicent play anything,’ murmured Pam to Nora. ‘Now we shall see how good she really is.’
As it turned out, Millicent was very good indeed. She and Gillian held the watching girls spellbound, and several of the younger girls found tears starting to their eyes, the music was so lovely. When they finished, everyone got to their feet and clapped so hard that Felicity thought they would raise the roof!
Even June had to admit grudgingly, ‘She certainly plays the piano brilliantly. In fact, she is so brilliant that I wonder she doesn’t give herself the job as pianist in her orchestra. Then she can leave Hannah out of it.’
The same thought occurred to Pam, but when she suggested it to Millicent after the auditions were over, the girl said, ‘I can’t, for I shall be conducting, you see. I learned how to do that at the music academy, and while we have several good pianists, I doubt if there is anyone here who knows how to conduct.’
This was very true, so it seemed that one of the girls who had auditioned would have to become the orchestra pianist. Pam felt quite confident that she would not be chosen, for she had been outshone by several other girls, including young Hannah.
Seeing Millicent hunched up over a table in the common-room that evening, busily writing some kind of list, Felicity ca
lled out, ‘Have you decided who is to be in the orchestra yet, Millicent?’
‘I have decided on several people, but there are one or two that I haven’t quite made up my mind about,’ said the girl. ‘I am going to decide by tomorrow, then we shall be able to call the first rehearsal. Gillian, you are in – if you want to be. But you really must let me know by tomorrow.’
‘Have you decided what piece you are going to play?’ asked Susan, looking up from the book she was reading.
‘Yes, I am going to teach the girls a composition of my own,’ answered Millicent, sounding rather smug. ‘I wrote it last term at the music academy, and my teachers there thought that it was quite outstanding.’
Then Millicent spotted June looking at her with dislike, and said, ‘What bad luck that you couldn’t hold your tennis practice earlier, June. That’s the beauty of music, you see. No matter what the weather, one can still play.’
June bit back a sharp retort, made her expression perfectly bland, and said airily, ‘It doesn’t matter. The weather will improve soon, and then my tennis practices will go ahead. The youngsters do so enjoy spending as much time as possible in the fresh air during the summer months.’
As it happened, the weather cleared the very next day, and the girls awoke to bright sunshine. Immediately after breakfast, June put a notice on the board to say that she would be holding tennis practice for the lower school at two o’clock. And, when the time came, she, Felicity and Susan were delighted to see that there was a good turn out.
The lower school had always looked up to June, admiring her boldness, her outspoken manner, and her reputation for playing tricks. Now that she was their games captain, many of them almost worshipped her.
Hannah was there, and June greeted her with a smile, saying, ‘I’m glad to see you here, Hannah. When I saw you playing the piano for Millicent yesterday, I was afraid that you might have decided to join the orchestra instead of playing tennis for the school.’
‘Well, I put my name on Millicent’s list as soon as she pinned it up, and that was before you told me that I might have a chance of getting on to the team, June.’ Hannah looked up at the bigger girl and said, ‘Of course, I would much rather play tennis, if you think that I am good enough, and if Millicent does want me for her orchestra I am going to say no.’
June was delighted to hear this, and she gave Hannah a clap on the shoulder.
As the second former walked away to take her place on the court, Felicity came up to June, and said, ‘You look pleased with yourself.’
‘I am,’ said June. ‘Hannah has told me that she would rather play tennis than be in Millicent’s orchestra.’
‘I see,’ said Felicity. ‘And are you pleased because you have a good player for the lower-school team, or because you have got one over on Millicent?’
June laughed, and said, ‘Both. Don’t worry, Felicity, I know what you’re thinking, and I don’t intend to let my dislike of Millicent interfere with any decisions I make as games captain. Believe it or not, I am taking my responsibilities very seriously.’
Felicity was pleased to hear this, and she and Susan felt heartened to see June taking so much trouble over the youngsters. June gave a word of praise here, and criticised there. But, Felicity noticed, whenever June made a criticism, she always told the girl she was talking to how to put matters right.
‘Who would have thought it!’ said Susan, as she watched June showing a little first former how to serve. ‘Perhaps June is mellowing in her old age.’
‘I think the fact that these kids look up to her no end helps,’ said Felicity. ‘They really do adore her, and June is basking in it. I just hope that she doesn’t get a swollen head!’
‘I don’t think that she will,’ said Susan. ‘June is too downright to let all this hero-worship go to her head. My word, some of these kids are jolly good! Look at little Maggie there. She might be tiny, but she’s jolly fierce.’
June came over to them then, a smile on her face as she said, ‘Some promising players out there, don’t you think?’
‘That’s exactly what I was just saying,’ said Susan. ‘We certainly have plenty of talent to choose from when it comes to the lower-school team.’
‘We should do well with the upper-school team as well,’ said June. ‘You two will be playing, of course.’
Both girls gasped and looked at one another with shining eyes, then Felicity said, ‘June, you don’t have to put us in the team simply because we are helping you with your games captain’s duties, you know.’
‘I’m not,’ said June. ‘I’m choosing you because you happen to be two of the best players in the school.’
‘Thanks!’ said Susan, quite taken aback at this unexpected praise from June.
‘I desperately want Gillian, too,’ said June, her eyes narrowing. ‘I shall be so disappointed if she takes up Millicent’s offer of a place in the orchestra instead. I wonder if she has made her mind up yet?’
Gillian had, and she announced her decision in the common-room that very evening.
‘June,’ she said. ‘I have decided that I would like to take up your offer of a place on the upper-school team.’
June’s face lit up and she was quite unable to help shooting a look of triumph at Millicent, who looked as glum as could be.
But Gillian hadn’t finished, for she went on, ‘And Millicent, I should also like to play the violin in your orchestra, if I may.’
Everyone looked most surprised, and it was left to Pam, as head of the form, to say, ‘But Gillian, you can’t possibly do both! Why, you’ll wear yourself out completely and you won’t be able to concentrate on your lessons.’
‘But I am being offered the chance to have fun doing the two things that I love most, so how can I possibly choose one over the other?’ said Gillian. ‘Don’t worry about me, Pam, for I shall be perfectly fine.’
‘I hope so,’ said Pam, sounding extremely doubtful. ‘But if it becomes too much for you, Gillian, you will simply have to give one up.’
June glanced across at Millicent, and their eyes met in a hostile look. June was thinking that if Gillian was going to give anything up it would be the violin. And Millicent was thinking that if Gillian had to eventually make a choice, she was determined that the girl was going to choose her orchestra!
4
An interesting rehearsal
What with one thing and another, life was very busy at Malory Towers. Millicent had chosen the girls who were to be in her orchestra, and had given them all copies of the piece of music she had written.
She had asked Hannah to be the pianist, but, feeling a little nervous, Hannah had said haltingly, ‘I feel very honoured that you have asked me, Millicent, but I have decided to work hard at my tennis for June, instead.’
Millicent had looked at Hannah so coldly that the second former’s knees shook, and she feared that she was about to get a scold. But Millicent merely said, ‘Very well, Hannah, if that is your decision. I hope that you have made the right choice.’
Then she had gone off to find Anne, a fifth former from South Tower, and asked her if she would like to play the piano instead. Anne had been absolutely thrilled, and so grateful for the opportunity that Millicent cheered up a bit. And she was further gratified when she walked by the little music rooms that the girls used for practising in, and heard her own composition being played. All of the musicians were working very hard indeed, and Millicent really didn’t see how Malory Towers could fail to win the competition.
Delia came along the corridor as Millicent stood outside one of the music-rooms, listening to Anne rehearsing her piano solo, and she said, ‘Is that the music that you wrote, Millicent? My word, you really do have a gift. How I envy you. All everyone seems to talk about at the moment is tennis, or the orchestra, but I can’t contribute anything because I’m hopeless at games and no good at music. Why, when I sing at home, my aunt says it sounds like a cat yowling.’
Millicent wasn’t much given to considering any
one else’s feelings, but there was something so wistful in Delia’s tone that she felt rather touched, and said kindly, ‘Well, there are other ways you could be involved, you know, Delia. I could certainly do with someone to assist me at rehearsals, to make notes and so on.’
‘Really?’ said Delia, her face lighting up. ‘Would you trust me to do that, Millicent?’
‘Of course,’ said Millicent. ‘Now listen, Delia, the first rehearsal is on Tuesday, after tea, in the hall. So just you come along and I’m sure that I will find plenty for you to do.’
Delia nodded eagerly, and both girls went their separate ways, Delia thrilled to think that she was going to play a part in the orchestra’s success, and Millicent feeling that she had done something very good and virtuous.
June, somewhat to her own surprise, was thoroughly enjoying coaching the youngsters at tennis. The upper school were more of a challenge, however, and in the end she abandoned her plans to make people like Amy and Bonnie attend regular practices.
‘I really don’t know why you bother,’ said Felicity, one day, after watching a long and fruitless argument between June and Bonnie, which had ended with the latter flatly refusing to come to practice. ‘You are never going to make a tennis player out of Bonnie, or Amy, for that matter, so you may as well give up.’
But June was extremely stubborn when she had set her mind to something, and continued to badger Amy and Bonnie.
‘She’s so persistent!’ Amy complained. ‘Honestly, Bonnie, sometimes I feel like giving up and going to her wretched tennis practice just so that she will leave me alone.’
But Bonnie could be stubborn too, and she shook her head, saying, ‘We mustn’t give in to June, or she will become even worse. I shall come up with a plan to make her leave us alone.’
In fact it was June herself who gave Bonnie an idea. She had been inspecting the white tennis dresses that the Malory Towers girls wore when they played matches against other schools, and discovered that some of them were very shabby indeed.
‘Hems coming down, pockets ripped and holes in seams,’ she complained in the common-room one evening. ‘I can’t send our teams off to play in those! We’ll be a laughing stock!’