10
A super half-term
Alice wracked her brains, and at last she came up with a plan for inviting Lizzie out, without revealing that she knew Edith was spending half-term with Daffy.
Lizzie spotted Alice going into her study one evening, looking rather preoccupied, and, remembering how kind the girl had been to her, she went across and said, ‘Anything wrong, Alice?’
‘Oh, hallo, Lizzie,’ said Alice. ‘Well, nothing is wrong, precisely, it’s just that … ’
She paused, looking up and down the corridor, then went on, ‘Look here, can you come into my study for a moment? I don’t want to be overheard.’
‘Of course,’ said Lizzie, surprised and a little alarmed. Whatever could Alice have to say to her?
The two girls sat either side of the desk in the little study, then Alice leaned forward and said in a confiding manner, ‘The thing is, Lizzie, I’m absolutely desperate to find someone who will come out with me and my people at half-term, and I just can’t think of anyone! Julie’s parents can’t come, but she has already arranged to go with Lucy, and Nora thought that her people might be busy, but it turns out that they are going to be able to come after all. Oh dear, what am I to do?’
‘But, Alice, I don’t understand,’ said Lizzie with a frown. ‘Why is it so important that someone comes along with you at half-term?’
‘So that I can convince my mother and father that I have settled down here and made friends,’ explained Alice. She looked Lizzie in the eye, and said, ‘It’s no secret that I was once sent away from Malory Towers, when I was in the second form.’
Lizzie nodded, for although she had not been a pupil at the school in those days, she had heard the story.
‘It was partly because my parents didn’t back me up in the right way,’ Alice continued. ‘And partly because I was such a horrid little beast that no one wanted to be my friend. But now that I have turned over a new leaf, my parents have done the same, and they are keen to come along and see how I am doing. Mother wrote and said that she would be so thrilled if I could bring a friend along with me at half-term. I know that it would help convince her that I really am doing well at Malory Towers now.’
Lizzie bit her lip. She had grown to like Alice very much, and it would certainly be much more pleasant to go out with her and her people at half-term than to stay at Malory Towers alone, watching everyone else enjoying themselves.
Alice sensed that she was wavering, and said, ‘It’s a shame that you will be with Edith. I would really have liked you to come with me, Lizzie, for Mother said that she would like to meet my best friend. And I suppose that you are my best friend, for I seem to spend more time with you than with anyone else.’
This was all that Lizzie needed to hear, and, turning red with pleasure, she said, ‘Well, actually, Alice, I won’t be with Edith, for she has been invited out by Daffy Hope and her people.’
‘Really?’ said Alice, sounding most surprised. Then she sighed, and said, ‘I suppose that I am too late, though. No doubt someone else has invited you to go along with them.’
‘No, no one has,’ said Lizzie. ‘And I would simply love to come out with you and your people, Alice.’
‘Would you?’ said Alice, with a smile. ‘Good, well, that’s settled then.’
The next few days simply flew by, and the girls grew very excited indeed as half-term drew closer and closer.
The younger ones, in particular, became very boisterous, but most of the mistresses were lenient, and made allowances for their high spirits. Even Miss Potts let Daffy, Katie and Edith off with the mildest of scoldings when the three of them skipped the whole length of the corridor, almost knocking over one of the maids, who was carrying a tray of crockery to the kitchen.
At last the big day arrived, and soon cars lined the driveway, and the school became a hive of activity as girls greeted their parents and eagerly showed them around.
Felicity was delighted to see her mother and father, of course, but she was a little disappointed that Darrell was not with them.
‘I did think that she might be,’ she said to June, who was standing nearby. ‘For she said to me as I left that she might see me this term.’
‘That’s funny, Alicia said something similar to me when I saw her in the hols,’ said June. ‘I half expected her to turn up as well, but there’s no sign of her.’
But despite Darrell’s absence, Felicity enjoyed a marvellous half-term, going out for lunch on both days with her parents, taking part in the diving exhibition, and going to bed thoroughly worn out, but very happy.
All of the sixth formers were very curious to see Alice’s parents, particularly her father, who they remembered very well from her time in the second form.
Alice’s father had been a very loud, ill-mannered individual indeed, and although Lizzie had never met him, the others were full of stories, and she felt rather nervous.
But it seemed that Mr Jones had changed his ways, for the man who greeted Alice with a hug was polite, quietly spoken and rather subdued.
He and his wife took the two girls for a picnic on the beach on Saturday, and to a very nice restaurant on Sunday. The restaurant was a rare treat for Lizzie, whose mother had little money to spare for such luxuries, and she enjoyed herself enormously, and thanked Alice and her parents profusely when half-term was over.
The first formers, of course, had had a whale of a time, and as several of them had birthdays coming up, some of the girls came back with money or gifts.
‘My parents have given me some money so that I can have some sort of party,’ said Katie.
‘And mine,’ said Ivy. ‘And my grandmother has promised to send me a big birthday cake.’
Violet also came back with a hamper full of goodies, even though it wasn’t her birthday. But, as Daffy said, Violet’s parents never seemed to need an excuse to spoil her!
‘Look at this!’ said Violet in the common-room on Sunday evening as she pulled one thing after another from the magnificent hamper. ‘Tins of prawns and pineapple, chocolate, shortbread biscuits – oh, and a gingerbread cake!’
‘How super,’ said Edith enviously.
‘We really should have some sort of feast, you know,’ said Daffy. ‘It’s your birthday soon, Katie, and Ivy’s. We could make it a joint celebration.’
This suggestion found instant favour.
‘Oh yes, do let’s!’
‘My word, wouldn’t that be wonderful!’
‘We really should. It must be at least two terms since we last had a feast.’
‘When and where, though?’ said Katie.
‘Well, your birthday is next Saturday, Katie,’ said Ivy. ‘And mine is the following Monday, so why don’t we have it in the middle – on Sunday?’
‘Marvellous idea!’ said Faith. ‘I suppose we could have it in the dorm, though it’s a little cramped in there.’
‘The common-room would be better,’ said Edith. ‘Though it’s a little close to the study Mam’zelle and Miss Potts share, and I know that Mam’zelle often sits up late at night.’
‘Oh, it would simply ruin things if Mam’zelle heard us,’ said Daffy. ‘I say, what about having it outside? I remember my sister, Sally, telling me that the upper fourth had a feast by the pool once. They went for a swim, as well.’
‘How super!’ said Ivy, her eyes lighting up.
‘Well, it would have been,’ said Daffy. ‘Only it began to rain, so they had to go back indoors after all.’
‘I really think it would be safer to hold it inside,’ said Faith. ‘I suppose it will have to be the dorm.’
‘Perhaps not,’ said Violet, who had been listening to all of this with a thoughtful expression. ‘I know of somewhere else we might be able to go.’
‘Where?’ asked everyone eagerly.
Violet, however, adored being mysterious and having a secret, and refused to say any more for the time being. But she had thought of a rather daring plan, one which she was quite certain eve
n Daffy would not have come up with, and she was certain that she would go up in the estimation of the first formers when they learned what it was.
For Violet intended to get hold of a key for Miss Lacey’s class-room, and hold the feast there. It was far enough away from the studies or dormitories for any slight noise to go unheard, and they would be able to have their feast in elegant surroundings. What could be better? Of course, Amy had told Violet about all the fuss there had been when the flower arrangement had been smashed, so the girl knew that they would have to be very careful and clear away any mess after they had finished. And she also knew now that the key was kept on a hook in the housekeeper’s room, so it should be quite simple to sneak in and borrow it.
So the first formers went ahead with their plans for the feast, trusting Violet to find a safe place for them to hold it. There was a large cupboard in their common-room, and Violet placed her hamper on the big bottom shelf.
‘With the things Ivy and I will buy with our birthday money, there should be more than enough for everyone,’ said Katie.
‘Well, we others will contribute something too,’ said Faith. ‘It’s only fair, as you two – and Violet – are being generous enough to share with us.’
Over the coming days, the cupboard filled up as the first formers stored their contributions to the feast. Edith managed to save a small amount from her meagre pocket money, and bought two tins of condensed milk. But as she was on her way to the common-room with them, who should she bump into but her sister, Lizzie.
‘Hallo, Edith,’ said Lizzie. ‘It’s not like you to be indoors on a glorious day like this.’
At once, Edith flushed guiltily, and she quickly hid the bag containing the tins behind her back. But Lizzie’s sharp eyes spotted the movement, and the guilty look, and she said, ‘What are you up to, Edith?’
‘N-nothing,’ stammered poor Edith, doing her very best to look as innocent as possible. ‘I just need to fetch something from the common-room.’
‘What are you holding behind your back?’ asked Lizzie sharply. ‘And don’t say “nothing”, for I can see quite clearly that you have something there.’
‘Just a little shopping,’ said Edith, feeling that it was terribly bad luck that she should have run into her sister.
‘Oh?’ said Lizzie. ‘I’m surprised that you have any money to go shopping, Edith, for I know exactly how much pocket money you have, don’t forget.’
‘Well, I managed to keep a little back, so that I could buy some things that I needed,’ said Edith. ‘Some shoelaces and a new hair ribbon.’
‘Let me see,’ said Lizzie, growing more suspicious by the second. Edith’s manner was so very odd.
‘No!’ said Edith defiantly. ‘What I choose to spend my pocket money on is none of your business, Lizzie.’
She stepped forward, determined to put an end to the conversation, but as she did so, the paper bag containing her purchases slid from her grasp, and the two tins of milk rolled across the floor.
Swiftly, Lizzie stooped and gathered them up, her mind working quickly, then she glanced at her sister, who had turned very red indeed, and said, ‘These are the funniest looking shoelaces I have ever seen. You first formers are planning a midnight feast, aren’t you?’
Edith knew that there was no point in denying it, for her face gave her away. If Lizzie had been different, she could have told her all about it, and although her big sister might have pretended to look stern and wagged her finger, there would have been a twinkle in her eye, and they could have laughed about it together. But there was no twinkle in Lizzie’s eye, and Edith began to feel angry, as she said, ‘What if we are? It has nothing to do with you.’
‘Well, that’s just where you’re wrong,’ said Lizzie in a harsh tone. ‘I am a sixth former, and it is my duty to see that the rules of the school are kept.’
Edith gave a gasp, and cried, ‘But what harm are we doing? It’s only a feast.’
‘Which means that you will be tired the following day, and unable to concentrate on your lessons,’ said Lizzie severely. ‘You can’t possibly expect to work well if you are up half the night.’
‘Do you mean to say that you would get the whole of the first form into trouble just to make me knuckle down?’ asked Edith, looking her sister in the eye.
Lizzie hesitated. Was she prepared to go that far? The truth was that she simply didn’t know, but she wasn’t prepared to make an empty threat. So she said heavily, ‘I shall have to think about this, Edith. I will let you know what I decide.’
And with that, Lizzie turned on her heel and walked away, leaving her sister staring after her in dismay.
Of course, Edith had to tell the others, for she had to warn them that there was a chance Lizzie might sneak on them, so a meeting was called in the first-form common-room that evening.
‘Blow!’ said Ivy when Edith broke the news. ‘If it had been any other sixth former, I daresay they would have been decent about it and turned a blind eye. Not Lizzie, though, mean beast.’
Edith flushed, for it was not pleasant to hear her sister spoken about in this manner.
‘Lizzie might not tell,’ she said.
‘Might isn’t really good enough,’ said Daffy crossly. ‘We need to be absolutely certain that Lizzie won’t sneak on us.’
‘Edith, please tell me that you weren’t silly enough to tell your sister when we are holding the feast,’ said Katie.
‘Of course I wasn’t!’ said Edith hotly. Then, in a more subdued tone, she added, ‘Not that it matters. Lizzie will be watching us like a hawk now.’
‘Oh well,’ said Ivy with a sigh. ‘I suppose that settles it. The feast is off.’
‘It doesn’t have to be cancelled altogether,’ said Faith. ‘We can hold a party at teatime, instead.’
But this idea found no favour with the first formers at all.
‘Where’s the fun in that?’
‘It just won’t be the same!’
‘Sneaking out of our beds at midnight is what makes the party special.’
‘No, the midnight feast will go ahead!’ said a very determined voice, and everyone was surprised to see that it was Edith who had spoken. She got to her feet now, and said, ‘I will see to it myself that Lizzie doesn’t interfere. Even if it means missing the feast so that I can keep an eye on her.’
The first formers, who had all felt a little cross with Edith, immediately thawed towards her, and Faith said, ‘Well, that’s awfully decent of you. I must say, it would have been terribly tame if we had had to hold the party at teatime, instead of at midnight.’
‘Well, you won’t,’ said Edith firmly. ‘I shall make sure of that.’
11
Violet plays a trick
Two days before the first formers’ feast, Miss Nicholson walked into the study that she shared with Miss Lacey, looking very pale and heavy-eyed.
‘My goodness, you look dreadful!’ exclaimed Gwendoline. ‘Whatever is the matter?’
‘Toothache,’ groaned poor Miss Nicholson, putting a hand to her jaw. ‘I’ve scarcely slept a wink.’
‘Well, you had better go and visit the dentist in town as quickly as possible,’ said Gwen.
‘I can’t,’ sighed Miss Nicholson. ‘I am taking the first formers for the next lesson. Not that I shall have much to do in the way of actual teaching, for I have set them an essay to write. But I daren’t leave them to work unsupervised, for there are far too many scamps in that form!’
‘If it is merely a matter of supervising them, surely I could do that,’ said Gwen. ‘Then you can pop into town and see the dentist.’
‘I say, would you?’ said Miss Nicholson, brightening. ‘That would be awfully good of you. Just watch out for young Daffy Hope and her friend Katie, for they are always up to mischief.’
Then she handed Gwen a sheet of paper, and said, ‘This is the essay I would like them to write. It should keep them safely occupied for the whole of the lesson.’
So, while Mis
s Nicholson went off to find Miss Potts, and explain that she had to rush off to see the dentist, Miss Lacey made her way to the first-form class-room.
The teacher was considerably softer-footed than Miss Nicholson, and the first formers did not hear her coming, so she walked into a scene of disarray. All of the first formers were chattering away like mad, Ivy and Edith were squabbling over possession of a ruler, and Daffy was standing on a chair, trying to attract the attention of someone outside the window.
For a moment, Miss Lacey wished that she had not made her generous offer to Miss Nicholson. The sixth formers were far too dignified and well-mannered to behave badly, but the first form was a very different kettle of fish. Then she pulled herself together, deciding that a few small girls certainly weren’t going to get the better of Gwendoline Lacey!
‘Girls!’ she said, raising her voice. ‘Quiet, please!’
Immediately the noise ceased, Daffy got down from her chair, and Ivy and Edith subsided.
Everyone stood, silently, and Miss Lacey, clearing her throat, said, ‘Please sit down. Unfortunately, Miss Nicholson has had to go to the dentist, but she has left clear instructions for an essay that she wishes you to write.’
Daffy nudged Katie and whispered, ‘Do you suppose that Miss Lacey will leave us to get on with it alone, or do you think that she will stay and supervise us?’
‘Daffy!’ said Miss Lacey sharply. ‘Is there something you wish to say?’
‘No, Miss Lacey,’ said Daffy meekly, but with a glint of mischief in her eye.