Then Miss Grayling gave the little speech that she always made at the beginning of each term, and Alice listened intently, taking in every word. Really, she felt as if the Head might have been speaking to her, and her alone!
‘One day,’ began Miss Grayling, ‘you will leave Malory Towers and go out into the world as young women. You should take with you eager minds, kind hearts and a will to help. You should take with you a good understanding of many things, and a willingness to accept responsibility, and show yourselves as women to be loved and trusted.’
The Head paused for a moment, her eyes moving from one girl to the other, then she went on in her low, clear voice, ‘All of these things you are able to learn at Malory Towers – if you will. I do not count as our successes those who have won scholarships, or passed exams, though these are good things to do. I count as our successes those who learn to be good-hearted and kind, sensible and trustworthy, good, sound women the world can lean on. Our failures are those who do not learn those things in the time they are here.’
Again Miss Grayling paused, and Alice vowed there and then that she was going to be a success, whatever it took.
The Head spoke again, saying, ‘Some of you will find it easy to learn these things, others will find it hard. But they must be learned, one way or the other, if you are to be happy after you have left here, and if you are to bring happiness to others.’
She was about to say more, but suddenly the telephone on her desk rang.
‘I think that this is an important telephone call that I have been expecting,’ said Miss Grayling. ‘You may go to your class-rooms, girls, but please take my words with you, and think about them.’
The Head’s clear voice had carried to Felicity, waiting outside. The girl remembered listening to the very same words when she had first come to Malory Towers, and she knew what Miss Grayling had been about to say next – ’You will all get a tremendous lot out of your time at Malory Towers. See that you give a lot back.’
The words had made a great impression on Felicity, and had stayed with her throughout her time at the school. She hoped that she had succeeded in giving something back to the school that had taught her so much, and would continue to do so in her last year.
The door of Miss Grayling’s study opened, and the new girls emerged. One look at their rapt faces was enough to tell Felicity that the Head had made a great impression on them too.
Alice’s eyes were shining behind her big glasses, and she said to Felicity in her rather high, nervous voice, ‘What a marvellous person Miss Grayling is! I really feel that I want to do my best, for myself and for the school.’
‘Well, I’m very pleased to hear it,’ said Felicity with a smile. ‘We’d better get along to our class-room now, for Miss Oakes will be there soon and she won’t appreciate it if we are late.’
‘Is that our form-mistress?’ asked Alice. ‘What is she like?’
‘I don’t know her very well,’ said Felicity. ‘But according to last year’s sixth formers she can be rather stern, though she is always fair. And she doesn’t have much of a sense of humour, which is a shame.’
Miss Oakes didn’t have a great sense of humour, but she was a fine teacher and, although she didn’t suffer fools gladly, took a keen interest in the welfare of her girls.
There was a low hum of chatter in the sixth-form class-room as the girls waited for their mistress, but no ragging or fooling about. As top formers, that kind of thing was quite beneath the girls’ dignity.
In the first-form class-room, however, it was a very different story, and the girls were making a terrific racket as they waited for their mistress, Miss Potts.
The head-girl of the first form was a quiet, rather colourless girl named Faith, and she had been chosen because she had already been at Malory Towers for one term.
‘Faith is not a natural leader in any way,’ Miss Potts had said to Miss Grayling, when they were discussing who should be head of the first form. ‘But it would be quite unfair to make one of the new girls head-girl over her.’
‘Very true,’ Miss Grayling had agreed. ‘Besides, we don’t yet know the characters of the new girls, and what qualities they have. So it would be quite impossible to predict which of them might make good head-girls.’
‘Quite,’ Miss Potts had said. ‘And who knows, this might be the making of Faith, and bring out some hidden depths in her.’
So Faith, rather to her alarm, suddenly found herself head-girl of a very unruly first form. But, although Faith might be head-girl, Daffy Hope was emerging as the true leader of the form. Naughty, lively and mischievous, every girl wanted to be her friend, whereas poor Faith was too quiet and shy to be very popular.
Someone who was decidedly unpopular was Violet, and the first formers had soon grown heartily tired of her conceit, her boasting and her stuck-up ways. Violet had also taken an intense dislike to Daffy. Not only was she extremely jealous of the girl’s popularity, but the horrid nickname that Daffy had given her – Your Highness – had stuck, and how she hated it!
Daffy was telling an amusing story about something that had happened in the holidays, keeping the others in fits, while Violet watched, her little snub nose in the air and an expression of disdain on her round face.
Katie spotted her, and said, ‘What’s the matter, Your Highness?’
‘I know what it is,’ said Daffy, giggling. ‘We forgot to curtsey when Violet came into the class-room.’
And, with that, the naughty girl got to her feet and curtsied dantily, while the others roared with laughter, so loudly that they didn’t hear Miss Potts approaching.
Violet, turning red, jumped to her feet and began giving Daffy a tremendous scold. Unfortunately for her, however, she had her back to the class-room door, and didn’t see the form-mistress come in. But wicked Daffy did, and at once she put on a very hurt, scared expression, saying to Violet in a soft, trembling voice, ‘Oh, how cruel and hurtful of you! I can’t think what I’ve done to make you dislike me so.’
Miss Potts, accustomed to the utmost respect from her classes, was not at all pleased. The girls hadn’t stood up when she came in, and no one had held the door open for her. Her sharp eyes took in the scene at a glance, looking from Daffy’s innocent face to Violet’s red, angry one.
‘Would someone care to explain to me what is going on here?’ she asked, her tone icy.
No one did, a scared hush falling over the first form now, and Miss Potts turned to Faith, saying, ‘Well, Faith? The other girls might be new, but you have already been in my form for a term, and know the standard of behaviour I expect. That is why you are head-girl. And, as head-girl, it is your duty to keep the others in order.’
‘Sorry, Miss Potts,’ mumbled a very red-faced Faith, getting to her feet. The others hastily stood up too, and Daffy, feeling a little sorry for Faith, came to her rescue.
‘I’m terribly sorry, Miss Potts,’ she said, at her most charming. ‘Violet and I were having a – a little disagreement, and that is why we didn’t hear you come in. It won’t happen again, I promise.’
‘I should hope not,’ said Miss Potts sternly, looking hard at Daffy. ‘You are Daphne Hope, aren’t you?’
‘Yes, Miss Potts,’ answered Daffy. ‘My older sister, Sally, was in your form many years ago.’
‘Yes, I remember Sally well,’ said the mistress, her stern features relaxing a little. Sally had been a model pupil – reliable, hard-working, honest and trustworthy – and Miss Potts hoped that her younger sister would take after her.
‘Well,’ she said at last. ‘As this is the first full day of term, we will say no more about it. But be warned, all of you, that any further incidents like this will be punished most severely. Now, please sit down.’
The girls did as they were told, but not before Daffy and Violet exchanged angry glares, while Faith looked from one to the other uneasily. Her first day as head-girl, and she was already in hot water with Miss Potts. How on earth was she going to win the respect o
f her unruly fellow first formers and keep order? Oh dear, it looked as if her first term as head-girl could also be her last!
Things were going much more smoothly for the sixth formers, though those taking Higher Certificate grimaced when they received their timetables, and realised how much extra work they would have to do.
Felicity felt quite envious when she overheard Delia whispering to Nora, ‘I say, we have quite a lot of free time each week, as we don’t have to study for Higher Cert. I think that I’m going to enjoy this term!’
Alice wasn’t studying for Higher Certificate either, and she intended to make good use of her free time by making herself as helpful as she could to the others, as well as to the mistresses. Her brains weren’t of the highest order, and she was no good at sports, yet she desperately wanted to become one of Malory Towers’ successes. And she meant to do her best to become a good and trustworthy person, the kind of girl who would make Miss Grayling proud.
So, when Miss Oakes asked for a volunteer to hand out books, Alice leapt to her feet so quickly that she almost knocked over her chair.
‘I’ll do that, Miss Oakes,’ she said eagerly.
And another opportunity to be of assistance arose later, when Miss Oakes, who had to dash off to a meeting, asked if someone would be good enough to stay behind and clean the blackboard at break-time.
Alice’s hand was in the air before anyone else had a chance to raise theirs, and she remained behind in the class-room while the others went outside to get some fresh air.
‘Dear me,’ drawled June, a touch of malice in her tone. ‘It seems that Alice is going to be a teacher’s pet.’
‘Don’t be unkind, June!’ said Felicity. ‘She’s probably just keen to make a good impression.’
‘Yes, give her a chance,’ said Susan. ‘Perhaps this is Alice’s way of trying to fit in.’
‘Well, if she wants to make a good impression, she would be far better off running errands for us girls,’ laughed Nora. ‘Now, if Alice offered to do my darning that would certainly impress me!’
The others laughed at this, but they soon discovered that Alice’s good deeds weren’t confined to the mistresses.
At lunch, Freddie dropped her fork on the floor, and before she could bend to pick it up, Alice had retrieved it, before announcing that she would go to the kitchen and fetch her a clean one.
Then, when Delia half-jokingly said that she would love a second helping of pudding, Alice offered to give hers up.
‘Oh, I couldn’t possibly take your pudding, Alice,’ said Delia, quite flustered. ‘I eat far too many sweet things, anyway, and I’m sure that it won’t hurt me to go without.’
‘Oh, please take it, Delia,’ said Alice, pushing her pudding plate towards the girl. ‘Really, I feel full up and don’t think that I can eat it.’
‘Well, if you’re quite sure,’ Delia had said, a little reluctantly.
And Alice had insisted, a beaming smile spreading over her face as Delia began to eat. And, watching her, Felicity once again had the sensation that she had met Alice before.
Pam, sitting next to Felicity, said in a low voice, ‘How very odd!’
‘What is odd, Pam?’ asked Felicity, turning to look at the girl.
‘Well,’ said Pam. ‘When Alice smiled just then, I had the strangest feeling that I knew her.’
‘That really is strange,’ said Felicity. ‘Because I had exactly the same feeling. And I felt it when we were on the train together, too. So did Susan, and June.’
‘Really?’ said Pam. ‘How very peculiar! Perhaps she has a sister ….’
‘She doesn’t have a sister who came to Malory Towers,’ Felicity interrupted. ‘She told us that she is an only child.’
‘Oh,’ said Pam, crestfallen. ‘But the funniest thing of all is that when I look at Alice now, I feel quite certain that I have never seen her before.’
‘Yes!’ said Felicity. ‘It seems to be only when she wears certain expressions that I think she seems familiar. It’s very queer indeed.’
‘Nonsense!’ scoffed June, who had overheard all of this. ‘There’s nothing strange or queer about it. Alice simply reminds us of someone, and one day it will come to one of us, when we are least expecting it. We’ll say, “Oh yes, she looks like that girl so-and-so, who used to be in South Tower.” You’ll see!’
June’s explanation was so reasonable and so matter-of-fact that Pam and Felicity felt sure that she was right, and even felt a little ashamed of themselves for allowing their imaginations to run away with them.
Alice found another opportunity to help that evening.
Susan had come to Felicity’s study, and the two girls were talking about the work they would have to do for Higher Cert.
‘I intend to knuckle down right away,’ said Susan, a determined look on her face. ‘I want to get a head start.’
‘Good idea,’ said Felicity. ‘I shall do the same, though it will seem awfully queer studying alone. I’m used to doing it in the common-room, with everyone groaning and sighing. I don’t know that I shall be able to concentrate without it!’
‘Well, I expect we shall soon get used to the peace and quiet,’ said Susan, getting up. ‘I’m off to get a couple of hours reading in now, before bed-time.’
Shortly after Susan had departed, someone tapped softly at Felicity’s door, and she called out, ‘Come in!’
The door was pushed open, and Alice peered round, a rather nervous smile on her face.
‘Can I help you, Alice?’ asked Felicity.
The girl ventured further into the room, saying rather hesitantly, ‘Actually, I was hoping that I might be able to help you. You see, Felicity, I overheard you talking to Susan earlier. Not that I was eavesdropping, but your door was open and I happened to be walking past. And I thought that perhaps I could help you with your studying.’
‘It’s very kind of you to offer, Alice,’ said Felicity, looking rather puzzled. ‘But I really don’t see how you can help.’
‘Well, when I was studying for School Cert a couple of years ago, my father used to test me on how much I had learned by asking me questions,’ explained Alice. ‘I found that it helped me tremendously.’
‘That’s not a bad idea,’ said Felicity, smiling. ‘Sit down, Alice, and grab that history book.’
Delighted that her offer of help had been accepted, Alice sat in one of the armchairs and opened the book.
Then she began to test Felicity by asking questions, feeling very impressed indeed when the girl answered most of them correctly.
‘My goodness, you’re clever!’ said Alice when they had finished. ‘I should think that you will pass with flying colours.’
‘I’m not particularly clever really,’ laughed Felicity. ‘Though it’s very nice of you to say so. It’s just that I spent a lot of time in the holidays studying. Now, June, on the other hand, is really clever – and very lucky! She has the most amazing memory, and facts just seem to stick in her head. She hardly needs to study at all.’
‘Yes,’ said Alice, with a laugh. ‘I remember – ’
Then she stopped suddenly, turning rather red, before continuing hastily, ‘I remember when I was at my last school, there was a girl like June. She could read a poem once, and then recite it perfectly. How we all envied her.’
Then Alice glanced at her watch, and, jumping to her feet, said, ‘Heavens, is that the time? I must go and finish my Maths prep before bedtime. I’ll see you later, Felicity.’
And she dashed from the study before Felicity even had time to thank her for her help. Felicity had a feeling that Alice had been about to say something else when she had started talking about the girl at her old school, and just stopped herself in time. And, now that she came to think about it, Miss Oakes hadn’t given them any Maths prep today!
How odd. And what a strange girl Alice was.
4
At the pool
The first week of term flew by, and soon the old girls felt as if they had never
been away. Of course, it took longer for the new girls to settle in, especially the first formers.
Violet continued to irritate everyone with her boastful, conceited ways. It was quite obvious, from her expensive clothes and wonderful belongings – many of which she had brought to school with her – that the girl came from a wealthy family. And, as Daffy said, she never missed an opportunity to rub people’s noses in it.
‘My parents wanted to send me to a much more exclusive school,’ Violet said in the dormitory one evening, looking at her surroundings with an air of disdain. ‘The dormitories were so much nicer than the ones here, and even the lower school had studies of their own instead of common-rooms.’
‘Well, why didn’t they?’ asked an outspoken girl called Ivy. ‘I’m sure that you would have fitted in much better at one of those snobbish places than here, at Malory Towers.’
‘Perhaps the school was a little too exclusive for Violet,’ said Daffy slyly. ‘And the Head refused to take her.’
‘Nothing of the sort,’ said Violet, with a haughty toss of the head. ‘If you must know, my grandmother insisted that I should be sent here. You see, she was a schoolgirl here, many, many years ago. And, when I was born, she made Daddy promise that he would send me here too. He tried to make her change her mind, so that I could go to a more superior school, but Grandmother wouldn’t hear of it and held him to his word.’
‘Well, at least there’s one sensible person in your family,’ said Katie. ‘And I, for one, think that Malory Towers is a jolly fine school, although I haven’t been here very long.’
The others agreed heartily, and Violet pouted crossly, turning away to pick up a silver-backed hairbrush from her bedside cabinet.
All of the first formers had personal belongings on top of their little cabinets – a photograph, a mirror, or some little trinket that they had brought from home. But Violet’s cabinet was absolutely crammed with things. There was the silver-backed hairbrush and a matching mirror, a little jewellery box and various perfumes and lotions. Then there were two photographs, both in very ornate frames. One was of her beautiful Siamese cat, Willow, and the other was of Violet and her parents.