‘Your friend, Miss Nicholson, will be missing your company while you are with us at the reunion,’ remarked Sally.
‘Yes, though she quite understood that I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to join in the reunion,’ said Gwen.
‘You must introduce us to her,’ said Darrell, thinking that she might be able to get some information from Miss Nicholson. ‘Perhaps she would like to join us in the common-room tonight? I am sure it will be much more pleasant for her than sitting alone in her study.’
‘Oh, thank you,’ said Gwen, flushing with pleasure. ‘I will ask her, for I’m sure that she will enjoy the company.’
‘Here, look what’s coming up the drive!’ cried Daphne suddenly. ‘My word, did you ever see a car that size before?’
The sixth formers turned their heads, and saw a very long, very expensive-looking car making its way up the drive.
‘Goodness!’ said Mary-Lou, her eyes almost starting from her head. ‘Who on earth can this be?’
A group of sixth formers were standing nearby and they, too, wondered who the occupant could be.
At last, the car drew to a halt, and a uniformed chauffeur got out, opening one of the back doors.
The young woman who emerged drew gasps of admiration from the watching girls, for she was slim, elegant and very expensively dressed. Her red hair was piled up on top of her head, while diamonds glittered in her ears and at her throat.
‘I know who that is!’ cried Amy. ‘It’s Mavis Allyson, the opera singer. My parents took me to hear her sing in Rome during the holidays and she was simply stunning. Oh, I wonder if she would give me her autograph?’
Of course, Amy wasn’t the only one to have recognised Mavis, and scores of eyes followed her progress as she daintily approached the old girls. Several younger girls would have liked to ask for an autograph, but Mavis looked so haughty and unapproachable that no one dared!
‘Just as I thought,’ whispered Alicia to the others. ‘Fame has gone to Mavis’s head.’
‘Oh, what a shame!’ replied Darrell in dismay. ‘When she left Malory Towers she had really settled down and become one of us.’
‘Well, she needn’t think that she’s going to queen it over us!’ said Irene indignantly. ‘Mavis isn’t going to spoil our reunion.’
Mavis was almost upon them now, and she looked so grand that, instinctively, Mary-Lou made to get up. But Daphne pulled her back down again, saying, ‘She’s not royalty, Mary-Lou – even though she might think she is.’
‘How lovely to see you all,’ said Mavis, in a bored, rather affected voice. ‘Of course, I am dreadfully busy these days, but I managed to make time to fit the reunion in.’
‘We’re honoured,’ said Alicia bitingly.
‘I should jolly well think you are!’ said Mavis. ‘Don’t you know that I’m an opera singer now?’
Then her face split into a broad grin, and – to the astonishment of the others – she threw her head back, roaring with laughter.
‘Oh, your faces!’ she cried when she had stopped laughing. ‘I knew that you would be wondering if I had gone back to my old, unpleasant ways, so I thought I’d play a little trick on you!’
‘You wretch, Mavis!’ cried Darrell, also laughing.
‘Yes, I must admit, one or two of us did wonder if fame would have changed you,’ said Alicia, having the grace to blush a little. ‘Do sit down – or don’t you want to get that expensive-looking dress of yours dirty?’
‘As if I care for that!’ said Mavis, flopping down on to the grass beside Alicia. ‘I say, isn’t it marvellous to be together again?’
‘Do you always travel by chauffeur-driven car, Mavis?’ asked Daphne curiously.
‘Of course not!’ laughed Mavis. ‘I persuaded the director of my opera company to lend me his car and chauffeur for the day, just so that I could make a grand entrance.’
‘Well, you certainly had us fooled,’ laughed Belinda.
‘It’s ten minutes to six,’ said Sally, looking at her watch. ‘You know that Miss Grayling asked us all to go to her study at six.’
‘So she did,’ said Darrell. ‘Oh, won’t it be wonderful to see her again?’
‘I feel rather nervous about it,’ said Mary-Lou with a little laugh.
‘Nonsense, why should you?’ said Alicia, giving her a little push. ‘Just remember that you are a nursing sister now, Mary-Lou, not a schoolgirl. I’m sure that when you are at work you must be reliable, responsible and confident, or they wouldn’t let you loose on the wards!’
‘I am,’ said Mary-Lou. ‘It’s funny, though, now that I am back at Malory Towers I feel like a timid little schoolgirl again!’
As it turned out, Mary-Lou wasn’t the only one who felt as if she had gone back in time when faced with Miss Grayling.
There were some people, thought Darrell, as the old girls sat in the Head’s study, who naturally commanded respect. And, unquestionably, Miss Grayling was one of them.
But the Head very soon put the girls at their ease, asking each of them in turn what paths their lives had followed. Irene, of course, had pursued a career in music, while Belinda was making a name as an artist. Daphne was working as a secretary in her father’s office. Sally had just started teaching at an infants school and was loving every minute of it. As for the clever, quick-witted Alicia, she had found a career where she could put her brains to good use, and had surprised everyone by joining the police force!
‘Well!’ Darrell had exclaimed on hearing this piece of news. ‘That’s certainly something you can get your teeth into. It would take a jolly cunning criminal to outwit you, Alicia.’
‘Gwen, I need not ask what you are doing, of course,’ said the Head, with a smile. ‘Or you, Bill and Clarissa. I am glad that you have managed to leave the stables for a few days to come and join us.’
‘Two of my brothers are looking after things while we are here,’ said Bill. ‘We wouldn’t have missed this reunion for the world.’
‘Well, at least you can relax and enjoy yourselves, knowing that your horses are in good hands,’ said Miss Grayling. Then she turned to Mavis, saying, with a smile, ‘I imagine that everyone in the country must know your name by now. And Darrell, Felicity tells me that you are a reporter on a newspaper.’
‘Yes, Miss Grayling,’ said Darrell with a smile. ‘I enjoy it tremendously, for I’ve always loved writing. In fact … ’
She paused, for she had received a piece of very good news the day before. But perhaps mentioning it here, in front of the others, would seem like boasting.
Sally, who already knew what the news was, spoke up, saying, ‘Go on, Darrell. Tell everyone!’
The girls and Miss Grayling were all looking very curious now, and, clearing her throat, Darrell said, ‘I have been writing a children’s book in my spare time, and a little while ago I sent it off to a publisher. It was just a spur of the moment decision, and I never dreamed that anyone would be interested in it, but – well, they have decided to publish it.’
‘My dear, that is marvellous news!’ exclaimed Miss Grayling.
And the girls agreed, all gathering round Darrell to clap her on the back and offer their congratulations.
‘Good for you, Darrell!’
‘Just think, when you are a famous author we will be able to say that we were at school with you!’
‘If anyone deserves success it’s you, Darrell!’
‘What is your book about?’ asked Gwen.
Darrell laughed, a little self-consciously, and said, ‘Well, actually it’s about a girls’ boarding school – not unlike Malory Towers.’
Everyone was simply thrilled to hear this, and Miss Grayling said with a smile, ‘You will certainly have been able to draw on your personal experience for that, Darrell.’
The conversation continued for several more minutes, then the Head said, ‘It is very good to have you all back here as responsible adults, even if it is only for a few days. I hope that you will have a pleasant reunion, and
that it brings back many happy memories for you.’
‘Well, we are very grateful to you for having us,’ said Darrell.
The old girls made their way back to the common-room in a dignified manner, then, as soon as the door had closed behind them, Irene jumped in the air and cried, ‘Hurrah, we’re back at Malory Towers!’
Alicia grinned and shook her head. ‘Honestly, Irene, I don’t think that you will ever grow up and be a responsible adult!’
18
A shock for Gwen
Lizzie and Edith were delivered back to Malory Towers at six o’clock precisely, as their uncle had promised. Before the girls got out of the car, Uncle Charles took his wallet from his pocket and removed two notes, handing one to each girl.
Both of them gasped, and Lizzie said, ‘Uncle Charles! We can’t possibly accept this. Why, it’s almost the end of term and we will never manage to spend this amount.’
‘Well, if you have any left over you can spend it in the holidays,’ said Uncle Charles firmly. ‘I must have a word with your mother and see about making you both a proper allowance next term. And Edith, it looks as if you need a new uniform as well. Make sure that your mother gets you one, and tell her to send the bill to me.’
‘Oh, but you’ve already been so generous!’ said Edith. ‘I couldn’t let you – ’
‘Now, that’s quite enough!’ interrupted her uncle with mock sternness. ‘My word, I’ve never known such argumentative girls, and very disrespectful it is too! All that you have to do, my dears, is say, “Thank you, Uncle Charles,” and that is an end to the matter.’
The two sisters exchanged glances and smiled, then, obediently, they chorused, ‘Thank you, Uncle Charles!’
The two of them were chattering nineteen to the dozen as they entered the big hall, and Lizzie, spotting Alice, hailed her.
‘Hallo!’ said Alice. ‘You two look as if you have had a wonderful time.’
‘Oh, we have,’ said Lizzie, her eyes sparkling as she put her arm through Alice’s. ‘Do come to my study and I will tell you all about it. Edith, off you go and have fun with your friends. I will see you tomorrow.’
Alice stared at Lizzie in astonishment. Why, she had never seen the girl look so relaxed and happy before! There was a kind of glow about her that made her look really pretty. And were Alice’s ears deceiving her, or had Lizzie actually told her young sister to go off and have fun?
‘Come along, then,’ she said to Lizzie. ‘I am simply dying to hear what you have been up to!’
In the third-form common-room, the old girls had been joined by Miss Nicholson, who had been delighted when Gwen told her that her friends wanted to meet her. She was about the same age as the others, and they soon warmed to her friendly, open personality.
‘Gwen, I hope that we are going to see this marvellous class-room of yours,’ said Darrell. ‘Felicity tells me that it’s quite magnificent.’
‘Well, I don’t know that I would go that far,’ said Gwen. ‘But it’s certainly a little different from the other class-rooms in the school.’
‘Will you be returning next term?’ asked Sally curiously.
‘I don’t know yet,’ answered Gwen. ‘This term was a sort of experiment, to see how I fitted in and how the classes went. I shall have to wait and see what Miss Grayling thinks.’
She spoke airily, but, inside, she was very worried indeed that the Head might not want her to come back next term. The classes had gone well, on the whole – better than Gwen had expected, in fact. But she seemed to have been at the centre of rather a lot of trouble, even though none of it was her fault. Perhaps Miss Grayling might think that she was more trouble than she was worth!
‘Well, I think you’ve done marvellously,’ declared Miss Nicholson. ‘Especially when one considers all the setbacks … ’
But Gwen flashed her friend a warning glance. The others were doing so well in their chosen careers, and she still had enough pride not to want them to know of her problems.
Hastily, she said, ‘I shall show you all the class-room tomorrow morning. I do hope that you will like it.’
Just then, there was a tap at the door, and Daisy entered.
‘Excuse me, young ladies,’ she said. ‘The housekeeper wanted me to tell you that there are extra blankets in the big cupboard just outside your dormitory, just in case any of you should get chilly during the night.’
‘Thank you, Daisy,’ said Clarissa. ‘It’s quite warm though, so I am sure we will be fine.’
‘Will you be sleeping in the dormitory too, Miss Lacey?’ asked the maid. ‘Or are you going back to your own room?’
‘Oh, I shall be sleeping in the dorm, all right,’ said Gwen. ‘I should feel quite left out if I had to go to my own room.’
‘What a pity we don’t have an extra bed,’ said Belinda to Miss Nicholson. ‘Or you could have joined us too.’
Alicia was just about to ask Miss Nicholson how she liked it at Malory Towers, when she became aware that Daisy was still hovering, and said, ‘Thanks, Daisy. You can go now.’
‘Well, if you’re sure there is nothing that you need,’ said Daisy, seeming rather reluctant to leave. But, as Alicia had told her to go, she really had no choice.
‘You were rather sharp with old Daisy, weren’t you?’ said Bill, once the door had shut.
Alicia shrugged, and said, ‘I never liked her, even when we were pupils here. She’s a great deal too nosy for my liking.’
‘Oh, she’s not a bad sort,’ said Gwen.
Alicia laughed. ‘You’ve certainly changed your opinion of her! I remember how spiteful you were to her when she first started here as a maid.’
‘Me?’ said Gwen, quite astonished. ‘Oh, Alicia, I wasn’t!’
‘You were, Gwen,’ said Mary-Lou. ‘I remember it well. You were always getting poor Daisy to run errands for you, and you would give her the most tremendous scolds if she made the slightest mistake.’
‘Yes, you made the poor girl’s life a misery, until Darrell stepped in and ticked you off,’ said Belinda.
‘Oh!’ cried Gwen, pressing her hands to her hot cheeks as the memories flooded back. ‘I had quite forgotten that! What a mean little beast I was!’
‘Well, it seems that Daisy has forgotten it too,’ said Miss Nicholson. ‘Thank heavens she doesn’t bear you any grudge.’
Just then Mavis put her hand over her mouth to stifle a yawn. ‘Gosh, I’m tired after that long drive,’ she said. ‘If no one minds, I think I might turn in soon.’
She removed her diamond necklace and earrings as she spoke, dropping them into her handbag, and Daphne said, ‘Mavis, you really ought to give your jewellery to Matron, to put in her safe. It looks awfully expensive.’
‘It does, doesn’t it?’ laughed Mavis. ‘But they are not real diamonds, you know. This is just cheap costume jewellery that I bought so that I could look the part of the great opera singer when I turned up here!’
The others laughed too, then Mavis, along with Daphne and Mary-Lou, who had also had long journeys, went off to the dormitory.
Presently, Miss Nicholson left too, and Darrell stared after her thoughtfully. She had seen the warning look Gwen had given her friend when she had mentioned something about setbacks. Perhaps, she thought, it might be helpful to talk to Miss Nicholson alone, and see what she could get out of her.
As things turned out, though, Darrell didn’t need to speak to Miss Nicholson!
‘Anyone fancy a swim after breakfast?’ asked Lizzie over breakfast on Sunday morning.
The sixth formers looked up from their meal in surprise. It wasn’t like Lizzie to suggest anything like that!
‘Um – yes, I wouldn’t mind,’ said Felicity, feeling that the girl ought to be encouraged. ‘What about you, Susan?’
‘Yes, why not?’ said her friend. ‘It’s far too nice a day to stay indoors.’
One or two others said that they would also enjoy a swim, while Alice, who wasn’t fond of the water, said that she woul
d come along and watch.
‘Whatever has got into Lizzie?’ Felicity asked Alice as the sixth formers walked down to the pool a little later. ‘I’ve never known her be so friendly and jolly. Is this your doing?’
‘I’d like to take the credit,’ said Alice with a smile. ‘But you must thank her uncle.’
And, quickly, Alice told Felicity the tale that Lizzie had related to her last night.
‘Well!’ exclaimed Felicity, at the end. ‘So Lizzie got the wrong end of the stick. Or rather, her mother did. Thank goodness Lizzie has decided to slacken off a bit and enjoy the rest of the term.’
‘Yes, and it will make life easier for young Edith, too,’ said Alice. ‘I think both of them are going to find their next term a lot more enjoyable.’
‘Oh, don’t talk about next term!’ wailed Felicity. ‘For we shan’t be here, and sometimes it makes me feel so sad!’
‘Then you must make the most of the little time you have left,’ said Alice sensibly.
‘Yes, that’s exactly what Darrell said to me,’ said Felicity. ‘She was quite right, and so are you. Last one in the pool is a rotten egg!’
The sixth formers had a marvellous time, and no one enjoyed herself more than Lizzie.
‘Why, you’re almost as good a swimmer as your young sister!’ exclaimed June, after narrowly beating the girl in a race. ‘Fancy keeping that to yourself! If only I had known, you could have had a place in the gala too!’
‘That’s why I didn’t let you know,’ said Lizzie with a self-conscious little laugh. ‘I was afraid that you might expect me to practise swimming when I wanted to study.’ Lizzie paused for a moment, then went on, ‘Look, June, I’ve been an idiot this term, trying to persuade you to drop Edith from the gala. I’m just glad now that you didn’t take any notice of me. And I’m sorry.’
June had never cared much for Lizzie, but she admired her now for being able to own up to a fault. She clapped the girl on the back, saying, ‘There’s no need to apologise, for I see that you were doing what you thought was right. I’m just glad you have come to realise there is more to school than books. How about a race back to the other end of the pool?’