Lucy turned red. Her father had been incredibly brave, no doubt about it. But so had Esme, and it only seemed right and fair that the third formers should know it. So, taking a deep breath, she told the others the whole story of how she and Esme had planned the whole thing, to bring their families together.
‘Well!’ said Pam, looking quite astonished.‘Who would have thought that Esme would have the pluck to throw herself into the deep end.’
‘As it turned out, she slipped and didn’t need to throw herself in,’ said Lucy.‘But she was quite ready to go through with it, so really, she was very brave as well.’
‘Very brave and very foolish!’ said Felicity, torn between admiration for Esme and horror at what could have happened.‘Heavens, she could have been seriously injured.’
‘I know,’ said Lucy, looking rather guilty.‘But thank goodness that she isn’t. Matron says that she will be as right as rain in a day or two.’
To Esme’s dismay, Matron insisted on keeping the girl in bed the following day.
‘But I feel absolutely fine,’ protested Esme.‘Really I do.’
After a dose of medicine and a good night’s sleep, Esme’s headache had completely vanished. As Matron had predicted, she had a simply enormous bruise on her forehead, and had been rather looking forward to going back to class and showing it off to the others!
But Matron was adamant, and said firmly, ‘It won’t do you any harm to have an extra day’s rest, just to be on the safe side. As long as you don’t have a relapse, you can join the others tomorrow.’
Esme had a steady stream of visitors throughout the day. Miss Grayling popped in, which made Esme feel very honoured indeed. And most of the third formers came to see her, as they thought that she had done a rather noble thing, and were secretly quite impressed.
Bonnie and Amy, armed with a large bottle of barley-sugar, visited after breakfast. Pam and Nora spent their lunch break gathering a huge bunch of the most beautiful wild flowers, which they presented to the invalid. And Felicity and Susan went along to the San after tea, taking a book for Esme to read, in case she was bored. Esme’s ordeal had taken it out of her more than she realised and, despite her protestations that she felt well enough to return to class, she was beginning to feel a little tired. Felicity, who had intended to give the girl a scold for putting herself in danger, relented when she saw the large bruise on Esme’s head, and noticed how pale she looked. Instead she said, ‘Poor old thing! You have had a bad time of it, haven’t you? Never mind, I daresay Matron will soon have you back to your old self.’
The two girls hadn’t been there long when Matron herself bustled in, saying, ‘It’s time for Esme to have her nap now, girls. Please tell the others that she is to have no more visitors today.’
‘What a tyrant you are, Matron!’ complained Susan, as they were shooed out.
‘I need to be a tyrant to keep you girls in order!’ said Matron. But there was a smile on her face, and Felicity and Susan laughed as they went off to join the others.
They were all lazing about on the grass before prep, and Pam said, ‘Isn’t it a simply glorious day? I wish that we could do our prep out here.’
‘If Miss Peters was taking us she might agree to it,’ said Freddie. ‘But it’s Mam’zelle Dupont, and you know how she hates being outdoors for too long in the hot weather.’
‘Yes, she’s simply terrified of wasps,’ laughed Felicity.‘And she can’t bear all the flies buzzing around.’
‘I bet I could get her to agree to it,’ said June, who had been looking thoughtful. She jumped to her feet suddenly and said, ‘Nora, come with me!’
‘Why?’ asked Nora, looking quite startled. She was stretched out on the grass with her hands behind her head, and looked very comfortable indeed.‘I’d just as soon stay here, if it’s all the same to you.’
‘Do you want to do your prep in a stuffy classroom, or would you rather do it out here?’ demanded June.
Nora sighed, and sat up.‘I don’t suppose I shall get any peace unless I agree to go with you. Where are we going, by the way?’
‘To find Mam’zelle, of course,’ said June, with a grin.‘Come on!’
The two girls walked off towards the school together, June talking rapidly to Nora as they went. They found Mam’zelle in the mistresses’ common-room, where she was marking the fifth form’s French essays. At least, that was what she was supposed to be doing, but it was so hot that she simply couldn’t concentrate. She had taken off her high-heeled shoes and undone the collar of her blouse, and was fanning herself with one of the fifth formers’ work.
Nora stifled a giggle as she peeped at the mistress through the open door, and June frowned at her, pulling her back along the corridor. Loudly she said, ‘Mam’zelle Dupont would never agree to such a thing, Nora! Now, if it was Mam’zelle Rougier…’
‘Nonsense!’ replied Nora, just as loudly.‘Why, Mam’zelle Dupont is far more good-hearted than Mam’zelle Rougier—and a much better teacher. She knows that we can’t possibly do our best work if we feel hot and uncomfortable.’
Mam’zelle stopped fanning herself abruptly as she heard the voices, recognising them at once. It was the bad June, and dear Nora—ah, what a good girl she was, to speak so kindly of her old Mam’zelle. The French mistress smiled to herself as she heard June say, ‘I quite agree that Mam’zelle Dupont is an excellent teacher. In fact, I would go so far as to say that she is the best in the entire school. But I still say that she would never allow us to do our prep out in the open air.’ June gave rather a scornful laugh, and added, ‘She’s far too scared of wasps and things.’
‘What rubbish you do talk, June!’ scoffed Nora.‘Mam’zelle might be scared of wasps, but she has pluck, and I know that she would brush her fear aside for the good of us girls.’
‘Very well, then,’ said June.‘If you’re so convinced, you go and find Mam’zelle, and ask her if we can take our prep outside. I bet she’s in our classroom right now, getting our work ready, for she always takes such care over our lessons.’
Nora sighed and said sorrowfully, ‘I can’t, June. You see, I wouldn’t feel right taking advantage of Mam’zelle’s good nature.’
‘She is very good-natured, isn’t she?’ agreed June.‘If only some of the other mistresses were more like her! Though I still say that she would never consider letting us do our prep out of doors.’ Then she sighed.‘Ah well, I suppose we shall just have to resign ourselves to a hot, uncomfortable hour in our stuffy old classroom.’
Then the two girls moved away, their voices fading into the distance as they walked down the corridor. Mam’zelle, meanwhile, sat completely still, feeling quite moved by all she had heard. Ah, the dear girls! They might play tricks on her sometimes, but they were fond of their old Mam’zelle. The best teacher in the school! Good-natured and good-hearted! Mam’zelle’s heart felt warm as she remembered the girls’ remarks. And Nora had said that she had the pluck. Mam’zelle knew what a great compliment that was, for English girls set great store by pluck! They were good girls, these third formers, and they deserved a treat. And she, Mam’zelle Dupont, would give them one. Ah yes, she would prove to them that everything they had said about her was true.
So, when the third formers trooped rather dispiritedly into their classroom for prep that afternoon, they were in for a surprise. Mam’zelle was already at her desk, and her little black eyes danced as she looked at the girls’ weary, slumped shoulders and dragging feet.
‘Freddie!’ she cried, making her voice very stern.‘Stand up straight, and do not slouch so!’
‘But Mam’zelle, it’s so hot!’ groaned Freddie.
‘That is not an excuse for laziness,’ snapped Mam’zelle.‘I expect you all to work hard at your prep tonight, no matter how hot you feel.’
‘Yes, Mam’zelle,’ everyone groaned.
‘Good!’ Then Mam’zelle’s face broke into a broad grin and she said, ‘Pick up your books, everyone, and follow me. For tonight, we do our pr
ep outside!’
The girls looked at one another in amazement, then a resounding cheer broke out!
‘Hurrah! What fun!’
‘Yes, we’ll work twice as hard out in the fresh air.’
‘You’re a real sport, Mam’zelle!’
As Mam’zelle beamed round, June nudged Nora and whispered, ‘See! I told you it would work.’
Only Amy and Bonnie were not pleased at being allowed to do their prep outside, for neither of them were outdoor types. Also, both were terrified of getting freckles, and Bonnie pleaded with Mam’zelle.
‘Can’t Amy and I do our work in the classroom, Mam’zelle?’ she asked in her soft voice, making her eyes as big as possible.‘We won’t play the fool, I promise you.’
‘I know that you will not, ma chère,’ said Mam’zelle, patting the girl’s cheek fondly.‘But, alas, it is the rule that you must be supervised whilst working at your prep. But do not worry, for you and Amy and I shall sit in the shade of one of the big trees, then none of us shall catch a freckle!’
So out they all went, and the third formers were true to their word, working most conscientiously. It was a pleasant late afternoon, for a cooling, gentle breeze sprang up, which was very refreshing, and Mam’zelle congratulated herself on making a good decision. Even when a caterpillar crawled on to the toe of her shoe, the French mistress was not unduly disturbed. She gave a little start when she first spotted it, but then she remembered Nora’s remark earlier—she would prove that she had the pluck! But Mam’zelle could not bring herself to remove it, instead asking Bonnie, who was sitting beside her, to do it. Bonnie didn’t care for what she called‘creepy-crawlies’ any more than Mam’zelle did, so she picked up a twig and managed to dislodge it with that, earning the French mistress’s undying gratitude. Nothing else occurred to mar the afternoon, and when the third formers gathered in the common-room after prep, they were in good spirits.
‘Wasn’t it fun having prep out of doors?’ said Susan.‘A super end to the day.’
‘It’s been a funny sort of day, with poor old Esme laid up in the San,’ said Nora.
‘It’s been a funny sort of term, if you ask me,’ said Pam. ‘What with Bill and Clarissa’s troubles, and Lucy and Esme feuding.’
‘Yes, but I believe that things are coming right,’ said Felicity, who had been looking thoughtful.‘Lucy and Esme are friends again, and things seem to have gone quiet over at Five Oaks. It looks as if all our problems are behind us, and the second half of the term will be nice and peaceful.’
But Felicity had spoken too soon. For the third formers were in for a very big shock indeed!
13
A shock for Julie
The next morning, Felicity and Susan were making their way downstairs to breakfast, a little way ahead of the others, when they saw a boyish figure striding across the hall.
‘I say, isn’t that Bill?’ said Susan.
‘I believe it is,’ said Felicity, calling out, ‘Hi, Bill!’
But Bill was either in a great hurry or she simply didn’t hear Felicity, for she carried on her way without so much as glancing up, and soon disappeared from view.
‘Was that Bill I just spotted?’ asked June, coming down the stairs behind the two girls.‘I wonder what she’s doing at Malory Towers? And at such an early hour in the morning, too.’
‘Perhaps she’s come to visit Miss Peters,’ suggested Susan.
‘Before breakfast?’ said Felicity.‘I doubt it. She seemed in an awful rush, wherever she was going.’
Miss Peters was already in the dining-room, having her breakfast, when the third formers entered, so it seemed that Bill had not come to Malory Towers to see her, after all. And someone else was already there, too—Esme! The third formers cheered when they saw her seated at their table and, in the excitement of greeting her, soon forgot about Bill.
‘How are you feeling, Esme, old girl?’
‘Good to have you back!’
‘My word, that’s a simply splendid bruise you have there!’
‘You should part your hair on the side,’ said Amy, looking at her critically.‘Then it will cover the bruise.’
‘What a good idea!’ exclaimed Esme.‘I think I shall wait until morning school has finished, though.’ Lowering her voice, she added, ‘Dear old Mam’zelle Dupont has been fussing over me like anything, thanks to my bruise. Perhaps it will work on Miss Peters too, and she will go a bit easy on me in class this morning.’
Esme did look much better today, though, thought Felicity. The colour had come back to her cheeks and, judging by the way she was tucking into her porridge, her appetite had returned too. Lucy, of course, was thrilled to have her cousin back. They might never be best friends again, but what had happened yesterday had created a bond between them. And Lucy sincerely hoped that that bond would never be broken.
Breakfast was nearly over when one of the school maids came into the dining-room and went across to Miss Peters. The maid said something to her in a low voice, and Miss Peters nodded, a slight frown on her heavy face, and got to her feet. Then she came over to the third formers and said, ‘Julie! Miss Grayling wants me to take you to her study at once.’
Julie looked most alarmed, and began wracking her brains. But she couldn’t think of a single reason why the Head would want to see her.
‘Do you know what she wants, Miss Peters?’ she asked, rather apprehensively.
Miss Peters shook her head, and said, ‘I have no idea. But we had better not keep her waiting.’
‘Heavens!’ exclaimed Nora, her blue eyes wide, and her fluffy blonde hair looking almost as if it was standing on end.‘I do hope that Julie isn’t in trouble. Has she been up to mischief, Lucy?’
Lucy, puzzled and a little worried, shook her head, while Pam said soberly, ‘I say! I do hope that it isn’t bad news from home.’
‘Oh, don’t say that, Pam!’ pleaded Felicity.‘That would be just too awful.’
But Julie had still not returned by the time the girls made their way to their first lesson. And nor had Miss Peters, who was supposed to be taking the class.
Five minutes went by, then another five, and at last June said, ‘Well, it doesn’t look as if we’re going to have our Geography lesson this morning at all!’
Normally the girls would have been delighted at this, but now they all felt rather uneasy. At the moment, each and every one of them would have given anything to see Miss Peters stride in, along with Julie.
‘I wish we knew what was happening,’ said Felicity fretfully.
‘It must be something very serious for Miss Grayling to keep her so long,’ said Susan, a grave expression on her face.
‘But why is Miss Peters there too?’ asked Lucy.‘I don’t understand.’
No one understood, and just then Nora, who sat by the window, exclaimed, ‘I say, who’s this? Why, it’s Clarissa!’
At once all the third formers dashed to the window, to see Clarissa walking up the drive. She looked awfully serious as she made her way to the big front door, and Susan said, ‘Do you suppose that Clarissa is going to see Miss Grayling, too? And is that where Bill has disappeared to?’
‘The plot thickens!’ said June.‘I’ve a good mind to sneak along to the Head’s study and put my ear to the door.’
‘June, no!’ said Felicity, firmly.‘If you were caught you would get into a fearful row, and the last thing we need is more trouble.’
June looked as if she was about to argue, but just then Bonnie squealed, ‘Look! A police car!’
Everyone gasped, for now a police car was making its way up the drive, and the girls watched, open-mouthed, as a very serious-looking policeman got out.
The third formers looked at one another in consterna-tion, and, with a rather nervous laugh, Freddie said, ‘Heavens! Has Julie robbed a bank, or something?’
The girls watched and waited, and, at last, Bill and Clarissa emerged, so deep in conversation that they didn’t even notice the third formers at the windo
w.
‘What a lot of coming and going!’ said Freddie.‘But we are still no nearer to finding out what has happened.’
The time passed very slowly, as the girls waited for news. Then, at last, a few minutes before the lesson was due to end, Miss Potts came into the room, a very worried look on her face.
‘Girls, Miss Peters will not be able to return to class before the end of the lesson,’ she said, looking at the anxious faces before her.‘You may all go to break a few minutes earlier than usual.’
But even this news could not cheer up the third formers, and Lucy asked fearfully, ‘Please, Miss Potts, do you know where Julie is? We’re all terribly worried about her.’
‘She has just gone along to the common-room,’ answered Miss Potts heavily.‘Please be very kind to her when you see her, for I am afraid that she has had some extremely bad news.’
With that, Miss Potts left the room and, at once, a perfect babble broke out.
‘Something has happened at home. I knew it!’
‘It’s Jack! Something has happened to Jack. Perhaps he’s sick.’
‘Oh yes, people always call the police when they have a sick horse on their hands!’ said June sarcastically.
‘I must go to her,’ said Felicity, getting to her feet.‘She may be in need of comfort, or someone to talk to.’
‘Felicity!’ said Lucy, suddenly.‘May I go, instead of you? I know that you are head of the form, but I am Julie’s best friend.’
Felicity thought for a moment, and then said decidedly, ‘We shall all go! Then Julie will know that she has the whole form behind her, and that—whatever has happened—we shall all do what we can to help.’
So every one of the third formers, even spoilt, selfish Amy, trooped to the common-room, where they found Julie sitting alone on a settee. She looked up as the door opened, her expression so bleak that the girls felt frightened. Her eyes were red, and it was obvious that she had been crying. But Julie never cried! At once, Felicity and Lucy rushed to sit either side of her, Felicity putting a comforting arm about her shoulders as she said gently, ‘What is it, Julie, old girl?’