'Mr. Turnbull,' said Miss Peters, 'if you've finished here, could you possibly come to Malory Towers? That horse Thunder I told you about on the telephone this morning is in a bad way. Colic. He needs help.'
'Right,' said the vet, getting up. 'I've finished here, as it happens—much earlier than I thought. I'll come along now. I'll get my horse. Well, Raglett, that cow's fine now—and she's got two of the prettiest calves I ever saw!'
Presently the vet and Miss Peters were riding back over the road to Malory Towers. When they were half-way here Miss Peters' horse suddenly shied and reared.
'Hey there! Whoa! What's the matter?' cried Miss Peters and at the same moment she saw something lying beside the
road. It was a dark shape, hardly visible in the darkness of the night.
'Mr, Turnbull. Come here!' yelled Miss Peters. 'I think there's somebody here. I hope they haven't been knocked down by a car and left helpless!'
The vet had a powerful torch. He switched it on. The beam played over a huddled up bundle—a bundle with a mackintosh on!
'Good heavens! It's a young girl!' said the vet. 'Is she hurt?'
He picked the girl up. Miss Peters gave a loud and horrified exclamation. 'It's MAVIS! Good gracious me! Mavis! Whatever is she doing lying out here in the dark at this time of night? This is terrible!'
'She's fainted from exhaustion I think,' said the vet. 'Doesn't seem to have any bones broken. Look, she's opening her eyes.'
Mavis looked up and saw Miss Peters. She began to cry weakly. 'They wouldn't let me sing. And I missed the last bus, and I've been walking all night in the rain.'
'What is she talking about?' said the vet. 'Look, she's wet through! She'll get pneumonia unless we're pretty quick. I'll take her on my horse. Help me to lift her up.'
Amazed, horrified and distressed, Miss Peters helped to lift Mavis on to the vet's horse. He held the girl steady in front of him. Then off they went again, this time more slowly.
They came to Malory Towers. 'If Mavis can walk I'll take her straight in to Matron,' said Miss Peters. 'Oh dear, what a night! You go to the stables, Mr. Turnbull. Darrell and Bill are walking Thunder in the yard.'
The vet disappeared in the direction of the stables. Miss Peters guided the exhausted Mavis into North Tower. She could hardly walk. Miss Peters half-dragged her up the stairs to Matron's room.
Matron awoke and opened her door in surprise. She exclaimed in horror when she saw Mavis. 'What's all this'.'
110 THIRD YEARATMALORYTOWERS
Where has she been? She's soaked through and shivering. Miss Peters, there's an electric blanket in that cupboard. Put it into the little bed over there, will you, and get the bed hot. And put my electric kettle on. Good gracious! What can have happened?"
'Goodness knows,' said Miss Peters, doing all the things she had been asked to do, whilst Matron quickly undressed Mavis, flinging her soaking clothes on the floor in her hurry to get her into a warm bed. It wasn't long before she was tucked up with two hot-water bottles, whilst Matron prepared some hot cocoa.
Mavis tried to tell her what had happened. She spoke in a poor croaking voice. 'I only went to Billington—to that talent spotting concert—but they said they couldn't let schoolgirls enter. I tried and tried to make them let me sing, but they wouldn't. And then I missed the last bus so I began to walk all the way home. But it rained and blew and I was so tired I fell down. And I couldn't get up again. So...'
'Now, don't talk any more,' said Matron gently. 'You drink this cocoa and go to sleep. I'll be here in this other bed so you'll be all right.'
Miss Peters had slipped out of the room, murmuring something about seeing to a horse, much to Matron's surprise. She couldn't make out why Miss Peters was in riding things nor how it was that she had found Mavis on the road. Well, the main thing was to see to Mavis. She could find out the rest of the mystery afterwards.
Miss Peters went down to the others. Bill and Darrell had welcomed the vet with joy and relief. Thunder knew him and whinnied. It wasn't long before the vet had made him drink a huge draught of medicine. 'You've done well to keep him on his feet,' he told the two tired girls. 'Probably saved his life. Now—off you go to bed. I'll stay with him till morning. Miss Peters will help me. Off you go!'
18 NEXT MORNING
BILL hadn't wanted to leave Thunder, of course. But Miss Peters spoke to her firmly and gently. 'Now, Bill—you must leave matters to us. You know that we shall do our best for the horse, and now that he has had that draught he will be all right. We'll walk him as long as necessary. But you and Darrell have done your share and you are tired out. Be sensible, Bill, and do as you are told.'
'Yes, I will,' said Bill, unexpectedly. She took Miss Peters' hand in hers and held it tightly. 'Miss Peters—I can never repay you. Never. But I'll never forget tonight and all you did.'
Miss Peters patted Bill on the back. 'That's all right. I'm not asking for any repayment! I'm fond of Thunder, too, and I knew how you felt. I'm not sending him home, Bill. You shall keep him. I don't somehow think I shall ever have to punish you again by saying you mustn't see him.'
'You won't,' said Bill, her white face gleaming in the lamplight. 'I'll be your—your very best pupil from now on, Miss Peters!'
'Well—that will be a wonderful repayment,' said Miss Peters, smiling. 'Now do go, both of you. You look so pale and tired. You must both have breakfast in bed!'
'Oh no!' protested both girls. 'We couldn't bear it.'
"All right. 1 can't bear it either,' said Miss Peters. 'You can go to bed early instead! Now, good night—or rather, good morning! It's nearly three o' clock!'
The two girls stumbled into North Tower, yawning. They hardly said a word to one another, they were so tired. But they were happy, and felt as if they had been friends for years! Bill slid into bed. She whispered to Darrell.
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NEXT MORNING
113
'Darrein I know you're Sally's friend, so you can't be mine. But I'm yours for ever and ever. Just you remember that! I'll pay you back some day for all you did tonight.'
'That's all right,' said Darrell, sleepily and was asleep almost at once.
In the morning, what a to-do! Darrell and Bill slept so soundly that not even the bell awoke them. When Jean pulled at them they shrugged away and cuddled down again, hardly waking.
'Darrell! Bill! I say, what's the matter with them both! Wake up, you two, the bell's gone ages ago. Do wake up— we want to tell you something. Mavis isn't back! Her bed is empty!'
The rest of the girls were talking excitedly about Mavis's non-appearance. Jean was very worried. She felt that she ought to have reported the night before that Mavis had not come to bed with the rest of them. She was feeling very guilty.
'I must go to Miss Potts at once,' she said and she rushed off. But Miss Potts knew all about Mavis, for Matron had already reported to her. Miss Grayling knew, too. There had been a great upset about it. Mavis was now in the san, where sick girls were kept, and Sister, who looked after the san., was in charge of her. The doctor had been to see her already.
Jean listened to all this in amazement. 'Did Mavis—did she go to Billington?' she asked.
'Oh! So you know about that too,' said Miss Potts, grimly. 'Funny sort of head-girl you are, Jean, not to have reported that Mavis was not in the dormitory last night. Very remiss of you. There are times when you have to make a distinction between telling tales and reporting. You know that. We might have saved Mavis from a serious illness if we had learnt from you that she hadn't gone to bed.'
Jean went white. 'I fell asleep,' she said miserably, 'I was going to wait till the last bus came in—and if Mavis
didn't come in then I was going to come and report. But I fell asleep.'„
'A lame excuse,' said Miss Potts, who was angry with herself for not having popped her head into the third form dormy the night before, when she had heard talking. If only she had!
; 'Can we see Mavis?' asked Jean.
'Certainly not,' said Miss Potts. 'She is seriously ill. She got soaked through, and then lay for some time by the roadside. She has bronchitis now—and we are hoping it won't turn to anything worse. Her throat is terribly bad, too—she can hardly whisper.'
Jean went back to the third form dormy feeling guilty and alarmed. She found the third-formers gathered round Darrell listening excitedly to her tale of the night before. Bill was not there. She had rushed off to the stables at once, of course.
'Listen...' said Jean. But nobody listened. They were all agape at Darrell's amazing tale. Jean found herself listening, too.
'But—would you believe Miss Peters could be so utterly decent?' said Belinda, in surprise. 'She was super! How lucky that you fetched her, Darrell!'
'It was a night!' said Darrell. 'Bill and I must have walked miles and miles with Thunder round the yard. I wonder how he is this morning.'
Footsteps raced up the corridor to the dormy. Bill burst in, her face glowing. 'Darrell! DARRELL! He's all right. Right as rain, and eating his oats as if he couldn't have enough. The vet stayed with him till half-past seven, and Miss Peters stayed till now. She never went to bed again!'
'Golly! She's wonderful,' said Alica, seeing Miss Peters in an entirely new light. 'Bill, why didn't you and Darrell wake us up, too!'
'We never thought of anything like that,' said Bill. 'We only thought of Thunder. Darrell was marvellous, too. Oh, I
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NEVI MORMM,
115
feel so happy. Thunder's all right. He's not going to be sent home. Everything's fine. And I shall never, never forget what Miss Peters did last night.'
'You will!' said Alicia. 'You'll sit and look out of the window and dream in class, just as you always do!'
i shan't,' said Bill, earnestly. 'Don't tease me, Alicia. 1 feel a bit queer though I feel so happy. Now I know that Miss Peters is so fond of Thunder—and he loves her, too, fancy that!—I shall feel quite different about everything. I might even let her ride him.'
Jean at last got a word in. 'Listen to me now!' she said, and she told the third-formers about Mavis. They listened in horrified silence. Darrell burst out at once.
'Gracious! So Miss Peters didn't only save Thunder last night—she saved Mavis, too. But 1 say—fancy Mavis trying to walk home all those miles in the dark by herself. She's afraid of the dark, too,'
The girls were happy about Bill and Thunder, but upset about Mavis. They stood about in the dormy, talking, forgetting all about breakfast. Somebody came running up the corridor. It was Lucy of the fourth form.
'I say What are you all thinking of? Aren't you coming to breakfast? The bell's gone long ago. Mam'zelle is absolutely furious!'
'Oh dear! Come on, everyone,' said Jean. T feel all in a whirl.'
The news about Thunder and about Mavis spread all through the school, and was the talk in every class from the bottom form to the top. Darrell and Bill had to tell the tale over and over again.
It was Sunday so there were no classes. In the school chapel, where the service was held, a prayer was said for Mavis. All the girls joined in it, for although few of them liked Mavis they were all sorry for her. The news went round that she was worse. Her parents had been sent for! Oh dear,
thought Jean, it was all her fault!
By the next morning, however, Mavis had taken a turn for the better. Thunder, too, was perfectly all right. Bill was thrilled. It seemed impossible that a horse in such pain as Thunder had been should be quite recovered the day after. How wonderful people like doctors and vets were!
The girls settled down to their classes on Monday, glad that Mavis was better. Jean especially was thankful. Perhaps she would soon be back in school. The whole matter would have blown over. Mavis would be given a talking to by Miss Grayling, but no punishment because she had punished herself enough. Everything would be all right.
Miss Peters had had a good rest on the Sunday, and was taking the third form as usual on Monday. When she came into the classroom, she had a surprise.
'Hurrah for Miss Peters!' cried Darrell's voice, and to the amazement of the forms on each side of the third form room, three hearty cheers rang out for Miss Peters. She couldn't help being pleased. She smiled pleasantly all round.
'Thank you,' she said. 'That was nice of you. Now— open your books at page forty-one. Alicia, come up to the blackboard, please.'
Darrell looked with interest at Bill several times that morning. Bill didn't gaze out of the window once. She paid great attention to every word that Miss Peters said. She answered intelligently, and when it was her turn to come up to the blackbord, she did extremely well.
'Very good, Bill,' said Miss Peters, and a gasp went round the class. Miss Peters hadn't called her Wilhelmina as she always did. She had called her Bill. Bill grinned as she went back to her place. She looked a different person.
Darrell admired her as she watched her in class after class. Bill had made up her mind to do a thing and she meant to do it She would do it, too! Darrell thought that it was quite possible for Bill to rise near the top of the class once she had
116 THIRD YEAR AT MALORY TOWERS
made up her mind to do it.
'I suppose that's what Daddy would call strength of character,' thought Darrell. 'He's always saying that strength of character is one of the greatest things anyone can have because then they have courage and piuck and determination, no matter what difficulties come. Bill's got it. I bet she won't dream, or gaze out of the window again, or not bother with her work. She's going to repay Miss Peters for Saturday night!'
Miss Peters knew that Bill meant to repay her for that, too. She trusted Bill now. They understood one another, which really wasn't very surprising, because they were very much alike. Miss Peters was mannish, and Bill was boyish. They both loved life out-of-doors and adored horses. They had disliked one another very much indeed—but now they were going to be firm friends. That would be nice for Bill.
'Darrell! Are you day-dreaming?' said Miss Peters' voice. 'You don't seem to have written down anything at all!'
Darrell jumped and went red. Gracious! Here she was admiring Bill for being able to stop dreaming in class—and she, Darrell, had fallen into the same fault herself! She pulled herself together and began to write.
That afternoon Miss Hibbert was going to take the first rehearsal of the play in the art-room. This was often used for dramatic work because it had a small platform. Zerelda was very much looking forward to the afternoon. She sat in her place, murmuring some lines from 'Romeo and Juliet' below her breath. Miss Peters saw her lips moving and thought she was whispering to Gwen.
'Zerelda!' she said, sharply. 'What are you saying to Gwendoline?'
'Nothing, Miss Peters,' said Zerelda, surprised.
'Well, what were you saying to yourself then?' demanded Miss Peters. 'Stand up when you answer me, Zerelda.'
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M:IIORMM;
Zerelda stood up. She looked at Miss Peters and recited dramatically what she had been murmuring to herself.
'Wilt thou be gone? It is not yet near day; It was the nightingale and not ..."
A volley of laughter from everyone in the class drowned her voice. Miss Peters rapped sharply on her desk. 'Zerelda! i hope you don't really mean to be rude. That's enough! We are doing geography, not Shakespeare. Sit down and get on!'
ATTHE REHEARSAL
119
19 AT THE REHEARSAL
AFTER the dinner hour that day the third-formers brought up the subject of Alicia's trick again.
"You know, Alicia—I don't somehow feel as if I want it played on Miss Peters now,' said Bill.
'Nor do I,' said Darrell.
'I don't want it played at all,' said Sally, stoutly.
'Well, you're the only one that doesn't,' said Alicia. 'So keep quiet. What does everyone else say?'
7 don't quite like to play it
on Miss Peters now,' said Belinda. T feel like Bill and Darrell. You know—it seems a bit odd to give three cheers for somebody and then the very next day play a trick on them like that.'
7 shouldn't mind,' said Zerelda, who hadn't liked being ticked off in class that morning by Miss Peters. 'What's in a trick, anyway! Only a bit of fun. 1 guess it wouldn't matter at all.'
T agree with Zerelda,' said Gwen's voice. 'Why shouldn't we? Don't you agree, Daphne?'
'1 don't know,' said Daphne, who had been rather struck with Miss Peters' dramatic ride through the night. 'No—I think on the whole I'd rather play it on Mam'zelle—or Miss Carton, perhaps.'
'Well, I don't much care who we play it on,' said Alicia. 'Darrell and I will agree to what the majority say.'
'Darrell and you!' exclaimed Sally. 'What's Darrell got to do with it? It's your trick, not hers!'
'Oh, we've just been planning it out together that's all,' said Alicia, coolly, pleased to see Sally's jealousy flare up in public. Darrell went red. It was true she had enjoyed talking over the trick with Alicia—but she knew quite well that Alicia
was only saying that to make Sally cross. Bother them both. Why couldn't they all be friends together? Never mind— Betty was coming back soon. Then perhaps Alicia would stop teasing Sally and Sally would stop being jealous and spiteful.
'Well—let's play the trick on Mam'zelle then,' said Irene.
"Mam'zelle's lovely to play tricks on. We haven't played one
on her for terms and terms.' |
'Right. Mam'zelle it shall be," said Alicia. 'Do you agree,
Darrell? We'll talk about the best time and so on together !
when we've got a minute to ourselves. It's time to go over to )I
the art-room now.' j!