152
THIRD YEAR AT MALORY TOWERS
A LOVELY END TO THE TERM!
153
she told them all this? Thank goodness she was seeing them tomorrow, and they would know. She could hardly wait to tell them!
All the third-formers shared in Darrell's delight. They cheered her when she came into the common-room, and she stood there blushing and embarrassed.
'Good old Darrell! So modest she didn't even think of looking in the team-list for her own name—and so marvellous that she shoots the winning goal!' cried Irene, and thumped Darrell on the back so hard that she coughed.
The last day come. All the packing was done, except for a few things that the car-girls were bundling into their cars at the last minute. Good-byes were said. Addresses were exchanged and immediately lost. Matron tried to find Belinda who had completely disappeared. Miss Potts tried to find Irene, who also seemed to have disappeared. There was a tremendous noise and confusion, in the middle of which seven boys appeared on seven horses in the drive among the cars!
'Bill! Good heavens! Here are all your brothers again!' yelled Darrell. But Bill was getting Thunder from the stables and was not there. She appeared a moment later on her horse, and yelled with delight to see all her brothers and their horses in the drive.
'You've come to fetch me! Look at Thunder! Isn't he in good condition? Get up, Thunder! Oh, he's so pleased to see you all.'
The train-girls went, and there was a little peace. Irene wandered round lamenting that someone had taken her suit case. Gwen went round scowling because nobody had yet come to fetch her, and she didn't want to be the last. Belinda stalked her with an open sketch-book and pencil.
'Gwen! It's my last chance! Let me sketch that scowl!'
Darrell laughed. How like Belinda to do that when her mother and father were waiting patiently in the car for her outside!
Zerelda popped up to say good-bye. How different she looked now from when she came. She wore her school hat for one thing—a thing she had said she would never do! 'Good-bye,' she said. 'See you again next term. It's been wunnerful here. I'm glad I came—and gee, I'm glad I'm coming back!'
'Good-bye!' croaked Mavis, waving to everyone as she climbed into her car. 'See you next term.'
Bill galloped off with her brothers, calling a mad good¬bye. Mam'zelle Dupont watched her go in amazement. 'In France such a thing could not happen!' she declared. 'That Bill! I think at home she must let her horse sleep with her in a corner of her bedroom!'
Darrell giggled. Belinda came by with a wooden box of bath salts she had suddenly remembered leaving in the bathroom. She collided with Mam'zelle and the box fell to the floor.
A green powder covered the hall, and a green cloud rose up into the air, with a very strong smell.
'Now, Belinda, I...' began Mam'zelle, and then paused with her mouth wide open. She felt frantically about her plump person for her handkerchief. Just as Miss Potts came up with Miss Peters, Mam'zelle sneezed. It was one of her best efforts.
' A-WHOOOOOSH-OOOOOOO!'
'Good gracious!' said Miss Potts, startled. T never knew anyone sn...'
'A-Whooooooo—' began Mam'zelle again and Miss Potts ran for shelter.
Darrell and Sally giggled helplessly. They remembered the afternoon of the Trick. Darrell suddenly picked up somebody's umbrella and opened it.
'Now sneeze, Mam'zelle!' she cried, holding the umbrella over Miss Potts and Miss Peters. 'I'll protect everyone!'
Darrell's mother, coming up the steps in search of her,
154 THIRD YEAR AT MALORY TOWERS
was amazed to see this sight. Darrell flung away the umbrella joyfully and sprang at her mother. 'Oh here you are. I thought you were never coming! Sally, are you ready? Good-bye Mam'zelle, good-bye, Potty, good-bye Miss P., good-bye Matron. See you all next term! This has been a SUPER term!'
'Good-bye!' said Matron. 'Be good.'
'Good-bye!' said Miss Potts and Miss Peters together. ' Remember your hoi iday reading!'
'A-Whoooosh-ooooo!' said Mam'zelle, and ran forward to wave. Gwen just saved her from falling over the open umbrella.
The car drove off. Darrell waved frantically till they were out of the front gates. Then she leaned back contentedly and began.
'Mother! Daddy! What DO you think? I played in the third match-team yesterday against Barchester School—and I scored the winning goal. Mother, I—'
Sally listened contentedly. Good old Darrell! She had had a lovely term and enjoyed it. She was sorry it was over. But there would be the summer term—and the autumn term— and the winter term—oh, terms and terms and terms!
'Here's the last glimpse of Malory Towers, Darrell,' said Sally, suddenly. Darrell opened the window and leaned out.
'I'll soon be back, Malory Towers!' she called 'Good¬bye for a little while. I'll soon be back!'
The End.
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Enid Blyton, Third Year at Malory Towers
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