Upper Fourth at Malory Towers Read Online Free PDF Page B

could imagine what she meant, not even Betty—but Gwendoline knew! She had chosen a front desk because she knew that the Honourable Clarissa Carter would have to have one there, too—and it would be a very good thing to be next to her and help her!
    She flushed red and said nothing, but busied herself with her books. Miss Williams came in at that moment and Gwen rushed to hold the door.
    The first day of school was always “nice and messy” as Belinda called it. No proper lessons were done, but tests were given out, principally to check up on the standard of any new girls. Timetables were made out with much groaning. Irene always gave hers up in despair. Although she was so good and neat at both maths and music, she was hopeless at a simple thing like making out her own timetable from the big class one.
    It usually ended in Belinda doing it for her, but as Belinda wasn't much better, Irene was in a perpetual muddle over her timetable, appearing in the wrong classroom at the wrong time, expecting to have a maths lesson in the sewing-room, or sewing-lesson in the lab! All the mistresses had long ago given up expecting either Irene or Belinda to be sane and sensible in ordinary matters.
    Irene, with her great gift for music, and Belinda, with her equally fine gift for drawing, seemed to become four-year-olds when they had to tackle ordinary everyday things. It was nothing for Irene to appear at breakfast-time without her stockings, or for Belinda to lose, most inexplicably, every schoolbook she possessed. The girls loved them for their amusing ways, and admired them for their gifts.
    Everyone was busy with something or other that first morning. Darrell made out a list of classroom duties—filling up the ink-pots, doing the classroom flowers, keeping the blackboard clean, giving out necessary stationery and so on. Each of the class had to take on a week's duty, together with another girl, during the term.
    Just before Break Miss Williams told the girls to tidy up their desks. “I have something to say to you,” she said. “It will only take about two minutes, but it is something that I am sure you all want to know!''
    “She's going to say who's to be head-girl this term!” whispered Sally to Darrell. “Look at Gwendoline! See the look she's put on her face. She really thinks she might be!”
    It was true. Gwendoline always hoped she might be head of the form, and had enough conceit to think she would make a very good one. Just as regularly she was disappointed, and always would be. Spoilt, selfish girls make poor heads, and no teacher in her senses would ever choose Gwendoline Mary I
    “I think probably most of you will know that Jean, who passed School Cert, last year, has gone up into the next form,” said Miss Williams. “She does not need to work with the School Cert, form this term. She was head-girl of the Upper Fourth, and now that she has gone, we must have another.”
    She paused, and looked round the listening class. “I have discussed the matter with Miss Grayling, Miss Potts, Mam'zelles Dupont and Rougier,” said Miss Williams. “We are all agreed that we would like to try Darrell Rivers as head-girl.”
    Darrell flushed bright red and her heart beat fast. Everyone clapped and cheered, even Gwendoline, who always dreaded that Alicia might conceivably be chosen one day!
    “I am quite sure, Darrell, that our choice is right,” said Miss Williams, smiling her gentle smile at the blushing Darrell. “I cannot think for one moment that you would do anything to make us regret our choice.”
    “No, Miss Williams, I won't,” said Darrell, fervently. She wished she could go and tell her parents this very minute. Head-girl of the Upper Fourth! She had always wanted to be head of something, and this was the first time her chance had come. She would be the very best head-girl the form had ever had.
    What would Felicity say? It would be a grand thing for Felicity to be able to say “my sister, of course, is