Winter Term at Malory Towers Read Online Free PDF

had turned quite pink with pleasure, couldhardly speak for a moment, then, at last, she said, ‘Thank you, Miss Williams. You won’t regret your decision, I promise you. I shall do my very best.’
    â€˜I am quite sure that you will,’ said the mistress, smiling at the girl. ‘And now, I have something else to tell you all. At the end of the term, the three top forms will be putting on a Christmas concert, which the parents will be coming to watch. The concert will last for approximately an hour and a half, so each form will have to fill half an hour. It is entirely up to you what you choose to do—sing carols, recite, or perform a short play. But I want every member of the form involved in some way, either as a performer, or behind the scenes.’
    The fourth formers looked at one another, absolutely thrilled, as an excited murmur ran round the class. My word, what fun this was going to be! Each of the girls was absolutely determined that their contribution to the concert, whatever it was, would far outshine the fifth and sixth formers.
    Miss Williams smiled at the girls’ enthusiasm and went on, ‘Susan, as head-girl, you will be in charge of the whole project, of course. And I am quite sure that you will have no shortage of willing helpers.’
    There was no doubt about that! Half a dozen voices cried, ‘We’ll help you all right, Susan!’
    Sylvia was just as excited and interested as the others. Why, at her old school she had produced a play and it had been a roaring success. If only Susan would hand over the reins and let her, Sylvia, produce the fourth’s contributionto the Christmas concert, she would really be able to show the others what she could do!
    Miss Williams rapped on the desk with a ruler and said, ‘Well, I’m very pleased that you are all so eager. But we really must settle down and get on with more mundane matters. However, before we do so, I should just mention that we have a new English and Drama teacher this term. Her name is Miss Tallant, and she will be replacing Miss Hibbert for a little while. Miss Tallant will, of course, be happy to give you—and the other forms—any help that you require with your contribution to the concert.’
    â€˜Thank you, Miss Williams,’ said Susan, whose head was in a perfect whirl. ‘It’s nice to know that there is someone we can call on if we need advice.’
    The fourth formers crowded round Susan at break-time.
    â€˜I say, what a marvellous term this is going to be!’
    â€˜I simply can’t wait to get started on our piece for the concert.’
    â€˜Yes, we’ll show the fifth and sixth formers how it should be done, all right!’
    â€˜Well, we’d better have a meeting in the common-room, after prep this evening,’ said Susan. ‘Bring plenty of ideas with you, everyone, for we shall need them.’
    â€˜We’d better find out what the fifth and sixth formers intend to do as well,’ said Felicity. ‘I mean to say, it will be no use if all three forms decide to sing carols, or something. That will be terribly boring for the audience.’
    â€˜Yes, you’re right,’ said Susan. ‘Well, I’ll have to have a word with Fenella, and Katie Ellis, who is head of the fifth,then we can all make sure that we are doing different things.’
    So, when the fourth formers gathered for their meeting that evening, Susan was armed with the necessary information.
    The girls sat on the chairs and sofas, while Susan perched on the edge of a table, a notebook and pen in her hand. There was a good deal of excited chatter going on, and Susan clapped her hands together for silence.
    â€˜Well,’ she began. ‘I’ve found out that the fifth form are going to sing carols, and the sixth are planning to do a selection of Christmas readings.’
    â€˜Sounds a bit dry,’ said Freddie, pulling a face.
    â€˜That’s