by Anne Digby
'She told me that Papa is much too conspicuous and that his presence here has done nothing but attract attention to you and place you in danger. That you nearly died in that tunnel last night and if you had done so, it would – in this indirect way – have been partly my own fault.'
'Did she really say all that?' exclaimed Mara.
Nobody – but nobody – had ever spoken to her father like that before.
'She did. As a matter of fact, I think she would have liked to give me 5000 lines. She also told me that if I'm really concerned about your safety, the very best thing I can do is see that you're treated in every way as a perfectly ordinary member of the middle school at Trebizon. So you'll merge in with the other girls and be anonymous. She also explained that she has perfectly satisfactory arrangements for looking after the girls who are in her care, without any interference from me, thank you very much!'
'Oh, Daddy!' Mara started to cry, she was so happy.
'Forgive me, Mara.' He embraced her again. 'Forgive me for loving you to the point of stupidity.'
'It was all Linda Grigoris' fault!' wept Mara happily. 'Trust her to go and get herself kidnapped!'
'Remind me of the names of the two girls who saved your life last night,' Mr Leonodis said before he left. 'I'd like to show them my appreciation.'
'Rebecca Mason and Lucy Hubbard.'
'Rebecca – one of your special friends, yes? But I've not heard of this Lucy Hubbard before except that she was the little madwoman who locked you up in the first place.'
'I know just what you can do for Lucy!' said Mara. 'You see, she is rather mad – and something she's mad about is this grotto.'
'Grotto?' The shipowner looked puzzled. 'And Rebecca?'
'Oh, Daddy. I've just thought! I know exactly what you can do for Rebecca!'
Lucy had been right. There was a grotto at Trebizon. The nobleman who'd built the manor house in the eighteenth century had made it in the grounds, near the church, especially for his little daughter, the Ladye Emily. Its main entrance had been through a doorway in a grassy hill and down some steps. But, for whimsy's sake he'd constructed a second secret entrance via the underground tunnel from the church crypt.
Just before the tunnel had caved in on her, Mara had caught a glimpse of it ahead, in her torch beam, an enchanting vision of stone cherubs and under ground waterfalls and springs. After Emily's death, the nobleman had commanded both entrances to be blocked up and no-one was allowed to refer again to the existence of the grotto. But Lucy had found a mention of it in the old book she'd bought – and Mara, quite by accident, had located it!
Restoring the grotto became a special Juniper House project for the rest of that term, with Lucy Hubbard as project leader. With the help of funds from Mr Leonodis, they made a fine job of it and Rebecca, Tish and Sue went to see it on the last day of term.
The original entrance in a bank beyond the church, hidden beneath long grass and wild flowers for more than two hundred years, had been opened up and the marble steps down into the grotto now shone as new. A fountain, fed by a freshwater spring, had been repaired and played amongst statues of cherubs and little wild animals, which had all been cleaned up and mended. A waterfall danced down on the far side of the cave and the entrance to the secret tunnel, which had now been blocked up for safety's sake, could just be glimpsed.
'It's simply beautiful,' sighed Rebecca. 'Can't you just imagine the little Ladye Emily spending all those happy, carefree childhood hours here – all that time ago?'
'No wonder her father couldn't bear ever to look at it again; after she died,' said Tish.
'But now it's a memorial to her,' said Sue. 'Our juniors can come and play here, whenever they want, just the way she used to. You've got to hand it to Lucy Hubbard. She's got tons of imagination.'
They emerged from the grotto into spring sunshine.
'It's been a marvellous term,' said Rebecca.
They'd all stayed on over half-term for the big concert, which had raised a great deal of money for the Children's Fund. Both Sue and Chris were proud to have played in the orchestra and to have met backstage the famous stars from all over the world who'd given their services free. It was ample reward for all their hard work, and for missing the fun on the float.
Afterwards the Concert Committee had thrown a party for helpers in the oak-panelled dining hall at Garth College. The girls voted it the best party they'd ever been to.
After half-term, to Sue's delight, Marjorie Spar won the Hilary Camberwell Music Scholarship, narrowly beating, Nicola Hodges. Sue liked Marjorie, who as well as being musical – a promising 'cellist – was athletic, too. Just like Sue the year before, she'd had to give up her place in the junior hockey team to concentrate on winning the scholarship.
During the spring term some boy– girl friendships blossomed – like Curly and Mara's – while others withered and died. Virginia Slade finally broke it off with Tish's brother, Robbie, and started going round with a Sixth Form boy at Garth. Tish said that Robbie had taken it very well, considering, and had resolved to study hard for his GCSEs and never to look at a girl again.
'Except he says if it's any help he'll give you some games of tennis next term, Rebeck. Now that Joss won't be here.'
Tennis!
In the last weeks of term, Rebecca played with Joss Vining almost every day and her game improved apace.
'Honestly, Rebecca!' Joss said one day. 'If only you could get a sponsor and go in for some competitions these holidays! If you did well – you might be able to convince the County selectors that you're worth promoting.'
'I'm hoping – well, I have got a chance of being sponsored,' Rebecca had replied.
At last the letter arrived. Official confirmation from Leonodis Shipping Lines that they were prepared to sponsor Rebecca Mason in tennis competitions during the Easter holidays, with details of the arrangements. She would be staying with a kind Greek family in London and Papa and a car would be at her disposal!
'Yes, it's been a marvellous term,' Tish agreed. She gave Rebecca her wide smile. 'Maybe next term will be even better.'
'After all,' said Sue, linking arms with the two of them, 'it'll be the tennis term, won't it?'
THE TREBIZON SERIES IN READING ORDER
The TREBIZON series
A classic series which charts the progress and adventures of Rebecca Mason at Trebizon School in the West of England.
First Term at Trebizon
Second Term at Trebizon
Summer Term at Trebizon
Boy Trouble at Trebizon
More Trouble at Trebizon
Tennis Term at Trebizon
Summer Camp at Trebizon
Into the Fourth at Trebizon
Hockey Term at Trebizon
Fourth Year Triumphs at Trebizon
Ghostly Term at Trebizon
Fifth Year Friendships at Trebizon
Secret Letters at Trebizon
Unforgettable Fifth at Trebizon
'Viva Trebizon! Like other giants of the genre, Anne Digby recreates the genuine flavour of schoolgirl aspirations and anguishes, friendships and rivalries. Her Trebizon stories span the so-called generation gap' – COLLECTORS' DIGEST
MORE ANNE DIGBY TITLES
A HORSE CALLED SEPTEMBER
A moving story of the passionate friendship between two girls growing up together on an isolated Devon farm in the 1970s, the break-up of that friendship – and the horse that changed their lives forever. Anne Digby’s debut novel, now regarded as a modern classic.
www.amazon.com/dp/B0077EG830
The QUICKSILVER HORSE
An enthralling story of horsemanship and a bittersweet friendship between a girl and a boy from two very different milieux -- a small travelling circus and a big racing stables. And the conflict that arises between them.
“A very happy positive book about overcoming huge obstacles...brings a wonderful vibe” – AMAZON USA Review
www.amazon.com/dp/B00AWCMEB4
By Alan Davidson
QUEEN RIDER
Bonnie Wyndham is angry, difficult and apparently spoiled – but she excels at horse riding.
“The momentum begins to build from the very first page and never flags at all...Highly recommended” – REVIEWSHEET
“A great story – and not just for horse-lovers” – AMAZON UK Review
www.amazon.com/dp/B00873PF5C
THE BEWITCHING OF ALISON ALLBRIGHT
Davidson’s classic suspense novel from the 1980s.
“An irresistible combination of dream indulgence and unsettling nightmare” – Center for Children’s Literature, Chicago
“Can’t keep count of the number of times I’ve read this fantastic book” – AMAZON UK Review
“Haunted me for years... just as good as I had remembered” – AMAZON USA Review
www.amazon.com/dp/B0085383TY
MARINA IN A GREEN DRESS
A new suspense novel from the same author, about secrets and obsession. A fangirl from the backwoods is haunted by a lush London musical show, MARINA. By its boy star – its songs – but most of all by its storyline.
“Mesmerizing...beautifully woven...cannot recommend it highly enough” – AMAZON USA Review
www.amazon.com/dp/B00852PZUA
By Alan Davidson and John Richardson
The classic satire about imprisoned chickens, with 38 b/w cartoon-style illustrations.
ESCAPE FROM COLD DITCH
www.amazon.com/dp/B004R1QH3C
FREE DOWNLOADS, FACEBOOK & TWITTER
For lovers of crossover British humour, from Richmal Crompton to P.G.Wodehouse, we have now reissued all Alan Davidson’s ANNABEL BUNCE books in e-format. The opening chapters of the first collection of stories, A FRIEND LIKE ANNABEL, can be read in ePub at www.goodreads.com and in .mobi at www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00658N2GA.
FREE DOWNLOAD THE BUNCE SAGA, a complete story from the first collection, is FREE, click here: http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=MI2oXJDCYL0C { PDF and ePub formats}. [It’s also available as a mini-book in .mobi on Amazon but priced at 77p/$1].
Straw Hat Collectables has its own new Facebook page for you to “like”, “share” and add comments: http://www.facebook.com/AFriendLikeAnnabel
For interesting tweets, regular book news and updates on other free downloads that we offer from time to time, follow us on Twitter @afbunce.
Electronic edition produced by
www.antrikexpress.com
