by Enid Blyton
‘Come along now, girls, no more talking!’ she commanded briskly. ‘I realise that you’re all excited to be back together again, but you’ll be fit for nothing in the morning if you don’t get your sleep. Who is head of the dormitory? Oh, no one, I suppose, as the head-girl of the form hasn’t been announced yet. Well, Pam, as you were head-girl last term, I am putting you in charge for tonight, and will leave it to you to deal with anyone who breaks the rules. Goodnight, everyone.’
‘Goodnight, Miss Potts,’ chorused the girls, snuggling down into their beds as the door closed behind the mistress.
‘All right, girls,’ came Pam’s low, pleasant voice. ‘Miss Potts is quite right. We shall all be too woolly-minded to concentrate in class tomorrow if we don’t get to sleep soon, so no more noise.’
‘Whatever you say, Pam,’ said June meekly, making the others grin to themselves. Apart from Veronica, who scowled fiercely. She knew what was behind this sudden – and most unusual – display of meekness on June’s part, of course. It was her way of saying that she would accept Pam’s leadership, but not Veronica’s. For the first time, a doubt crept into the girl’s mind. Could June have been right in saying that Miss Peters would not make her head of the form? It was true that Veronica had never been one of the mistress’s favourites, but surely Miss Peters would not consider making one of these silly kids head of the form over her? Why, the idea was ridiculous, for none of them was fit to lead the others. Not the bold, brazen June, nor the scatterbrained Nora, that was certain. Pam had already had her turn, while Julie was so wrapped up in that horse of hers that she was quite unable to concentrate on anything else. As new girls, Amy and Freddie wouldn’t be in the running, which left that cheeky little Felicity Rivers and her goody-goody friend Susan. Veronica curled her lip scornfully. As if either of them had the strength of character or the air of authority necessary to lead the third form!
Having ruled out her new form-mates as rivals, Veronica felt happier and settled down contentedly under the bedclothes. Miss Peters had a good deal of common sense and would not allow her personal feelings to influence her decision, Veronica was sure. The mistress would do what was best for the third form – and what was best, thought Veronica, would be for her to be made head-girl.
The new head-girl
Amy’s first full day at Malory Towers did not get off to a good start. Veronica watched in admiration as the new girl brushed out her shining hair, before deftly braiding it into a thick plait, which she secured with a brown ribbon, to match the school uniform.
‘You do look lovely, Amy,’ gushed Veronica. ‘How I wish my hair shone like yours.’
‘I don’t think that even I could look lovely in this dreadful uniform,’ complained Amy, frowning at her reflection in the mirror. ‘The one I had at Highcliffe Hall was so much nicer. We were allowed to wear –’
‘Don’t tell me,’ interrupted June, who had been listening quite unashamedly. ‘You were allowed to wear ball gowns and tiaras to breakfast.’
‘I was talking to Veronica, not to you,’ retorted Amy stiffly, scowling at June, before turning to rummage in a little jewellery box on her cabinet. From this, she selected a pretty charm bracelet.
‘I say, Amy, you’re not going to wear that in class, are you?’ asked Veronica, frowning.
‘Of course,’ replied Amy. ‘Why shouldn’t I?’
‘Well, we’re not really supposed to wear fancy jewellery,’ Veronica told her. ‘Miss Peters will probably make you take it off.’
The listening third formers grinned at one another, each of them thinking the same thing: that it was most unusual for Veronica to warn another girl that she was likely to get into trouble. Normally she would have held her tongue, for there was nothing that gladdened her spiteful nature more than watching someone else get into a good row. But Veronica was determined to become Amy’s friend – her best friend – and that meant that she couldn’t simply stand by and allow her to incur the wrath of Miss Peters without at least trying to stop her. Not that Amy seemed very grateful, for she merely shrugged and fastened the bracelet around her wrist, saying haughtily, ‘What a stupid rule! I daresay Miss Peters won’t even notice that I’m wearing jewellery.’
‘Rings on her fingers,’ chanted June in a sing-song voice. ‘And bells on her toes. She shall be punished for wearing those!’
The other third formers roared with laughter at June’s clever rhyme, but Amy turned bright red. It would be just too humiliating if Miss Peters did send her out of class to remove her bracelet. Reluctantly, she turned away from the others and took it off, placing it back in the box.
Veronica noticed that the girl had placed a photograph on her cabinet and, in an effort to placate her, said brightly, ‘Are those your parents? My goodness, isn’t your mother beautiful? And how handsome your father looks.’
The woman in the photograph certainly was very beautiful, though she didn’t look much like Amy, as she was dark, with a small, turned-up nose and big green eyes. It was obvious that Amy had inherited her looks from her father, a most distinguished-looking man. His features were very similar to his daughter’s and he had the same fair hair.
Amy cheered up at once at this praise of her parents and said, ‘They are a good-looking couple, aren’t they? You must meet them at half-term, Veronica. I say, wouldn’t it be super if my parents hit it off with yours?’
Veronica listened to this with mixed feelings. On the one hand, she couldn’t wait to meet Amy’s beautiful mother and handsome, wealthy father. But on the other, she was quite unable to picture her own hard-working, down-to-earth parents becoming friends with the Ryder-Cochranes. Why, they had nothing in common with them at all! In fact, Veronica’s parents could prove to be a bit of an embarrassment to her at half-term. Her mind working swiftly, she wondered if she could think of a way to put them off coming.
‘Amy!’ called Pam. ‘It’s almost breakfast time, so you’d better tidy your nightclothes away and make your bed before we go down.’
Amy, who had never made a bed in her life, looked rebellious, but the ever-willing Veronica was at her side in a flash, saying, ‘You fold your pyjamas up neatly, Amy, and I’ll make your bed for you.’
‘Oh, no you won’t!’ said Pam firmly. ‘Amy is quite capable of making her own bed, Veronica.’
‘Really, Pam, I don’t see what business it is of yours if I choose to help Amy,’ retorted Veronica.
‘It’s my business because Miss Potts made me head of the dormitory – even if it is only temporary. And I don’t see why Amy should get out of doing her own chores.’
Pam might be placid and good-natured, but she took her responsibilities very seriously indeed!
‘But Pam, I really don’t know how to make a bed properly,’ protested Amy, looking at Pam beseechingly. ‘I don’t have the faintest idea how to fold the corners neatly, as the rest of you have done. Can’t Veronica just show me how to do it now, then tomorrow I can do it myself?’
‘Very well,’ agreed Pam. ‘But be quick, both of you, or we shall be late for breakfast.’
Amy turned away, so that Pam did not see the smirk on her face. Veronica had already boasted to her about how she was certain to be made head-girl, which meant that she would also be head of the dormitory. And if she chose to do Amy’s chores for her, nobody would have the authority to stop her.
‘Well done, Pam,’ said Susan in a low voice. ‘We’re all going to have to sit on Amy good and hard if she’s to settle down at Malory Towers.’
‘Yes, but there’s no point in the rest of us trying to get some sense into her if Veronica goes and undoes all our good work by running round after Amy, and telling her how wonderful she is,’ said Felicity, with a frown, as she watched Veronica making Amy’s bed. ‘I simply can’t understand it. Veronica is the very last person I’d have expected to put herself out for anyone, but she’s really going out of her way to be nice to Amy.’
‘Isn’t it obvious?’ said June, with a sneer. ‘Veronica
wants to be friends with the wealthy, well-connected new girl. Horrid little snob!’
‘I would agree with you, June,’ said Pam, thoughtfully. ‘If it wasn’t for the fact that Veronica struck up a friendship with Amy over tea yesterday – and she had no idea then that she is wealthy and well-connected.’
‘That’s right,’ said Susan. ‘Perhaps Veronica has genuinely taken a liking to Amy and really wants to be a true friend to her.’
‘I don’t believe that Veronica has ever been a true friend to anyone in her life!’ declared the forthright June. ‘She’s only ever nice to people if it’s to her advantage.’
‘That’s a bit harsh, June!’ protested Felicity. ‘I know that Veronica hasn’t done much to give anyone here a good opinion of her, but she can’t be all bad.’
June laughed. ‘That’s typical of you, Felicity. Always trying to see the good in people – even when there isn’t any!’
And somehow June made it sound as if trying to see the good in people was a fault, and that Felicity was being rather naive and silly. Felicity felt put out, and was grateful when Susan laid a hand on her shoulder and said, ‘You should be pleased about that, June, for it means that Felicity even manages to see a little good in you!’
June laughed at that, and went off to speak to Freddie, while Susan said in a low voice to Felicity, ‘Never mind what June says – I think it’s a jolly good thing that you’re always willing to believe the best of people.’
‘Perhaps,’ said Felicity, with a wry expression. ‘But it’s not always easy. Especially with people like Veronica and Amy – and sometimes even June herself!’
Kay Foster approached the third-form table as the girls were finishing breakfast, and said in her friendly way, ‘Hallo, kids. Freddie and Amy, can you come along to Miss Grayling’s room with me, please?’
‘Goodness, don’t say we’re in trouble already!’ exclaimed Freddie, a look of dismay on her face.
‘Don’t worry, Freddie,’ laughed Felicity. ‘You’re not in trouble. Miss Grayling always sees the new girls on the first day, and says a few words to them.’
‘I’m sure you’ll find what she has to say most inspiring,’ said Veronica to a rather apprehensive-looking Amy. ‘I know that her words had quite an effect on me. I’ll come and wait outside the Head’s room for you, Amy, so that you don’t get lost on the way to class.’
As Kay marched off with Veronica and the new girls, June turned to the others and said in a low voice, ‘Thank goodness Veronica’s gone. Listen, everyone, I have a box of tricks in the dorm that my cousin, Alicia, gave me. I haven’t opened it yet, so, as we have a little time to spare before lessons, shall we nip back up and take a look?’
‘Ooh yes, let’s!’ cried Nora, clapping her hands together excitedly.
‘That would be super,’ said Felicity, pushing her chair back and getting to her feet.
‘I have to go to the stables to see Jack,’ said Julie, frowning. ‘Blow! I would have loved to see your tricks. Can’t we go up and see them at break-time?’
‘No, because I want to open the box when Veronica’s not around,’ said June, shaking her head. ‘If she sees us all disappearing off to the dorm at break-time she’s bound to guess something’s up and come snooping.’
‘Anyway, Julie, you saw Jack before breakfast!’ pointed out Pam. ‘I’m sure he’s not going to pine away because you don’t visit him after breakfast as well.’
‘Yes, you can go and spoil him at break-time instead,’ said Susan. ‘Do come and see June’s tricks with us now, Julie – it will be such fun!’
So Julie allowed herself to be persuaded, and the girls made their way swiftly up to the dormitory, where June pulled a cardboard box from beneath her bed.
‘It’s a pity Freddie can’t be here,’ said Felicity. ‘She strikes me as the sort of girl who enjoys a good joke or trick.’
‘She is,’ said June, with a grin. ‘Freddie was the form joker at her old school, and we’re planning to team up and play all sorts of pranks this term.’
This sounded good, and the girls exchanged excited glances.
‘I’ll have to slip up here with her later,’ said June, ‘and show her what’s in the box. Now, let’s get the lid off and see what we have!’
The girls crowded round June, and there were a great many ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ as she pulled the items from the box.
‘Good old Alicia!’ exclaimed Felicity, as she picked up an extremely realistic-looking rubber spider. ‘My word, we can certainly give Mam’zelle Dupont a fright with this!’
But the most interesting item by far was a bar of perfectly ordinary-looking white soap, wrapped in pink tissue paper, with a label attached to it. As the others looked at it, puzzled, June began to read the writing on the label. Then she gave a crow of laughter and said, ‘Listen to this! Whoever uses the soap will find that their face and hands turn a dirty, muddy brown about half an hour after they’ve washed. Oh, how super!’
‘I should say!’ chuckled Nora. ‘We’ll have to decide who to play it on.’
‘I think I’ve already decided,’ said June with a wicked grin. ‘Can’t you just picture our dear Amy walking into breakfast, completely unaware that she looks as if she’s wearing a mudpack?’
The girls could picture it very well indeed, their eyes lighting up as they grinned at one another.
‘Do it tomorrow, June!’ begged Julie, but June shook her head.
‘It’s too soon. I always think it’s best to save tricks until the term is a few weeks old and we’re beginning to feel bored.’
‘Good idea,’ said Pam, as June shoved the box back under her bed. ‘That will give us something to look forward to. Now, we’d better get a move on, or we’ll be late and that won’t impress Miss Peters at all!’
The girls made their way to one of the long buildings that connected the four towers, and found their new classroom. Amy, Freddie and Veronica were already there, as were some of the girls from the other three towers. The North Tower girls greeted them cheerily, then seated themselves. June was pleased to see that Freddie had managed to bag herself a seat in the coveted back row, and quickly took the one next to her. Felicity and Susan took the desks in front of them, while Pam, Nora and Julie found three seats together across the aisle from the others. Veronica and Amy sat next to each other, of course, at the front of the classroom, and as more girls from the South, East and West Towers came in, the desks gradually filled up. There was a babble of noise as the girls chattered away to one another, then Anne from West Tower, who was standing guard at the door, suddenly hissed, ‘Shh! Miss Peters is coming.’
At once the noise ceased, the third formers getting to their feet as a mannish young woman with short hair and a rosy complexion entered.
‘Good morning, girls,’ she said crisply, setting the pile of books she carried down on the desk.
‘Good morning, Miss Peters,’ replied the girls politely as they eyed her with interest.
‘Miss Peters is a good sort,’ Darrell had told Felicity. ‘But she has a temper. She won’t stand for anyone playing the fool in her lessons, and if there’s one thing that makes her angry, it’s people who try to dupe or deceive her.’
She looks perfectly pleasant and friendly now, thought Felicity, as the mistress smiled round at her class.
‘Sit down, girls,’ she ordered in her rather deep voice. ‘Now, before we get down to making timetables and giving out books, I am sure that you are all eager to know who is to be head of the form.’
A murmur of excitement rippled round the room and Veronica immediately sat up straight in her seat, a rather smug look on her face.
‘Just look at Veronica,’ whispered June to Freddie. ‘My goodness, I’d love to see that smirk wiped off her face!’
‘Quiet, please!’ commanded Miss Peters, with a glare in June’s direction. ‘Well, this was a very difficult decision to make, but I have discussed the matter with both Miss Potts and Miss Parker, and we have decided t
hat the head-girl of the third form is to be Felicity Rivers.’
Indeed, it had been a very difficult decision. Miss Peters and Miss Parker, who was the second-form mistress and knew the girls very well, had narrowed it down to Susan and Felicity, and found it very difficult to choose between them.
‘I feel that both of them would make excellent head-girls,’ Miss Parker had said. ‘They are both sensible, trustworthy and kind-hearted. I really don’t see how we are going to decide.’
Fortunately, at that moment, Miss Potts had entered the mistresses’ common-room, and Miss Peters had asked her opinion, saying, ‘As Head of North Tower, you probably know both girls far better than Miss Parker and I. What do you think?’
Miss Potts had sat down, remaining silent and thoughtful for a few moments. Then, at last, she spoke. ‘There is no doubt that Susan has more confidence in herself than Felicity. However, I have always felt that young Felicity was a little overshadowed by her older sister. Darrell was so popular, and such a success at Malory Towers – especially in her last year, when she was Head Girl – that Felicity was always known as her little sister and never really came into her own. She has always been less sure of herself than Darrell, and less forthright in her opinions. Yet she is a very strong, determined little character and, now that Darrell is gone, I think that the time has come for Felicity to shine. I feel that if she was made head-girl she would certainly seize the opportunity and make the most of it. And I think that she has a great deal to offer the school. Of course,’ she added, ‘Susan would also make a fine head-girl, and the decision must be yours, Miss Peters.’
‘I think that you are right, Miss Potts,’ said Miss Parker, who had been listening to the mistress most attentively. ‘With a little more confidence, I believe that Felicity could be as big a success here as Darrell was. She certainly has good stuff in her.’
‘Very well,’ Miss Peters said. ‘Felicity Rivers it is then.’
