Alice-Miranda At School Read Online Free Page B

leaving Miss Grimm in her study wondering what that infernal noise was.
    Mrs Oliver was installed in the kitchen in a blink. Miss Grimm’s dinner was delivered without a minute’s delay and for the first time in years she ate everything on her plate and secretly wished for more. Mrs Smith may have been the best brownie cook in the world, but Dolly Oliver could do cauliflower cheese better than anyone Alice-Miranda knew.

    That evening, Alice-Miranda had her tea in the kitchen with Mrs Oliver and Jacinta, then took herself off to her room to read. Miss Higgins came to tuck her in and say goodnight.
    â€˜Now, I’ll be busy in the morning,’ Miss Higgins said distractedly as she smoothed the blanket, ‘but I shall leave Cook a note to ask her to wake you.’
    Alice-Miranda thought she should probably explain about Mrs Smith’s holiday, but Miss Higgins was in even more of a muddle than she had been earlier in the day, mumbling about unreliable house mistresses and mountains of work to be done. So Alice-Miranda decided that she wouldn’t worry Miss Higgins with the news – she would simply tell Miss Grimm in the morning instead.
    She was really quite exhausted and looked forward to it being Sunday tomorrow. There would be lots of girls arriving back for the start of term and Alice-Miranda could hardly wait to meet them. She kissed Brummel Bear on the top of his head and drifted off to sleep.
    Over in the headmistress’s study, Miss Grimm’s mind suddenly turned to the uncomfortable incident earlier in the day. She hadn’t seen a child for years and this one was the most insistent little creature she could remember. Ever since their meeting, Miss Grimm had had a knot in her stomach that felt as if it was being steadily pulled at either end. She tried to put all thought of the bratout of her mind. It wouldn’t do. Really, it wouldn’t do at all. Her school was a tight ship and her job was to keep it that way.

Alice-Miranda rolled over and rubbed her sleepy eyes. She yawned and stretched, then studied the pattern on the ceiling. She’d slept well, being quite used to staying in unfamiliar places when she travelled with her parents. The boarding house around her creaked and groaned as though it was waking up too. Her own house, Highton Hall, was full of grumbles in the morning – she liked to lay in bed and listen, imagining the house was like an old friend full of stories. This morning she was wondering about the tales that thisplace, Grimthorpe House, could tell. Alice-Miranda picked up Brummel Bear and was about to ask him how he’d slept, when Mrs Oliver popped her head around the door.
    â€˜Good morning, darling girl,’ she smiled.
    â€˜Hello Mrs Oliver,’ said Alice-Miranda, sitting up. ‘Did you sleep well?’
    â€˜Not too badly, although I have to say poor Mrs Smith’s bed is a brute. The woman will come back better than new if she just has some time on a decent mattress,’ Dolly said with a frown. ‘Now, you need to get yourself dressed, poppet, and come to the kitchen. And I’d best get a move on myself.’ Dolly bustled out of the room.
    After breakfast – the most delicious eggs Benedict with smoked salmon – Alice-Miranda headed off to find Miss Grimm. She couldn’t believe that even on a Sunday the headmistress would be too busy to speak with one of her students. Besides, Alice-Miranda was eager to let her know about Mrs Smith’s holiday.
    The door to Miss Higgins’s office was slightly ajar. Alice-Miranda knocked loudly and popped her head around the corner. There was no one inside, but a sliver of light came from Miss Grimm’s study. Alice-Miranda scurried through the office and pushed openthe study door, announcing herself with a cheerful, ‘Hello Miss Grimm, are you there?’ She clicked the door shut behind her.
    Miss Grimm was sitting at her desk, pen in hand, except this time