Winter Term at Malory Towers Read Online Free Page A

was being extremely unjust, for Bonnie had been deep in conversation with Amy, and hadn’t evenrealised that Mam’zelle was speaking to Olive. Nor had she spilled the tea on purpose, for it really had been an accident.
    But the new girl had taken a completely irrational dislike to both Bonnie and Nora, and it came to the fore again when the girls were relaxing in the common-room that evening.
    â€˜I must say, this is a jolly nice common-room,’ said Sylvia, whose hurt silence at the tea-table had lasted all of five minutes. She liked the sound of her own voice far too much to be quiet for any longer! ‘Very cosy! I’m sure we shall have some wonderful times in here, all chattering away together!’
    â€˜What Sylvia means is that she will chatter, while we are forced to listen to her,’ muttered Amy under her breath, scowling at the new girl. ‘I think it’s dreadfully vulgar, the way that she pushes herself to the fore all the time!’
    â€˜Of course, when I was head of the form at St Hilda’s, we used to have all kinds of fun and games in the common-room,’ the new girl went on. ‘I organised most of them myself, for if there is one thing I pride myself on it’s being a good organiser. And, if I do say so myself, I’m jolly good at thinking up games to play. I could show you some of them, if you like, and…’
    â€˜Thanks. If we ever feel that we need someone to organise us, or tell us what to do in our free time, we’ll let you know,’ said June, with heavy sarcasm.
    But Sylvia was too thick-skinned to recognise sarcasm, and she continued to talk and talk and talk! At last itbecame too much for Nora, who jumped up and put a gramophone record on.
    â€˜Good show, Nora!’ called out Freddie.
    Then, to the amusement of the fourth formers, Nora began to do a little tap dance in the middle of the floor.
    â€˜You’re full of beans tonight!’ said Pam, in surprise. ‘Usually it’s all you can do to keep your eyes open after the journey back to Malory Towers.’
    â€˜Ah yes, but I have been staying at my aunt’s, and she doesn’t live many miles from here, so it was only a short drive back,’ explained Nora, stopping in mid-dance. ‘So I feel quite wide awake, for once!’
    â€˜You’re not a bad dancer, Nora,’ said Sylvia—rather patronisingly, the others thought. In fact, Nora, who was naturally graceful, was a very good dancer and had been taking lessons in the holidays. She opened her mouth to tell the others this, but Sylvia got in first, saying, ‘I simply love dancing, and, if I do say so myself, I have quite a talent for it.’
    â€˜My gosh, can you imagine it?’ muttered Lucy, under her breath. ‘It would be like watching a baby elephant!’
    This was a little unkind, but Julie couldn’t help laughing, and Sylvia, quite oblivious, went on, ‘I coached some of the youngsters in dancing, for their part in the school concert last year, and it all went swimmingly. The parents thought that it was marvellous, and I do think that I have a knack for teaching people things, even if—’
    â€˜Even if you do say so yourself,’ interrupted June smoothly, as muffled laughter ran round the room.
    Sylvia looked a little puzzled at this, and while she was temporarily lost for words, Nora cried, ‘Let me show you all a dance I learned in the holidays. Turn the music up, Felicity.’
    Felicity obeyed, and the others moved back to make room for Nora. Then they watched, entranced, as she danced for them, her movements very graceful and balletic. Nora was a complete scatterbrain, and a bit of a duffer at most of her lessons, so it was very nice to see her excel at something, thought Felicity.
    As Nora curtseyed daintily, the fourth formers clapped and cheered. All except Olive, who sat with her arms folded, her mouth set in a thin line and an expression of