Winter Term at Malory Towers Read Online Free Page B

scorn on her face.
    Susan, who still felt angry with the girl because of her earlier outburst, nudged Olive rather sharply and said, ‘What’s the matter with you? You could at least join us in clapping Nora.’
    â€˜Why should I?’ said Olive sullenly. ‘Nora is a show-off, and I don’t like show-offs!’
    The others gasped and muttered angrily, Pam saying hotly, ‘How dare you, Olive! You take that back at once!’
    â€˜I shan’t,’ said Olive obstinately. ‘She is a show-off, and so is Bonnie! Both of them have to be the centre of attention, all the time.’
    Poor little Bonnie looked quite stunned, for she couldn’t think what she had done to make the new girl dislike her so. Why, she had barely exchanged more than a few words with her.
    â€˜I see what it is!’ said Amy, suddenly. ‘You’re jealous. Bonnie and Nora are both pretty, and dainty, while as for you…’ The girl paused as she looked Olive up and down, rather scornfully. ‘Well, no one could call you pretty!’
    Olive turned pale, and shrank back as though Amy had struck her. Everyone else was quiet, for—although Nora and Bonnie felt grateful to Amy for sticking up for them—most of the girls felt that she had gone a little too far. Olive was very plain, but it had been rather cruel to point it out in front of everyone like that.
    â€˜That’s enough!’ said Felicity sharply. ‘There are only five minutes until bedtime, so let’s not waste them in arguing.’
    â€˜Well done,’ said Susan, grinning at Felicity, as everyone dispersed. ‘Once a head-girl, always a head-girl!’
    Felicity laughed and said, ‘Well, someone had to take charge, before things got out of hand. I must say, though, that I think we’ve been rather unlucky in our new girls this term.’
    â€˜Haven’t we just!’ agreed Susan. ‘Olive is a real misery, and I’m afraid it looks as if she’s going to be rather spiteful, too. And Sylvia is simply too pushy for words! She’ll try and take over everything if we aren’t careful.’
    Felicity nodded, and said, ‘I’ve a feeling that this is going to be quite a difficult term!’

3
Exciting news
    After breakfast the following day, all of the new girls had to go and see Miss Grayling, the Head mistress. Fenella Thornton, the Head Girl, rounded them all up from the four towers and took them along to the Head’s study.
    There were six girls altogether, from various forms, most of them looking a little nervous as Fenella lead them to Miss Grayling’s room. Olive, wearing her habitual sulky expression, walked a little way behind the rest, dragging her feet. She hadn’t wanted to come to this stupid school in the first place, and she couldn’t think that anything the Head mistress had to say would be of the slightest interest to her. Sylvia, on the other hand, was very eager to meet Miss Grayling, and felt quite certain that she would make a good impression on her.
    She strode along confidently beside Fenella, and said brightly, ‘I’ve heard that Miss Grayling is a wonderful person.’
    â€˜She is,’ said Fenella. ‘There is no one I would rather go to if I was in any kind of trouble, and—’
    â€˜Our headmistress at St Hilda’s was just the same,’ cut in Sylvia. ‘So wise and kind.’ Fenella, who was not accustomed to being interrupted when she spoke to alower-form girl, looked rather taken aback. A sharp retort sprang to her lips, then she reminded herself that Sylvia was new and rather over-enthusiastic, so she held her tongue.
    But even Sylvia was silent in the presence of Miss Grayling. The Head was a calm, dignified woman, with a rather serious face, which could, at times, break into the most beautiful smile. She could also be very stern indeed, when the need arose, and although Miss Grayling looked perfectly