And Nothing But the Truth by Kit Pearson Read Free Book Online Page B

others.
    By the end of Tuesday, Polly had had a first lesson in all hercourses except her extra art class. In literature they were studying
As You Like It
. Noni had read some Shakespeare to Polly, but never a whole play. Polly was relieved when she found the rich words easy to understand.
    Her piano teacher, Miss Austen, was young and friendly. She told Polly she’d teach her to play some jazz as well as classical. Now Polly was allowed to miss the first twenty minutes of prep to practise in one of the piano rooms in the gymnasium. The first time she went, Alice was in the other room practising her singing. She was so good that Polly stopped playing her scales to listen to her.
    This morning Mrs. Horner had stomped into history muttering “Numbers one to twelve” before she even reached her desk. Polly had finally managed to memorize the kings, but she got two dates wrong and received ten out of twelve. Half the class failed, and the Hornet was disgusted. The girls who had failed had to stay in at break and go through the list while she drilled them.
    At lunchtime, Rhoda was in tears. “I
hate
her!” she sobbed. “She told me I’d never catch up in British history because I’m an American. What about the other girls?
They
aren’t American, but they failed, too! We have to miss break again tomorrow and do the test again. I’ll
never
learn everything by then!”
    The others tried to calm her down. “Don’t worry—I’ll keep helping you,” said Eleanor.
    “We all will,” said Daisy. “We’ll quiz you tonight after lights out. You won’t be allowed to go to sleep until you know all the kings!”
    I’m much better at memorizing than Rhoda
, thought Polly with satisfaction.
    Tuesday afternoon was Polly’s first house meeting. She assembled in a classroom with the twenty or so other girls who belonged to Sussex. She wondered if anyone would mention her order mark. At least she wasn’t the only person with one now. Many of the names on the other house charts had numbers beside them.
    Sussex’s house captain was one of the prefects, a large, blustery girl named Babs Cook. First she welcomed the new girls. Then she went on to describe all the activities this term: house competitions in grass hockey, basketball, tennis, and drama. “I expect everyone to do her bit in trying out for these,” she told them. “So far we’ve earned ten points, which is a very good start. We won most of those points in debating last week. The rest were earned by Pauline Osborne for receiving the posture award. Attagirl, Pauline!”
    Everyone clapped and Pauline sat up even straighter. Then Babs frowned. “Unfortunately, four members of Sussex have already received order marks, which have been deducted from those points. I’m very disappointed that these girls have let us down so early in the term. Edna, Audrey, Mary, and Polly, would you please stand?”
    Polly had to hold the edge of the desk she was quivering so much. She listened to the other three explain why they’d received order marks; then it was her turn.
    “Miss Netherwood gave me the order mark,” she murmured. Then her voice grew stronger. “But all I did was draw a cube!”
    “You must have done more than that, or she wouldn’t have given you one,” said Babs. She appraised Polly. “I was thrilled to learn you would be in Sussex, Polly. Your sister was the best house captain we ever had! We won the cup last year because of her inspiration. I’m going to try my best to follow her example, and I want you to, as well. From now on, every time you wonder how to behave, think of Maud and do what she would do.”
    Polly sat down, fuming. Like everyone else at St. Winifred’s, Babs was talking about Maud as if she were a saint.
    When another letter arrived from Maud that day, Polly forgot her anger as she rushed out to the steps to read it.
    Maud and Ann were trying to get into a sorority. “It’s called ‘rushing,’” Maud wrote. “We get asked to teas and