Pegasi and Prefects by Eleanor Beresford Read Free Book Online Page B

agreeably. “I prefer, of course, talking about the more fascinating topic of my own beauty. Failing that, we can discuss how to inject something of interest into the part of Melissa, although I will admit that pretending to fall madly in love with Azalea Stuart is going to tax all my powers of verisimilitude. Why don’t you go in for acting, Charles?”
    I scoop up her abandoned cushion and throw it at at her.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    CHAPTER THREE
     
    FRIENDS AND ENEMIES
     
    I’m annoyed, naturally, on Esther’s behalf, but I don’t really have the time or energy to worry my head too much about the Drama Guild and some auburn-haired girl pushing herself forward. Wednesday afternoon is when I take the lower forms for hockey practice for the first time.
    I feel like a complete ass, standing there bossing the youngsters as if I’m such a spectacular player that I know better than them what they should do. I’m only saved from tongue-tied embarrassment by having Cecily, in her role as former Games Captain, and Miss Harlow, the games mistress, on hand to show me the ropes. I pay close attention to the way Cecily follows up criticism with easy praise and the way the girls play up under her attention, until I feel like I can do the same, awkwardly at first and then with more confidence. By the end of the first practice I’m shooting advice to the girls practicing passing and tackling as if I was Miss Harlow herself. It’s gratifying, seeing the way they listen solemnly to me and bridle with pleasure if I praise them. I have no idea why they pay so much attention to what I think. The games captain badge on my tie, I suppose. For all that, it’s rather nice.
    The second time, the kids are left to my tender mercies alone. I find I mind much less than I did the job of finding things for them to do. I set myself to paying close attention to their potential: who runs fastest when I set them to sprinting, who passes quick and hard when they practice with the ball, who flags least by the end of the practice. I have to choose teams, and soon.
    The responsibility weighs heavily on me, especially with the kids in the lower three forms. Fernleigh Manor is about one hundred and fifty girls altogether, not such a large school that there isn’t a place in one of the two top teams for every upper school girl who is really keen. These lower forms, though... I remember the way my palms grew wet the first time I checked the lists for the third team, and how heartbroken I would have been if I wasn’t on the list. I don’t want to let any of these kids down or be the one to blame for any secret tears.
    It’s unfair of Miss Carroll to put the responsibility on me. She should have known perfectly well how I would detest it.
    When they’re packing up, I call out to little Mary MacConnell, who has tried her heart out and is bent over retying a shoelace. “Nice work! Keep passing like that, and you’ll be in a team in no time.”
    She lifts big, terrified eyes to me, turns bright red, and scampers off toward the school as if the devil himself was after her.
    “What was that about?” I say aloud. “Do I look like I bite?”
    Rhoda, a freckled imp from the second form, giggles. “Not a bit. She’s just cracked on you,” she says, as matter-of-factly as if she was pointing out that Mary had gone to change a broken shoelace. “Half the girls who are keen on games are.”
    I shove my hands in the belt of my gymslip and whistle through my teeth. It hadn’t actually occurred to me until this second that this was one of the pitfalls of being Games Captain.
    “Rhoda! You can’t say things like that,” hisses a wiry young thing who rejoices in the name Ethelberta.
    “I don’t see why not. You know you’re cracked on her yourself. Oh, it’s not your fault, Charley,” Rhoda explains kindly, obviously noticing my discomfiture. “I’m staying loyal to Cecily, though. I hope you don’t mind.”
    “Oh! Of course not.” I