Winter Term at Malory Towers by Enid Blyton Read Free Book Online

role.’
    â€˜Thank you, June,’ said the mistress rather frostily. ‘I think that you have now given us a quite adequate display of your—er—talents.’
    Just then the bell sounded to signal the end of the lesson, and the girls waited expectantly for Miss Tallant to tell them that they could leave. The mistress looked round the class, her eyes going from one girl to another. At last, she said, ‘Well, if this form is an example of the standard at Malory Towers, I can see that I am going to have my work cut out. What Miss Hibbert taught you, I simply don’t know.’
    Of course, this little speech did nothing at all to endear the new teacher to the girls. Not only had she insulted their beloved Malory Towers, but she had found fault with Miss Hibbert. The fourth formers felt what little respect they had for Miss Tallant waning, for they knew that there was a strict rule among the staff that they did not speak against one another in front of the girls.
    â€˜Dreadful woman,’ said Pam, as the fourth form went tothe cloakroom to fetch their coats. ‘I wonder what she has in store for poor old Nora?’
    Nora was not with the others, for, of course, she had had to stay behind to learn what her punishment would be. Sylvia was not there either, for she had gone to speak to Matron about something.
    â€˜Well, perhaps it will be a lesson to Nora,’ said Olive, rather smugly. ‘It will do her good to learn that there is one of the mistresses who won’t let her get away with anything!’
    â€˜Don’t tell me that you’re a fan of our spiteful Miss Tallant, Olive?’ said Susan, looking at the girl rather hard.
    â€˜Of course not,’ said Olive hastily, turning a little red. ‘I’m just pleased that she can see through Nora, that’s all.’
    â€˜You keep that nasty tongue of yours still,’ said Pam, angrily, giving the girl a little push. It was most unusual for the placid, good-natured Pam to lose her temper, but Nora was her best friend and the girl already felt annoyed with Miss Tallant for picking on her, without this spiteful new girl saying beastly things about her as well.
    Seeing that Pam was really upset, Felicity gave her arm a squeeze, saying, ‘We’ll all back Nora up against Miss Tallant, Pam, you know that. And against anyone else who is mean to her as well.’
    This last remark was obviously meant for Olive, who scowled at Felicity, before putting on her coat and going outside.
    â€˜Mean beast!’ said Bonnie, pulling a face, as the door shut behind the new girl. ‘What a lot of spite we are goingto have to deal with this term, what with Olive and that horrid Miss Tallant.’
    â€˜Well, you’re a fine one to talk!’ said June, quite astonished. ‘You were sucking up to Miss Tallant no end.’
    â€˜Of course I was,’ replied Bonnie, calmly. ‘Someone has to.’
    â€˜Whatever do you mean, Bonnie?’ asked Susan.
    â€˜People like Miss Tallant always have to have a favourite,’ explained Bonnie. And everyone listened intently. Bonnie might be silly in some ways, but she was surprisingly shrewd, and very good at sizing people up.
    â€˜She is the kind of person who needs to have someone who thinks that she is wonderful, and will stick up for her. So, I thought that it might as well be me. It might be useful to us, if she thinks that she has someone on her side.’
    â€˜Sort of like a spy in the enemy camp, you mean?’ said Felicity.
    â€˜Exactly!’ said Bonnie.
    â€˜I think that’s a very good idea,’ said Freddie, who had been listening thoughtfully. ‘I really do. And Bonnie is certainly the right person to carry it off.’
    The others murmured their agreement. With her charming manner, innocent air and sweet smile, Bonnie found it quite easy to get people to confide in her. Often far more than they intended to!
    â€˜We had