Witch Silver by Anne Forbes Read Free Book Online Page B

stood at each corner of the building.
    “Clara was homesick,” Neil remarked as his father manoeuvred the car carefully through the mass of cars and buses in the car park.
    “Were you, Clara?” her father said in surprise, looking at her in the rear-view mirror.
    “The first few nights were a bit lonely,” she admitted.
    “Would you like to share with somebody?” her father questioned . “I’m sure it could be arranged. Your mum and I thought you’d like having a room to yourself.”
    Clara shook her head. “The other boarders are all primary kids. Anyway, I’m getting used to being on my own.”
    “You missed me, that’s what it is,” Neil grinned.
    Clara promptly stuck her tongue out at him, loath to admit that, in actual fact, she
had
missed him!
    “By the way, your mum plans to take you into Berwick tomorrow ,” their father interrupted before Clara could retaliate further. “We stopped there on our way down from Edinburgh to stock upwith groceries and she saw a shop that sells posters; all your kind of stuff … you know, pop stars, footballers … that sort of thing. She thought you might like to buy some of them to put up in your room.”
    “Great!” Neil said, immediately diverted at the mention of footballers. “By the way, who’s playing who tomorrow, Dad?”
    Clara sat in the back of the car and as Neil and her father discussed football, watched the trees, hedges and fields slide by as they headed for home. By the time they reached Craiglaw House, she was feeling much better and seeing her mother, she smiled and waved as she scrambled out of the car. It’s not fair to worry Mum, she thought, as she rushed forward to hug her.
    “I’ve lit the fire in the living room,” her mother said later. “I want to hear all about Netherfield. How you’re coping with the lessons and what the teachers are like …” she added, pushing the door open and switching on the light.
    Clara settled herself on a stool by the fire and stretched out a hand to the blaze. The weather was getting colder by the day.
    “Clara and I hardly ever see one another,” she heard Neil say. “We’re in different classes for a start …”
    “Yes, and the boys’ bedrooms are in another tower altogether ,” Clara added.
    “And what about school work?” queried her mother. “Are you managing to keep up?”
    “Well, Maths and English are okay and apart from the teacher, I quite like Drama,” Clara added, brightening at the thought. “Our year is putting on a play for Halloween, all about witches and stuff.”
    “I know,” Neil nodded. “The rest of the seniors have been invited to watch the dress rehearsal. It was on the notice board this morning.”
    “It’s just a pity Miss Markham’s so awful,” Clara said.“Nobody likes her; she’s really strict. You
must
have seen her round the place, Neil,” she looked at her brother enquiringly, “a real drama queen — tall, with black hair, black eyes and always
so
over the top about everything!”
    “I think she’s probably foreign,” Neil said. “She signed the notice Maritza Markham.”
    “Could be,” Clara said considering the matter. “She certainly doesn’t
look
Scottish.”
    “And what about you, Neil?” interrupted his father.
    “It’s just German that’s the problem,” Neil said glumly. “All the others started it in primary so Clara and I have a lot of catching up to do.”
    “Do you have Mrs Weston for English?” his mother queried. “She’s a short woman, fair hair and a bit absent-minded.”
    “Always losing her glasses,” added Neil with a grin. “Yes, I do. She’s my form mistress. She told me she knew Auntie Muriel.”
    “Mmm, they were close friends. Believe me, she isn’t nearly as vague as she looks and if you have any problems, she’s someone you can trust.”
    “Oops! I’m sorry, Clara,” her father said, getting to his feet suddenly, “I almost forgot. A letter came for you while you were at school.”
    Clara