Winter Term at Malory Towers Read online

  Malory Towers

  St Clare’s

  1 The Twins at St Clare’s

  2 The O’Sullivan Twins

  3 Summer Term at St Clare’s

  4 The Second Form at St Clare’s

  5 The Third Form at St Clare’s (written by Pamela Cox)

  6 Kitty at St Clare’s (written by Pamela Cox)

  7 Claudine at St Clare’s

  8 Fifth Formers of St Clare’s

  9 The Sixth Form at St Clare’s (written by Pamela Cox)

  Malory Towers

  1 First Term at Malory Towers

  2 Second Form at Malory Towers

  3 ThirdYear at Malory Towers

  4 Upper Fourth at Malory Towers

  5 In the Fifth at Malory Towers

  6 Last Term at Malory Towers

  7 New Term at Malory Towers (written by Pamela Cox)

  8 Summer Term at Malory Towers (written by Pamela Cox)

  9 Winter Term at Malory Towers (written by Pamela Cox)

  10 Fun and Games at Malory Towers (written by Pamela Cox)

  11 Secrets at Malory Towers (written by Pamela Cox)

  12 Goodbye Malory Towers (written by Pamela Cox)

  Written by Pamela Cox

  Based on characters and stories created by Enid Blyton

  Copyright

  Winter Term at Malory Towers first published in Great Britain 2009

  by Egmont UK Limited

  239 Kensington High Street

  London W8 6SA

  ENID BLYTON® text copyright © 2009 Chorion Rights Limited

  All rights reserved

  Written by Pamela Cox

  Cover illustration copyright © 2009 Nicola Slater

  The moral rights of the author and illustrator have been asserted

  A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher and copyright owner.

  Visit our web site at www.egmont.co.uk

  First e-book edition 2010

  ISBN 978 1 4052 49690

  Table of Contents

  Cover Page

  Title Page

  Copyright

  1 On the train

  2 The first evening

  3 Exciting news

  4 The new mistress

  5 Olive is annoying

  6 A very successful trick

  7 Miss Tallant interferes

  8 Bonnie in trouble

  9 A shock for the fourth form

  10 Miss Tallant strikes again

  11 An interesting half-term

  12 Exciting plans

  13 A trap is set

  14 The ghost of Malory Towers

  15 Miss Tallant’s niece

  16 Where is Olive?

  17 Bonnie puts things right

  18 The Christmas concert

  1

  On the train

  ‘Mother, there’s Susan!’ cried Felicity Rivers, as she and her mother made their way along the station platform. ‘Susan! Hi, Susan!’

  ‘Felicity, don’t run!’ called Mrs Rivers. ‘It’s far too crowded and you will bump into someone!’

  But it was too late. Felicity was determined to reach her friend Susan and she ran along the platform, dodging the groups of people that stood here and there. Many of them were girls in the Malory Towers uniform, waiting for the train that would take them back to school for the winter term.

  But Mrs Rivers was right, and it wasn’t long before Felicity did bump into someone—a tall, red-haired girl with a serious expression and grey eyes.

  ‘Felicity Rivers!’ said the girl, looking rather cross. ‘Do watch where you are going! And what do you mean by running around like a mad thing?’

  ‘Sorry, Fenella,’ said Felicity meekly, turning red. Of all the people she could have bumped into, why did she have to pick Fenella Thornton, the new Head Girl?

  Fenella glared at her for a moment. Then, suddenly, her face broke into a wide smile, making her look quite different.

  ‘Go on, push off!’ she said with a chuckle. ‘And this time, walk! Remember, you’re a fourth former now, Felicity, not a silly little third former any more.’

  Golly, so I am! thought Felicity, walking over to join Susan and her mother. Fancy me being a fourth former!

  She and Susan greeted one another noisily, for they had to tell one another everything that had happened in the holidays. Then Mrs Rivers came up and chatted to Susan’s mother, and at last it was time for the two girls to board the train.

  Each of them hugged her mother, and Mrs Rivers said, ‘Do write, won’t you, darling? And I know that Darrell would love to hear from you, too.’

  ‘I’ll see you at half-term, dear,’ said Susan’s mother. ‘Have a marvellous time!’

  Felicity and Susan waved their mothers off, then grinned at one another as they walked down the train to find their carriage.

  ‘The beginning of a new term,’ said Susan. ‘And now we are fourth formers!’

  ‘Yes, we are, so why are you going towards the third-form carriage?’ laughed Felicity, pulling her friend back. ‘We don’t want to sit with those babies!’

  ‘Of course not,’ said Susan loftily. ‘Babies!’

  Just then, the guard outside blew his whistle and, with a lurch, the train began to move forward slowly—on its way to Malory Towers!

  ‘I say, isn’t it exciting to be getting the train all on our own?’ said Felicity.

  ‘Much better than being in a stuffy old car,’ agreed Susan.

  The girls usually came to school by car, but Felicity’s father had needed to drive to an urgent appointment, so she was getting the train for the first time. And, as she and Susan were quite inseparable, Susan’s parents had agreed that she could catch the train with Felicity, too.

  A sudden shout of laughter came from one of the carriages further along the train, and Felicity said, ‘I’d know that laugh anywhere!’

  ‘So would I,’ grinned Susan. ‘It’s June!’

  Quickly, Felicity and Susan made their way to the carriage that the laughter had come from, and slid open the door. And there, all chuckling their heads off, sat three of their fellow fourth formers—June, Freddie and Nora. There was another girl sitting in the corner of the carriage too, one that the girls hadn’t seen before, but she wasn’t laughing. In fact, her expression was very sullen indeed.

  Heavens, she doesn’t look very friendly, thought Felicity. I do hope that she isn’t in North Tower with us.

  The new girl, who was rather plain, with straight, mousey-brown hair, which fell to her shoulders, looked up as Felicity and Susan took their seats. Then she looked away again almost immediately, without so much as smiling at the newcomers. The two girls looked at one another and grimaced, but there was no time to worry about the new girl now, for their friends were welcoming them noisily.

  ‘Hallo there, you two! Had good hols?’

  ‘Isn’t it grand to be going back to good old Malory Towers?’

  ‘And this time we shall be in the fourth form! My goodness, we are going up in the world!’

  ‘I don’t know that I want to be a fourth former,’ said Nora, frowning a little. ‘We shall have to settle down a little and be more responsible now that we are in the upper school. It won’t be nearly as much fun!’

  The sullen-looking girl, who had been huddled miserably in the corner, looking out of the window, turned her head again at this, and threw Nora a scornful look. Fortunately, Nora didn’t see it, but Felicity did, and felt quite
shocked. Whatever had Nora done to deserve that?

  ‘I have no intention at all of settling down,’ said June. ‘I don’t see why we can’t have a little fun, just because we are fourth formers.’

  ‘Quite right!’ said her friend, Freddie. ‘We can still play the odd trick…’

  ‘And have the occasional joke,’ put in June.

  ‘And, perhaps, we might even arrange a midnight feast!’ said Freddie, her blue eyes lighting up.

  The eyes of Felicity, Susan and Nora lit up too. A midnight feast would be simply too marvellous for words! They hadn’t had one for absolutely ages. On the other hand, though, what Nora had said was quite true. The girls were expected to settle down a little once they were in the fourth form. But then Felicity remembered that when her sister Darrell had been in the upper fourth, they had held a feast. And if it was good enough for Darrell, it was good enough for Felicity!

  ‘Perhaps we could have a feast,’ she said, grinning. ‘It’s not as if we would be doing any harm. And as long as we keep it to ourselves, we can’t be accused of setting a bad example to the lower forms.’

  ‘My sentiments exactly!’ cried June, clapping her on the back. ‘My word, we’re in for some fun this term.’

  June’s wicked, dark eyes were shining. She and Freddie were the jokers of the form, and fun was never far away when they were around!

  ‘There’s a very mischievous look about you this term, June,’ said Susan, watching the girl.

  ‘June always looks mischievous,’ laughed Nora.

  ‘Yes, but she looks even more mischievous than usual,’ said Susan. ‘And so do you, Freddie! Secretly planning lots of tricks, I expect!’

  ‘Us?’ said June, making her eyes very wide and innocent. ‘Of course not!’

  ‘As if we would!’ said Freddie, also looking very innocent.

  But the others knew that Freddie had spent the last few days of the holidays at June’s. And June’s brothers, who were also great jokers, had been there too. No doubt the two girls had come back with all kinds of jokes and tricks up their sleeves!

  The new girl, who had sat in silence while the chatter went on around her, gave a sniff, and Felicity and Susan looked at the others enquiringly.

  ‘Oh yes,’ said June, as though she had only just remembered that the girl was there. ‘I haven’t introduced you to our new member of the form, have I? This is Olive Witherspoon.’

  Felicity and Susan said hallo, and the girl returned their greeting unsmilingly, in a tight little voice.

  ‘Have you been to boarding school before, Olive?’ asked Felicity, pleasantly.

  ‘Yes,’ said Olive shortly.

  ‘Well, that’s good,’ said Susan, brightly. ‘As you’re used to it, I don’t suppose you will feel too homesick, will you?’

  ‘No,’ came Olive’s curt reply, and June muttered under her breath, ‘Don’t waste your time. She won’t volunteer any information, and all you will get out of her are one-word answers. I gave up after about five minutes.’

  ‘Yes, cheerful little soul, isn’t she?’ murmured Freddie.

  Nora pulled a face and said in a low voice, ‘Never mind about her! We’ve tried to be friendly, but she obviously doesn’t want our company. Let’s talk about something else instead. I say, did you know that Fenella Thornton has been made Head Girl, now that Kay Foster has left?’

  ‘Yes, and old Amanda’s gone, too,’ said June. ‘Ruth Grainger is taking her place as games captain.’

  ‘I like Ruth,’ said Freddie. ‘And Fenella’s not a bad sort, although she has a bit of a temper.’

  ‘Yes, Fenella can be hot-tempered at times,’ laughed Felicity. ‘I bumped into her on the platform, quite literally! She was cross with me at first, but she soon got over it.’

  ‘I wonder who will be head of the form?’ said Susan.

  ‘Well, it won’t be me,’ said Felicity. ‘I had my turn in the third form. I must say, I’m quite looking forward to taking a back seat this year.’

  ‘And it certainly won’t be me,’ said June comfortably. ‘I’m far too irresponsible.’

  ‘And it won’t be me, either,’ laughed Freddie. ‘For the same reason.’

  ‘I’m much too scatterbrained,’ said Nora. ‘Potty and Miss Williams would never choose me.’

  ‘Perhaps it will be Pam,’ suggested Susan. ‘She’s so steady and good-tempered. And she was head girl when we were in the second form.’

  ‘Pam was a super head-girl,’ said Felicity. ‘But I think that Miss Williams should give someone else a chance this term. It might be you, Susan!’

  ‘No!’ said June at once, with a horrified expression. ‘Why, Susan would be no good at all as head-girl.’

  ‘She would be marvellous!’ retorted the normally even-tempered Felicity, firing up in defence of her friend. She had turned rather red, and June gave her a push, saying, ‘Ass! I was only joking. Of course I know that Susan would be a splendid head-girl. I say, just imagine if Miss Williams made Bonnie head of the form? Or Amy?’

  ‘I don’t know which of them would be worse,’ said Susan, with a shudder. ‘It would certainly be an entertaining term if one of those two were chosen, but somehow I can’t quite picture it happening!’

  The chatter continued as the train went on its way, but still Olive took no part. Felicity, who thought that perhaps the girl was just very shy, felt a little sorry for her. Every now and then she tried to draw Olive into conversation, but, as before, the girl responded with terse answers, and asked no questions of her own.

  She really was rather odd, decided Felicity, giving up. She remembered how excited she had felt about starting at Malory Towers, and how she had bombarded her older sister, Darrell, with questions. Yet Olive wasn’t at all excited, and she didn’t seem remotely curious about her new school either. It was very strange!

  At last the train drew up at the little station near Malory Towers and, dragging their trunks and carrying their night cases, the girls alighted. Several big coaches were waiting to take the girls to the school, and Felicity and her friends boarded the first one, Olive following. Felicity and Susan sat together, of course, and so did June and Freddie. Which left Nora to sit next to the new girl, something which neither of them looked very pleased about.

  Felicity and Susan felt sorry for Nora, for they would not have liked to sit next to the surly Olive either. They sat behind the two girls, and did their best to include Nora in their conversation, for which she was very grateful.

  The coach journey was only a short one, and the girls grew very excited as the coach rounded a bend in the road, and their beloved Malory Towers came into view.

  Felicity always loved this first glimpse of her school, thinking how magnificent it looked—almost like a castle, with its four towers, one at each corner.

  In excitement, she cried out, ‘Olive, look! There is Malory Towers, up on the cliff. Isn’t it just the most beautiful building you have ever seen?’

  Olive looked, but she made no comment. And Nora, stealing a sideways glance at the new girl, thought that her frown seemed to deepen.

  There was great excitement as the coaches pulled up in the driveway, those girls who had arrived earlier by car gathering round to greet their friends.

  ‘Felicity! I wondered where you were!’

  ‘And there’s Susan! Had good hols, Susan?’

  ‘Hallo, June! And Freddie! My, isn’t it good to be back?’

  ‘Nora, old girl! Hurry up, and let’s take our night cases to Matron.’

  This was Nora’s friend, the placid, even-tempered Pam. She looked with interest at Olive, who was coming down the steps behind Nora, and said in her friendly way, ‘Hallo there! Welcome to Malory Towers. Are you going to be in the fourth form with us?’

  ‘Yes,’ answered Olive, in her funny, stiff little voice.

  ‘Got your night case? Good, you can come along to Matron with the rest of us. I say, where did Felicity and Susan get to?’

  Felicity and Susan
had been swallowed up by a group of fourth formers. There was pretty little Bonnie, the haughty Amy, and freckle-faced Julie, with her friend, Lucy.

  Julie and Lucy had brought their horses to school with them, and all of the girls were eager to go down to the stables and greet them.

  ‘Thank goodness that there was room in the stables this term for Jack and Sandy,’ said Felicity.

  ‘Yes, it’s wonderful to have him with me again,’ said Julie. ‘I don’t blame Bill and Clarissa one little bit for what happened last term, of course, and I know that it won’t happen again. But I just feel happier knowing that Jack is here, at Malory Towers.’

  Last term there had been no room in the school stables for Jack and Sandy, so Julie and Lucy had stabled their horses at Five Oaks, a nearby riding school, which was run by two old girls. But there had been great consternation when Jack had gone missing. Fortunately, he had been found, and the culprit arrested, so everything had ended happily.

  Now, though, Julie was even more reluctant to let Jack out of her sight than usual.

  ‘Come along, everyone!’ came Pam’s voice from behind the little group. ‘Let’s take our health certificates to Matron and unpack our things. I’m simply dying to see our new dormitory and common-room.’

  So the girls picked up their night cases and trooped inside North Tower to the big hall. A small group of first formers stood there, all of them looking nervous and a little lost.

  ‘Poor little dears,’ said Susan to Felicity. ‘Shall we offer to take them upstairs to Matron?’

  Felicity nodded, but before they had time to approach the first formers, a large, fair girl with a round face and very rosy cheeks strode up to them.

  ‘Come on, kids!’ she commanded, in a loud, very hearty voice. ‘Follow me, and I’ll take you to Matron’s room. No lagging behind now!’

  ‘Heavens, who’s that?’ asked Susan.

  ‘Must be a new girl,’ said June. ‘Probably a fifth or sixth former by the look of her. I say, she looks like a mother duck, with all her little ducklings following behind her, doesn’t she?’