Fun and Games at Malory Towers Page 10

  Amy was never quite sure when June and Freddie were pulling her leg, but, to be on the safe side, she had put the stopper back in the scent bottle at once, and placed it carefully on her cabinet.

  The others had known that June and Freddie were having a joke, and had smiled to themselves, even Bonnie unable to hide a grin at her friend’s confused expression.

  This morning, Amy, who always took a great deal of care over her appearance, was sitting on the edge of the bed, brushing her silky blonde hair, when her eye fell upon the cabinet, and she gave a little shriek.

  There were several fifth formers in the dormitory, and they jumped, Pam saying, ‘For goodness’ sake, Amy, must you squeal like that? Whatever is the matter?’

  ‘My perfume!’ cried Amy, looking very distressed. ‘It’s gone!’

  Everyone gathered round at once, Bonnie saying, ‘Are you sure that it hasn’t fallen on the floor, Amy?’

  The fifth formers began to hunt for the missing perfume bottle, looking under beds and behind cabinets. But there was no sign of it.

  ‘Where can it have gone!’ asked Amy, who really was very upset, for expensive possessions meant a great deal to the girl.

  ‘I should think that it has gone to the same place as Millicent’s purse and Susan’s chocolates,’ said June, in a hard little voice. ‘The thief has struck again!’

  ‘Then we must tackle her,’ said Amy. ‘It’s one thing to take a box of chocolates, or a purse with only a few pounds in it, but that perfume is most exclusive, and – ’

  ‘Oh, do be quiet, Amy,’ said Felicity, exasperated. ‘It isn’t the value of the things that have been stolen that is important. It is the fact that we have a thief among us.’

  ‘Quite right,’ said Pam, well aware that, as head-girl, it was up to her to take some action. But she couldn’t think quite what to do, for it really was a very tricky situation.

  June, though, had very definite ideas, and she said, ‘Delia must be hiding the things somewhere. Perhaps they are in her cabinet. I vote we take a look.’

  But Pam said firmly, ‘No. I refuse to do something so sly and underhand. Besides, we have all been watching Delia, and she hasn’t taken anything, although she has had several chances.’

  ‘Well, someone has the stolen things,’ said Amy. ‘And there’s no denying that a bedside cabinet would make a jolly good hiding place.’

  ‘Very well,’ said Pam. ‘After breakfast we shall all come to the dormitory, and I shall ask everyone to open their bedside cabinets, so that we can see what is in there. Does everyone agree that that is fair?’

  The others nodded solemnly, and went to join the rest of the fifth form for breakfast. Slipping into her seat, Felicity stole a glance at Delia, sitting across the table next to Gillian.

  The girl was tucking into toast and marmalade, looking relaxed and happy as she chattered to her friend, and Felicity thought that surely Delia could not look like that if she was hiding a guilty secret.

  At last the meal was over, and Julie and Lucy got to their feet.

  ‘We’re off for a ride,’ said Lucy. ‘It’s a beautiful day, and we don’t want to miss a second of it.’

  ‘Hold on a minute, please,’ said Pam. ‘I would like you all to come up to the dormitory for a few moments.’

  Those girls who hadn’t been present when it was discovered that Amy’s perfume was missing exchanged puzzled glances, and Julie said, ‘Why, Pam?’

  ‘I shall tell you when we get there,’ replied Pam. ‘It won’t take long, and I would be very grateful if you all do as I ask.’

  So the fifth formers trooped back upstairs, and, once they were in the dormitory, Pam said, ‘Can you all stand by your cabinets, please.’

  The girls did as they were asked, Pam standing by hers as well. Then she said, ‘I would like you all to open the doors so that we can see what is inside.’

  ‘Why?’ asked Gillian, looking rather bewildered.

  ‘Well, Gillian,’ said Pam. ‘I hate to say this, but it appears that we have a thief in the fifth form. As you know, Millicent’s purse disappeared a while ago, then Susan’s chocolates, and now Amy’s perfume has gone. It’s possible that the thief has hidden the things in her cabinet, so we are going to check all of them. Does anyone object?’

  No one did, and June, looking hard at Delia, was forced to admit to herself that if the girl was putting on an act, it was a jolly good one. She looked very shocked indeed, but not at all guilty, and was among the first to pull open her cabinet door. There was nothing in there, of course, but her own belongings, and as Pam went along looking inside all the cabinets, it soon became apparent that no one was hiding anything.

  At last she said, ‘Felicity, will you look in my cabinet, please, then I can put myself in the clear as well.’

  Felicity did as she was asked, peering into Pam’s cabinet, and moving a few things so that she could get a good look.

  ‘Not a thing,’ she said, when she had finished her search. ‘Not that I expected Pam, of all people, to be hiding stolen goods.’

  The girls all felt secretly rather relieved that nothing had been found in the dormitory, yet uneasy that the thief was still at large.

  ‘A bit of a waste of time, really,’ said June to Freddie afterwards. ‘The thief has obviously found a safer hiding place, and we are no closer to unmasking her.’

  Amy, of course, was most displeased, and she stalked up to Pam, saying crossly, ‘I think that we ought to report the matter to Miss Grayling. Whoever took my perfume simply can’t be allowed to get away with it. The Head must call the police, and – ’

  ‘My dear Amy, I am quite sure that the police have more important matters to deal with than your missing perfume,’ said Pam coolly. ‘Besides, if the police are called it will mean bad publicity for the school, and the Head won’t want that if it can be avoided.’

  ‘Then what is to be done?’ demanded Amy.

  ‘I don’t know,’ admitted Pam, with a sigh.

  ‘I have an idea,’ said Bonnie, coming forward.

  ‘Then by all means let’s hear it,’ said Pam.

  Bonnie glanced round, to make sure that no one else was in the room but the three of them. The others had all gone, and as Bonnie felt quite certain that neither Pam nor Amy was the thief, she was able to speak freely.

  But first, Bonnie took something from her cabinet, and held it out to show the other two. It was a large brooch, sparkly, shiny and glittery, and Amy wrinkled her long nose in distaste, saying, ‘What an awful thing! Really, Bonnie, I always thought that you had good taste.’

  Bonnie laughed, and said, ‘Quite hideous, isn’t it? My aunt gave it to me for my birthday, and I would be most grateful if someone would steal it, for I couldn’t possibly wear it.’

  ‘What are you suggesting, Bonnie?’ asked Pam, with a frown.

  ‘Well,’ said Bonnie, her eyes dancing impishly. ‘If I was to leave this lying around somewhere, surely the thief won’t be able to resist it. It’s not particularly valuable, but it looks as if it might be.’

  ‘Yes, but I don’t see what good it would do,’ said Pam. ‘Our thief would be certain to take the brooch, but it won’t help us to find out who she is.’

  ‘Ah, but it will,’ said Bonnie. ‘Look!’

  She held out her hand, and Pam and Amy saw that her fingers were covered with glitter.

  ‘It comes off, see?’ said Bonnie. ‘And although it seems to rub off the brooch quite easily, it tends to stick to the fingers unless you wash your hands thoroughly.’

  ‘So once the brooch has been taken, all we have to do is look at everyone’s hands!’ said Amy excitedly. ‘My word, Bonnie, what a super idea!’

  ‘It is a good idea!’ said Pam, looking pleased. ‘But are you sure you don’t mind risking your brooch, Bonnie?’

  ‘Not at all,’ said Bonnie, with a smile. ‘The thief is quite welcome to it. I shall put it on top of my bedside cabinet, where she can’t help but notice it.’

  �
��Yes, it does rather draw one’s attention,’ said Amy, with a shudder. ‘It sparkles so much that I daresay we shall still be able to see it when the lights are out!’

  Bonnie went to wash the glitter from her hands, then she and Amy went off to the common-room together, while Pam sought out Nora and bore her off for a walk along the cliffs.

  As it was Sunday morning, the girls were busily engaged in their own activities. Julie and Lucy, of course, were out riding, Millicent was poring over her music, and June, helped by Freddie, was making out a list of practice times for the lower school.

  Felicity and Susan were helping in the school garden, and even Gillian was enjoying a little fresh air, for Delia, mindful of her promise to the girl’s mother, had insisted that she come outside for a stroll around the gardens.

  Gillian had been reluctant at first, saying fretfully, ‘I really should be practising my music, for there is a rehearsal this afternoon.’

  ‘You spent most of yesterday evening practising,’ Delia had pointed out, her tone of voice unusually firm. ‘I think it would do you much more good to spend a little time outdoors, then you will turn up for rehearsal refreshed, and with a clear head.’

  Gillian had been forced to admit that there was something in that, and said, ‘It does seem a shame to be cooped up indoors on such a beautiful day. Very well, Delia, I’ll come with you.’

  And the two girls had whiled away a pleasant couple of hours idly strolling about the grounds, passing the time of day with Mam’zelle Dupont, admiring the beautiful blooms in the Head’s garden, and simply sitting on the grass chatting about this and that.

  ‘Well, what a nice, peaceful morning it has been!’ said Gillian happily, as she and Delia made their way to the dining-room for lunch. ‘I would never have guessed that simply doing nothing could be such fun.’

  Delia laughed, and said, ‘I do wish that I could come and watch the rehearsal this afternoon. I shall be quite at a loose end.’

  ‘Well, come along then,’ said Gillian. ‘Perhaps it will help me to play better if I can see a friendly face.’

  ‘I can’t,’ said Delia, with a grimace. ‘You know that Millicent has banned anyone who isn’t actually in the orchestra from attending rehearsals.’

  ‘Yes, but I think that she only said that because some of the younger girls who came to watch were fooling about, and distracting the orchestra,’ said Gillian. ‘She knows that no fifth former would behave like that, so I am quite sure she won’t object if you want to sit and watch.’

  Millicent didn’t object, for she didn’t want to upset Gillian, and had noticed how friendly she and Delia had become. So she smiled brightly, and said, ‘Of course, Delia is most welcome to sit and watch. I know that she can be trusted not to distract anyone.’

  But there were discontented mutterings from some of the orchestra members as Delia took a seat at the front of the hall.

  ‘My friend Meg would have liked to come and watch us rehearse,’ said Kathy, of the third form. ‘But Millicent simply wouldn’t hear of it.’

  ‘I should have liked to bring one or two of the East Tower girls along for support, too,’ said Anne, scowling. ‘Millicent said no to that as well. It just isn’t fair! There is one rule for Gillian, and another for the rest of us.’

  ‘Yet Millicent expects us to play our hearts out for her,’ said Janet. ‘Well, I think it’s about time she gave something back.’

  ‘Yes, it really is difficult to do something whole-heartedly when we are being treated so unfairly,’ said Jessie. ‘I, for one, am beginning to wish that I had never put my name down to join this beastly orchestra.’

  ‘Quiet, please, everyone!’ said Millicent sharply. ‘Let’s begin the rehearsal. I would like you to play the whole piece through, from beginning to end.’

  ‘What if someone makes a mistake?’ called out Janet.

  ‘If you have been practising as you should, there shouldn’t be any mistakes,’ said Millicent briskly. ‘However, if anyone does play a wrong note, I want her to ignore it and carry on. What I am trying to do today is to get an idea of how the whole thing will sound.’

  So the orchestra played ‘Summer Serenade’ all the way through, and it sounded so beautiful that even Millicent was pleased, and managed a few words of praise.

  ‘I can hear that you have been practising hard,’ she said, with a smile. ‘Well done.’

  Then she glanced at her watch, and said, ‘As you have done so well, I think that you deserve a short break. We will start again in fifteen minutes.’

  With that, Millicent swept from the room. Some of the orchestra followed her, keen to get a breath of fresh air, while others sat on the chairs in the hall, simply glad of a rest.

  ‘Well, wonders will never cease!’ said Jessie. ‘Fancy Millicent allowing us a break!’

  ‘And she praised us,’ said Anne. ‘All of us, not just Gillian. Well, if Millicent keeps this up, I daresay it won’t be so bad being in the orchestra, after all.’

  But Anne had spoken too soon, for the rehearsal, which had started so promisingly, was to end in disaster.

  A few minutes before the orchestra were due to take their places again, Kathy’s friend Meg, along with several of her fellow third formers, peeped into the hall. Seeing that Millicent was not present, they ventured in, and the rather cheeky Meg asked, ‘Where’s the slave-driver?’

  Kathy giggled, and answered, ‘She’s given us a well-earned break and gone off for a walk.’

  ‘Yes, and I think it might be a good idea if you kids disappear before she comes back,’ said Gillian. ‘Unless you want one of Millicent’s scolds.’

  ‘Pooh!’ scoffed Meg, forgetting for a moment that she was talking to a fifth former. ‘I see that your friend is allowed to watch the rehearsal, Gillian.’

  Gillian’s eyes flashed angrily, and she said, ‘How dare you speak to me like that? Apologise at once!’

  Meg scowled, and hesitated for a moment, then, as she saw Gillian reach into her pocket for the punishment book that all the fifth and sixth formers carried with them, she blurted out, ‘I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to sound rude.’

  All would have been well, and the third formers would have left quietly, but just then Millicent returned, and, on spotting the youngsters, went ‘up in the air’, as Kathy put it.

  ‘Kathy, didn’t I tell you that no one was allowed to watch the rehearsal without my permission?’ she snapped. ‘I don’t take kindly to being disobeyed. You kids, clear off at once!’

  Now Meg, who had just been thinking herself lucky to have escaped a punishment for cheeking Gillian, felt nettled. Why did Millicent have to be so autocratic and unpleasant all the time?

  She glanced round at the rest of the third formers, all of whom were eyeing Millicent apprehensively, and waiting to take their lead from Meg. And Meg knew that she would go up in her form’s estimation no end if she stood up to the bossy Millicent.

  ‘Why should we leave?’ she asked defiantly. ‘I’m sure that we have as much right to be here as Delia.’

  There were murmurs of agreement from the third formers, and Millicent said, ‘Delia is a fifth former, and can be relied on to behave. Unlike you youngsters. Now push off, before I dish out punishments to the lot of you!’

  ‘Just as we were hoping that Millicent had turned over a new leaf,’ murmured Janet to Anne and Jessie. ‘I thought it was too good to be true.’

  But Meg, with the admiring eyes of her form upon her, wasn’t giving up without a fight, and began to argue with Millicent.

  Thoroughly exasperated, Millicent pulled out her punishment book, quickly wrote something on one of the pages, then ripped it out and handed it to the furious Meg.

  ‘There!’ she said. ‘And let it be a lesson to you to show a little respect to your elders!’

  Meg was shocked when she looked at the piece of paper and saw that she had been given a hundred lines, but it was worth it when she saw the admiration on the faces of her friends.

  �
�Never mind, Meg,’ whispered Kathy, who felt quite furious with Millicent. ‘I’ll do half of them for you.’

  ‘Be quiet, Kathy, and get to your place, please,’ said Millicent sharply. ‘And once your friends have buzzed off, you can play your part again, for I noticed several wrong notes earlier. Perhaps if you spent more time practising, and less fooling around with your friends, you would be a better musician.’

  Poor Kathy’s face burned, for she knew that Millicent was deliberately trying to humiliate her in front of her form. She glanced round at her friends, saw their sympathetic glances, and something inside her snapped.

  ‘Very well,’ she said coldly. ‘If I am such a poor musician, Millicent, perhaps you had better find someone else to take my place.’

  And, before the astonished eyes of the orchestra, Kathy picked up her trumpet and stalked towards the door. She was followed by her friends, all of them delighted that she had made a stand.

  Millicent, however, was thoroughly dismayed, and called out, ‘Kathy, wait! You can’t just leave the orchestra like that! I shall report you to Miss Grayling.’

  ‘You can’t,’ retorted Kathy in a tight little voice. ‘I joined the orchestra of my own free will, and I am leaving of my own free will. Neither you, Millicent, nor Miss Grayling herself, can force me to continue.’

  And Millicent was left quite speechless, for once, because she knew that Kathy was right. Blow, now what was she to do? The competition was only four weeks away, and now she, Millicent, had to find another trumpet player who could learn the music in such a short time. And Millicent had to admit that, in spite of her harsh words, she would never find another one as good as Kathy.

  12

  Mutiny in the orchestra

  Millicent did find another trumpet player, but the girl was a first former who hadn’t been playing for very long and wasn’t up to Kathy’s standard. And it seemed that Millicent had learned nothing from her mistakes, for at the next rehearsal she was so bad-tempered that Jessie also resigned from the orchestra, leaving another gap to be filled.