Naughtiest Girl 7: Naughtiest Girl Saves The Day Page 2

  ‘Look, Julian!’ she exclaimed. ‘Daniel Carter’s signed up.’

  All through dinner he had, as usual, sat furtively reading a book under the table and not taken the slightest interest in the conversation about the play. Daniel never joined in any activities that he could possibly avoid.

  ‘What a surprise,’ said Julian. ‘Do you think he’s hoping for the main boy’s part, the goblin?’

  Elizabeth laughed happily.

  ‘With you around, Julian,’ she replied, ‘I’m afraid he’ll just have to hope away!’

  CHAPTER THREE

  Daniel drops a mysterious hint

  IN THE English lesson the next day, Daniel hardly looked like somebody hoping to land a good part in the play. He looked rather glum about the whole thing!

  ‘Here’s yours, Daniel,’ said Miss Ranger, brightly, as she finished handing out copies of the play to those who had signed up. ‘When you read it, you will find it’s a very good play. I want you to study it carefully over the next few days and decide which part to try for. You must learn some lines from your favourite part. And –’ the teacher looked up and smiled round at the class ‘– the same thing applies to the rest of you. Please try to learn some of the lines you wish to speak when we have the auditions next week. You’ll be able to act a part so much better if you do not have to read it from the script.’

  ‘I’ve learnt some of my lines already!’ piped up Arabella, smugly.

  ‘Are you sure?’ asked the teacher, kindly. She knew how much difficulty the oldest girl in the form had with memorizing things.

  Elizabeth was pleased that the auditions were still a few days away. They would be held during English lessons next week and the joint heads would be sitting in on some of the judging! Arabella had tried to steal a march but now they all had a chance to catch up. It was very pleasing.

  Daniel, however, did not look in the least bit pleased. Elizabeth, sitting on the corner of Julian’s desk and eagerly leafing through the play, had noticed how reluctantly the fair-haired boy had collected his copy, the last member of the class to do so. Now he walked back to his desk, opened the lid, and placed it inside without even glancing at it. Then he sat down and folded his arms.

  As Miss Ranger addressed the class, he looked glummer than ever. She was telling them how, later on, rehearsals for the play would have to take place out of school hours – and in the fresh air. As the Summer Play was always held out of doors, it would be good practice for the children to get used to acting outside!

  Daniel hated any form of outdoor activity. He was one of the few children at Whyteleafe to have his own tiny room, up on the attic floor above the main dormitories. Summer or winter, he loved his cosy little room under the eaves, where he could read his favourite story books to his heart’s content.

  ‘So be prepared to give up some spare time, those of you who are chosen,’ concluded the teacher. ‘We have so much other work to get through in English lessons. Remember, you have exams at the end of term and very important ones, too, for those who wish to go up to the second form in September. So now,’ she clapped her hands briskly, ‘stop talking everyone, please, and return to your desks and get out your spelling books.’

  But by now Elizabeth was chattering away non-stop to Julian.

  ‘Doesn’t the story look fun, Julian? I can just see you as Jonkin! I don’t in the least mind giving up my spare time if I’m chosen, do you? I’ll have to skip some of my piano practice! But have you noticed something?’ She lowered her voice to a whisper. ‘Have you noticed how grumpy Daniel looks about the whole thing? I can’t imagine anyone who would hate acting more, especially out of doors! So why did he put his name down?’

  ‘I think there’s probably a very simple answer,’ Julian whispered back. He, too, had noted carefully Daniel’s attitude. ‘I don’t think the poor boy wants to be in the play, at all. I think one of the teachers ordered him to put his name down for it. Perhaps Miss Ranger herself. It must worry them a bit, the way he never joins in anything.’

  ‘Oh, Julian! You are clever!’ responded Elizabeth. ‘Yes, that must be the answer—’

  ‘ELIZABETH!’ exclaimed Miss Ranger. ‘Please stop talking and get off Julian’s desk. Julian, please get your spelling book out as you have been asked to do. I think I will have to separate you two.’

  The teacher looked around the room and then pointed to an empty desk, all on its own, at the back of the classroom under the open window.

  ‘Elizabeth, please get your books and move to that desk at the back. You love talking so much that I think it will be better for you.’ She spoke to the little girl quite kindly. ‘You will be out of temptation’s way there and I know I can trust you to pay attention and work hard, even right at the back there.’

  ‘Yes, Miss Ranger,’ replied Elizabeth.

  Julian looked at his friend apologetically but Elizabeth did not mind in the least. She knew that Miss Ranger was acting for the best and besides, it was a lovely place, there by the open window. There were soft summer scents wafting in on the warm breeze. The last thing Elizabeth wanted to do at present was to blot her copybook by talking to her friends in class. Now any temptation to do so had been removed.

  She pondered upon what Julian had said. ‘Poor Daniel!’ she thought.

  But the very same day, at the end of the afternoon, Daniel caused them another surprise.

  Once lessons were finished for the day, Elizabeth and Julian went for a short ride in the grounds on the ponies. Emerging from the trees afterwards, they dismounted and walked the horses back to the school stables. A boy was leaning against one of the stable doors, as though enjoying the sunshine. He waved cheerfully when he saw them and hurried forward to greet them.

  ‘Hello, Julian! Hello, Elizabeth!’ he exclaimed, whilst patting the horses’ necks. ‘Isn’t it a lovely day! Have you had a good ride?’

  It was Daniel.

  The two friends unsaddled their horses and rubbed them down, at the same time glancing at each other in astonishment. It was such a surprise to see Daniel out in the fresh air! He looked so happy, too. His cheeks were flushed and there was an air of suppressed excitement about him. What could have happened to bring about such a change in him? It was most perplexing.

  ‘Isn’t it a grand day?’ he repeated, once the ponies were unsaddled. ‘Here, I’ll put the tack away for you and shut the ponies up for the stableman.’

  ‘Will you really?’ said Julian, gratefully.

  ‘That’s sweet of you, Daniel,’ said Elizabeth.

  They dumped the tack and were about to leave when—

  ‘Do you two know when the next school Meeting is?’ the boy blurted out eagerly.

  ‘Friday,’ replied Elizabeth. ‘Why?’

  ‘Planning a complaint, Daniel?’ asked Julian, teasingly. ‘Or possibly a grumble?’

  The boy flushed.

  ‘No, not at all. Nobody’s done anything to annoy me at present,’ he said solemnly. ‘I’ve got a special request to make to the Meeting, that’s all. A very special request!’

  ‘Whatever’s that?’ asked Elizabeth, fascinated.

  ‘I – I’m sorry, I can’t tell you. Not yet . . .’

  ‘Oh, please do!’ begged Elizabeth. ‘Why can’t you tell us?’

  ‘I – I’ve got to see how things go,’ mumbled the boy. ‘I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything. I didn’t mean to intrigue you . . .’

  He looked apologetic.

  ‘Fair enough,’ said Julian, turning to walk away.

  Daniel hurried forward and grabbed Julian’s arm.

  ‘But please, if I do . . . when I do ask the Meeting this thing, I do hope you two will support me. Please.’

  Elizabeth was more intrigued than ever.

  ‘I’m sure we will if we can, Daniel.’


  ‘Once we know what it is!’ laughed Julian.

  It was such a surprising episode. The two friends talked about it all the way back to the school building. Daniel had seemed so very different from his usual self.

  ‘Whatever’s happened to him?’ wondered Julian. ‘Can that be the same chap who looked so glum in English this morning?’

  An anxious thought suddenly crossed Elizabeth’s mind.

  ‘You don’t think it’s because he’s read the play by now? And he’s realized what a brilliant play it is and how brilliant the part of Jonkin is, and how this is his big chance to shine . . . ?’

  She hated the idea of anyone other than Julian having the part.

  ‘Hardly! He’d be up in that little room of his, learning it off by heart, not enjoying himself in the fresh air for a change,’ replied Julian. ‘No, I’m sure it’s not that. But something’s transformed him, all right.’

  ‘Can it be to do with this mysterious request he wants to put to the school Meeting?’ pondered Elizabeth. ‘I can’t think what it’s going to be.’

  ‘We’ll find out,’ said Julian, airily, ‘soon enough.’

  CHAPTER FOUR

  An interesting school Meeting

  ON FRIDAY, lessons over for the week, Elizabeth ran up to the dormitory and got ready for the school Meeting. She washed her hands and brushed her hair and decided that today she would wear her school blazer, even though it was still a bit big for her. As she did up the shiny silver buttons and looked in the mirror, she felt a happy, belonging sort of feeling.

  She was proud to wear the blazer and to be a member of Whyteleafe School. She admired the way that William and Rita, the head boy and head girl, ran the Meetings with the pupils themselves making all kinds of important decisions about any problems that arose, without any help from the teachers.

  As she filed into the hall with Belinda, Kathleen and Jenny she looked at her watch. They were early. But somebody else had got there ahead of them.

  Daniel, usually one of the last, was seated very near the front at the far end of an empty bench. The girls took their places alongside him and Elizabeth noticed how spruce he looked. He was sitting upright, arms folded, waiting for the Meeting to begin. He seemed very alert. There was still the same air of suppressed excitement about him that had been there for some days.

  Others, as well as Elizabeth and Julian, had noticed the change in Daniel. Although he still took a book with him everywhere, he was spending much more time out of doors. He looked happier and more lively. He had even begun to take an interest in the Summer Play. Apparently he’d learned bits from several different parts and had shyly asked Martin to test him.

  ‘Well, now we shall find out more, at last, thought Elizabeth. He looks quite keyed up about this special request of his, whatever it is!’

  The twelve school monitors came and took their places on the platform behind William and Rita, who were seated at a special table. There was a big book on the table. Important things that happened at Meetings were always written down in the Book. The scene never failed to remind Elizabeth of a court room, with William and Rita as the Judges and the monitors, the Jury.

  The hall soon filled up as all the classes came in. Miss Belle and Miss Best, the joint heads, and Mr Johns, the senior master, slipped quietly into their special chairs, right at the back. They were there to observe proceedings but never joined in unless their advice was requested.

  When everybody was seated and the hubbub of chatter was reaching a crescendo, William picked up a small hammer and struck the table loudly.

  ‘Silence, please! The Meeting will now begin.’

  As the gavel went down Elizabeth, as always, felt a frisson of excitement. There was an instant hush all around her. What would today’s Meeting bring?

  ‘First of all, finance,’ said William. ‘A lot of you will have brought money back with you. Thomas is passing the school box along the rows. Please place all your money inside.’

  There came the rustle of banknotes and the merry rattle of coins going into the big box as the children cheerfully parted with their money. Some of the campers had been sent postal orders. They went into the box, too. It was a strict rule at Whyteleafe that all spending money was pooled and then shared out fairly, so that no pupil had an unfair advantage over another.

  After that, every child in the school was handed two pounds. This was their spending money for the week.

  ‘Now, are there any requests for extra money?’ asked the head girl.

  Eileen put her hand up.

  ‘Please, Rita, I broke a string in my racket at team practice yesterday. We’ve got a match soon but Mr Warlow has had a look at it and he feels the racket’s so worn that I really need to have a new one and just keep the old one as a spare.’

  Rita had a quick word with William and they both nodded.

  ‘That tennis racket of yours has had a lot of wear and tear this term in the service of the school, Eileen,’ smiled Rita. ‘No wonder it’s worn out. You will be allocated some money to buy a new one.’

  Patrick, who was in the second tennis team with Eileen, looked pleased for her sake. Now she would play even better.

  The next request was rather more difficult to deal with.

  A member of the junior class (which always sat cross-legged on the floor in the front of the first form benches) rose to his feet.

  ‘Please, I’m getting very keen on tennis now we’re starting to learn but I haven’t got my own racket. There’s one in the school second-hand shop and it only costs five pounds. Could I have some extra money to help me buy it?’

  The head boy and girl went into a huddle with the monitors to discuss the request. After two or three minutes, they returned to the table and William called for silence.

  ‘We don’t think we can donate you any money from the pool, Henry, because it wouldn’t be fair on any other juniors who don’t own a racket. What we are prepared to do is to advance you your next two weeks’ pocket-money. With today’s money that would mean you have six pounds.’

  The little boy looked very disappointed.

  ‘But then, please William, that would only leave me a pound for sweets and things to last me three whole weeks!’

  ‘Yes, Henry,’ said Rita kindly. ‘So this offer is a good test for you. It will help you to decide just how keen you are on tennis and how much you want your own racket, rather than using the school ones while you’re learning. Think about it for a while. Then let us know at the end of the Meeting what you have decided.’

  ‘Yes, Rita.’

  ‘Any more requests for money, anybody?’ she asked.

  Elizabeth glanced sidelong at Daniel. But he remained silent.

  So whatever he intended to ask for, then, did not require spending money.

  The Meeting moved briskly on to discuss the school camp. William proposed a vote of thanks for the tent monitors, explaining that they had all done an excellent job. Sitting on the platform, Joan looked proud and gave Elizabeth a grateful wave. Only they knew about the problems she had had as a tent monitor and how they had been overcome.

  After that came grumbles or complaints.

  There were none at all this week.

  ‘Good,’ said William. ‘We have just one more important matter to deal with. After that we will finish up with Any Other Business . . .’

  ‘Nearly there, Daniel,’ whispered Elizabeth behind her hand, smiling. ‘You’ll soon be able to ask what you want to ask.’

  ‘I know!’ nodded Daniel, looking eager and excited.

  Elizabeth suddenly noticed how solemn William was looking.

  ‘I’m sorry to have to tell you,’ William was saying, ‘that the matter we now have to deal with is a serious one. John, would you please stand up and tell the Meeting what you have told Rita and
me?’

  John Terry, the head boy of the school garden and one of Elizabeth’s favourite people, rose to his feet. He was a blunt, straightforward boy who had great gifts as a gardener but none for public speaking.

  ‘Some little idiot’s been vandalizing the strawberry beds!’ he blurted out, dark spots of anger on his cheeks. ‘Somebody too greedy to wait for the fruit to get ripe! Pulling up the plants to see if any of the underneath berries are red yet, I daresay. Uprooting the plants with all the berries still green!’

  There were shocked gasps around the hall. Whispers rippled up and down the rows of children. What a mean thing to do. Another month of ripening sun and the school gardens always produced big, luscious red strawberries – heaps of them. Strawberries and cream for tea . . . They all loved strawberry time! But any plants pulled up by the roots would die now before the fruit could ripen properly.

  ‘How greedy and silly!’ whispered Elizabeth.

  ‘Greedy and silly and ignorant,’ agreed Kathleen.

  William banged the gavel for silence. There was more drama to come. He held something up between his thumb and forefinger. Everybody looked at it.

  It was a shiny, silver blazer button.

  ‘Here is something very interesting,’ he said. ‘The person concerned lost their blazer button while they were hunting for strawberries. John found this lying amongst the uprooted plants. Would the person responsible now own up,’ he said, with heavy irony, ‘and we can give them their blazer button back.’

  There was silence.

  ‘Stand up and own up, please,’ repeated William.

  They all held their breath and waited. A half minute ticked by. But still nobody moved.

  ‘Very well,’ said William, at last. ‘Whoever behaved in this stupid way will no doubt have friends and classmates. They will notice that someone has a blazer button missing. Will they please persuade the person concerned to come to our study and own up? John has a great number of jobs in the garden waiting for them. Now, is there any other business, please, before we close the Meeting?’