Goodbye Malory Towers by Enid Blyton

Author:Enid Blyton
Language: eng
Format: azw3, mobi, epub
ISBN: 9781405244770
Publisher: Egmont
Published: 2009-07-15T13:21:57.287000+00:00

11

Violet plays a trick

Two days before the first formers’ feast, Miss Nicholson walked into the study that she shared with Miss Lacey, looking very pale and heavy-eyed.

‘My goodness, you look dreadful!’ exclaimed Gwendoline. ‘Whatever is the matter?’

‘Toothache,’ groaned poor Miss Nicholson, putting a hand to her jaw. ‘I’ve scarcely slept a wink.’

‘Well, you had better go and visit the dentist in town as quickly as possible,’ said Gwen.

‘I can’t,’ sighed Miss Nicholson. ‘I am taking the first formers for the next lesson. Not that I shall have much to do in the way of actual teaching, for I have set them an essay to write. But I daren’t leave them to work unsupervised, for there are far too many scamps in that form!’

‘If it is merely a matter of supervising them, surely I could do that,’ said Gwen. ‘Then you can pop into town and see the dentist.’

‘I say, would you?’ said Miss Nicholson, brightening. ‘That would be awfully good of you. Just watch out for young Daffy Hope and her friend Katie, for they are always up to mischief.’

Then she handed Gwen a sheet of paper, and said, ‘This is the essay I would like them to write. It should keep them safely occupied for the whole of the lesson.’

So, while Miss Nicholson went off to find Miss Potts, and explain that she had to rush off to see the dentist, Miss Lacey made her way to the first-form class-room.

The teacher was considerably softer-footed than Miss Nicholson, and the first formers did not hear her coming, so she walked into a scene of disarray. All of the first formers were chattering away like mad, Ivy and Edith were squabbling over possession of a ruler, and Daffy was standing on a chair, trying to attract the attention of someone outside the window.

For a moment, Miss Lacey wished that she had not made her generous offer to Miss Nicholson. The sixth formers were far too dignified and well-mannered to behave badly, but the first form was a very different kettle of fish. Then she pulled herself together, deciding that a few small girls certainly weren’t going to get the better of Gwendoline Lacey!

‘Girls!’ she said, raising her voice. ‘Quiet, please!’

Immediately the noise ceased, Daffy got down from her chair, and Ivy and Edith subsided.

Everyone stood, silently, and Miss Lacey, clearing her throat, said, ‘Please sit down. Unfortunately, Miss Nicholson has had to go to the dentist, but she has left clear instructions for an essay that she wishes you to write.’

Daffy nudged Katie and whispered, ‘Do you suppose that Miss Lacey will leave us to get on with it alone, or do you think that she will stay and supervise us?’

‘Daffy!’ said Miss Lacey sharply. ‘Is there something you wish to say?’

‘No, Miss Lacey,’ said Daffy meekly, but with a glint of mischief in her eye.

‘Then kindly keep quiet,’ said the teacher, thinking how unlike her sister, Sally, the girl was. ‘Now, you are to write an essay on the rivers of South America, which you may illustrate with maps, if you wish.

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