Enid Blyton - Last Term at Malory Towers

Malory Towers - 06

Last Term at Malory Towers

By

Enid Blyton

I

First Dayj

My last term! thought Darrell, as she got ready to go downstairs. My very last term! I shall be eighteen on my next birthday - I'm almost grown-up!

A yell came from below, 'Darrell! Aren't you ever coining? Daddy says do you mean to leave today or tomorrow?'

'Coming!' shouted back Darrell. She snatched up her minis-racket and her small suitcase and fled down the stairs, two at a time as usual.

Her young sister Felicity was there, waiting for her. Both were dressed in the orange and brown uniform of Malory Towers - dark brown coat and skirt, white blouse, orange tie, straw hat with orange band.

'It's the very last time I shall go off with you in the same uniform,' said Darrell, rather solemnly. 'Next term you'll be going alone, Felicity. How will you like it?'

'Not a bit,' said Felicity, quite cheerfully. 'Still, you'll be having a wonderful time yourself, going off to the University. Don't look so solemn.'

'Last times are always a bit horrid,' said Darrell. She went out to the car with Felicity. Their father was just about to begin a fanfare on the horn. Why, oh why was be always kept waiting like this? Didn't they know it was time to start?

'Thank goodness you've appeared at last,' he said. 'Get in. Now, where's your mother? Honestly, this family uants a daily shepherd to round up all its sheep! Ah, 1 i*'rc >I]c o iiiit's!

As Mrs Rivers got into the tar, Felicity slipped out again. Her lather didn't notice her, and started up the car. Darrell gave a shriek.

'Daddv, Daddy! Wail! Felicity's not in!'

He looked round in astonishment. 'But I saw her gel in,' he said. 'Bless us all, where\ she gone now?'

'She forgot to say good-bye to the kitten. 1 expect,' said Darrell, grinning. 'She has to say good-bye to everything, even the goldfish in the pond. I used to do that too - but I never wept over them all like Felicity!'

Felicity appeared again at top speed. She flung herself into the car, panting. 'Forgot to say good-bye to the gardener,' she said. 'He promised to look after my seedlings for me, and count how many strawberries come on my strawberry plants. Oh dear - it's so horrid to say good-bye to everything.'

'Weil, don't then, said Dane!!.

'Oh, but 1 like to,' said Felicity. 'Once I've done a really good round of good-byes, I feci that I can look forward to school properly then. I say - I wonder if that awful Josephine is coming back! She kept saying something about going to America with those frightful people of hers, so I hope she has.'

'I hope she has lot).' said Darrell, remembering the loud-voiced, bad-mannered Josephine Jones. 'She doesn't fit into Malory Towers somehow. 1 can't imagine why the Head took her.'

'Well - I suppose she thought Malory Towers might tone her down and make something of her,' said Felicity, 'it's not many people it doesn't alter for the better, really. Even me!'

Gosh - has it done that?' said Darrell. pretending to be surprised. Tin glad to know it. Oh dear - I wish it wasn't my last term. It seems no time at all since I was iirst setting out, six veais ago, a little shrimp of twelve.'

'There YOU <>O ana in - cominu over all mournful,' said

Felicity, cheerfully. T can't think why you don't feel proud and happy - you've been games captain of one or two forms, you've been head-girl of forms - and now you're head-girl of the whole school, and have been lor two terms! I shall never be that.'

'I hope you will,' said Darrell. 'Anyway, I'm glad Sally and I are leaving together and going to the same college. We shall still be with each other. Daddy, don't lorge! we're calling for Sally, will you?'

'I hadn't forgotten,' said her lather. He took the road that led to Sally Hope's home. Soon they were swinging into the drive, and there, on the front steps, were Sally and her small sister of about six or seven.

'Hallo, Darrell, hallo, Felicity!' called Sally. 'I'm quite ready. Mother, where are yon? Here are the Riverses.'

Sally's small sister called out loudly: 'I'm coming to Malory Towers one day ~ in six years' time.'

'Lucky you, Daffy!' called back Felicity. 'It's the best school in the world!'

Sally got in and squeezed herself between Felicity and Darrell. She waved good-bye and off they went again.

'It's the last time, Darrell!' she said. T wish it was the first!'

'Oh, don't you start now,' said Felicity. 'Darrell's been glooming all the journey, so far.'

No cheek from you, Felicity Rivers!' said Sally, with a grin. 'You're only a silly little second-former, remember!'

'I'll be in the third form next term,' said Felicity. 'I'm creeping Lip the school! It takes a long time, though.'

'it seems a long time while it's happening,' said Sally.

But now it's our last term, it all seems to have gone in a Hash.'

They talked without stopping the whole of the lourney, and then, as lliey drew near to Malory Towers, Sally and Darrell fell silent. They always loved the first glimpse of their lovely school, with its lour great towers,

one at each corner.

They rounded a bend, and the eyes ol all three fastened on a big square building ol solt grey stone standing high up on a dill that fell steeply down to the sea. At each corner of the building stood rounded towers - North Tower, East, West and South. The school looked like an old castle. Beyond it was the dark-blue Cornish sea.

'We're nearly there!' sang Felicity. 'Daddy, go faster! Catch up the car in front, t'm sure Susan is in it.'

Just then a car roared by them, overtaking not only them but the one in front too. Mr Rivers braked sharply as it passed him, almost forcing him into the hedge.

'That's Josephine's car!' called Felicity. 'Did you ever see such a monster?'

'Monster is just about the right word,' said her luthei, angrily. 'Forcing me into the side like that. What do they think they are doing, driving as fast as that in a country lane?'

'Oh, they always drive like that,' said Felicity. 'Jo's father can't bear driving under ninety miles an hour, he says. He's got four cars, Daddy, all as big as that.'

'He can keep them, then,' grunted her father, scarlet with anger. He had just the same quick temper as Darrell's. 'I'll have a word with him about his driving if I see him at the school. A real road-hog!'

Felicity gave a squeal of delight. 'Oh, Daddy, you've hit on just the right name. He's exactly like a hog to look at - awfully fat, with little piggy eyes. Jo is just like him.'

'Then I hope she's no friend of yours,' said her father.

'She's not,' said Felicity. 'Susan's my friend. Here we are! Here's the gate. There's June! And Julie and Pam. Pam, PAM!'

'You'll deafen me,' said Mrs Rivers, laughing. She turned to her husband. 'You won't be able to get near the steps up to the iront door todav. dear - there are too many cars, and the school coaches have brought up the train girls too.'

The big drive was certainly crowded. 'It's as noisy as a football crowd,' said Mr Rivers with his sudden smile. 'It always amazes me that girls can make so much noise!'

Darrell, Felicity and Sally jumped out, clutching their rackets and bags. They were immediately engulfed in a crowd of excited girls.

'Darrell! You never wrote to me!'

'Felicity, have you seen Julie? She's been allowed to bring back her pony, Jack Horner! He's wizard!'

'Hallo, Sally! How tanned you are!'

'There's Alicia! Alicia, ALICIA! Betty! I say, everyone's arriving at once.'

A loud-voiced man, followed by a much overdressed woman, came pushing through the crowd, making his way to the enormous American car thai had forced Mr Rivers into the hedge.

'Well, good-bye, Jo,' he was saying. 'Mind you're bottom of the form. I always was! And don't you stand any nonsense from the mistresses, ha ha! You do what you like and have a good time.'