by Enid Blyton
Lucy got a great welcome when she came back. She was pale and her face had gone thing, but she held her head up and smiled her old sweet smile. She could be as
brave in her way, as Margery!
The girls did not say too much to her, and Margery took her off to show her what the class had done during the week she had been away. Lucy took her friend's arm and squeezed it.
'You're so nice to me, Margery,' she said. 'Thank you. You sent me a lovely letter. It did help. Poor Daddy ' you can't think how brave he is. He knows he will probably never be able to paint again ' but he means to try with his left hand. He's so brave. He blames himself terribly now because he never saved any money ' so Mummy and I have got hardly any. You see, he always made as much as he wanted to ' and spent it all! WE none of us bothered about saving, We thought Daddy could always get as much as he wanted.'
'Will you really have to leave St. Clare's after this term?' asked Margery.
'Of course,' said Lucy. 'We couldn't possibly afford the fees. If I could only have stayed on I might have won a scholarship to some other school. As it is I'm going to leave and Mummy is looking out for some sort of a job for me. I'm quite quick, you know, and I could learn to be a secretary, I'm sure.'
'I shall miss you dreadfully,' said Margery. 'Just as I've got a friend for the first time in my life! Oh, I wish I could do something about it!:
Margery was not a person to sit down lightly under misfortune, and she puzzled and puzzled about how she might do something to help Lucy. And then she suddenly got an idea. If only, only it would work! She told nobody about it at all, not even Lucy, but went straight to Miss Theobald.
The Head Mistress had some one with her. She called out 'Come in!' when Margery knocked, and the girl went in. her good-looking face was bright with her idea, and Miss Theobald marvelled to see the difference in her looks.
'Oh, Miss Theobald ' I didn't know you had any one with you,' said Margery, in disappointment. 'I did want to ask you something very badly.'
Miss Walker, the art mistress, was there. She had been talking to the Head Mistress and had not yet finished. Miss Theobald looked at Margery and saw her eagerness.
'What do you want to speak to me about?' she asked. 'Is it anything private?'
'Well ' yes, it is rather,' said Margery. 'It's about Lucy.'
'How strange!' said Miss Theobald. 'Miss Walker has also been speaking to me about Lucy. Well ' I think you can say what you want to with Miss Walker here. You know that she is very interested in Lucy, because she is so good at art.'
'Miss Theobald ' you know Lucy is going to leave after this term, don't you?' said Margery. 'Well, she is awfully unhappy about it, because she does love St. Clare's ' and she is exactly the sort of girl you want, isn't she? We all love her. Well, Miss Theobald, I've got an idea.'
'And what is that?' asked the Head, trying not to smile as Margery almost fell over her words in her eagerness to get them out.
'Miss Theobald, yo do think Lucy is awfully clever, don't you?' said Margery. 'She's always top of our form, and she's got the most wonderful memory. Why, she's only just got to look at a page and she knows it by heart!'
'That's a gift,' said Miss Theobald. 'I know Lucy has it. She is very lucky, Well ' go on, Margery.'
'Don't you think Lucy is clever enough sit for the scholarship exam. with the third form next term?' said Margery, her eyes shining. 'I'm sure she'd win it, because she'd work so awfully hard! Couldn't you give her a chance to do that, Miss Theobald? She's worth it, honestly she is.'
'You needn't tell me that,' said Miss Theobald. 'We all know that Lucy is worth helping. I would keep her on at St. Clare's at reduced fees ' but her parents will not hear of that. But, Margery, my dear ' Lucy is only fourteen ' and all the other girls going in for the exam. are sixteen. I know she's clever ' but I doubt if she is as clever as that. It would only mean a great deal of hard work ' and probably a bitter disappointment at the end. There are one or two clever girls in the third form, you know.'
Margery looked dismayed. She had set her heart on her idea. She had felt so certain that Lucy was clever enough to win any scholarship, if only she had a few
months to prepare for it!
Miss Walker joined in the conversation. 'I don't quite see how going in for the scholarship exam. will help Lucy to stay on at St. Clare's!' she said.
'Oh, but Miss Walker, it will!' cried Margery. 'I've looked at the list of schools that are open to scholarship girls free of fees ' and St. Clare's is one of them this year! So of course Lucy would choose St. Clare's, if she won the scholarship.'
Miss Theobald began to laugh. Margery was so very determined about it all. 'Really, the running of this school is being taken out of my hands!' she said. 'What with Lucy deciding what was to be done about Erica ' and writing that letter to your father, Margery ' and now you telling me how we can manage to keep Lucy on ' I feel a Head Mistress is not really needed at St. Clare's.'
'Oh, Miss Theobald, we all know that it's you that makes the school what it is,' said Margery, going red. 'But you've no idea how popular Lucy is, and how we all want to keep her. She's the first friend I've ever had ' and I've been puzzling my brains how to help her. I did think this idea might be some good.'
'Well, Margery, I don't somehow think it will work,' said Miss Theobald. 'I'm not going to overwork a brilliant brain like Lucy's, two years below the scholarship exam. age unless there is a very great hope of her winning it. Miss Walker has also been tome with ideas about Lucy 'and we have been talking them over.'
'Oh, how nice of you, Miss Walker!' said Margery who had never very much liked the art-mistress before ' entirely her own fault, for she had never tried at all in Miss Walker's excellent classes! Now she felt that she would do anything for Miss Walker because she had taken an interest in Lucy.
'Well, my idea was that we should try to keep Lucy here for a couple of years somehow ' and then let her go in for an art scholarship,' said Miss Walker. 'Her art is so brilliant already, that she is bound to be an artist of some sort. She must go to the best art-school in the country ' but she is too young yet, I didn't somehow feel I wanted her to go in for shorthand and typing and get a job as a junior clerk somewhere, when she could make such good use of her time here ' and then win a place at a London art-school.'
'I've already offered to let Lucy stay here at reduced fees for two years, so that she might try for an art scholarship then,' said Miss Theobald, 'but her parents will not hear of it ' neither will Lucy either, Margery, though I don't
suppose she has told you that. She apparently wants to do her bit in helping to keep her family now that her father can't paint.'
'Miss Theobald ' couldn't you keep Lucy just one more term and let her try for the scholarship?' said Margery, eagerly. 'Then she could be here for two or three years if she won it ' and then try for an art scholarship. She'd get that easily enough!'
'Well, Margery, we'll see what can be done,' said Miss Theobald. 'It's certainly an idea I hadn't thought of ' and I'm still not sure it can possibly be carried out. I shall have to talk to other mistresses and find out more about Lucy's capabilities. I'll tell you as soon as we have decided something. In the meantime ' thank you, my dear, for trying to be so helpful. I am more glad than I can say that you came to St. Clare's. WE have helped you, I know ' and now you are going to help us tremendously.'
Chapter 19: And A Little Good Luck Too
Margery left the drawing room on her crutches, her face bright with hope. Surely, surely, something would be arranged for Lucy now! She did not say a word to anyone about what she had suggested, least of all to Lucy, in case nothing came of it.
'I know Miss Theobald will keep her word and look into the idea thoroughly,' thought Margery, as she looked across the classroom at Lucy's rather sad little face. Lucy was brave ' but she could not help feeling sad now. Things looked so different. All her bright future was gone.
Miss Theobald kept her word. She called a meeting of the fi
rst-, second- and third-form mistresses, and of Mam'zelle and Miss Lewis, the history teacher, too. She told them shortly what Margery had suggested.
They talked the matter out thoroughly. All the teachers liked Lucy Oriell and admired her quick brain and wonderful memory. Miss Lewis said at once that she could coach Lucy for the history section of the exam., and she was certain that Lucy would excel in that, whatever she did in other subjects.
'And her French is already perfect!' said Mam'zelle. 'She has spent many of her holidays in France, and she speaks French almost as well as I do!'
Mathematics were Lucy's weak point. She did not like them and found them difficult, though even here her quick brain helped her over difficulties. But mathematics were Miss Theobald's specialty. She was a wonderful teacher where they were concerned.
'I could give her special coaching there,' she said. 'The child is worth extra trouble, I know I do no coaching now, because the running of the school takes all my time ' but I would make an exception for Lucy Oriell.'
The meeting ended after an hour and the mistresses went to their various rooms. Margery, who knew that the mistresses had been summoned to Miss Theobald's room, wondered and wondered if they had been talking about Lucy. She soon knew, for Miss Theobald sent for her.
'Well, Margery,' said the Head, coming to the point at once. 'We've been discussion Lucy's future ' and we think you are right ' we think it is possible that she might win the scholarship, So I have written to her parents and put the idea before them. We must see what they say.'
The answer came by telephone the next day. Mrs. Oriell had been delighted with the Head's suggestion. She knew how very much Lucy had wanted to stay on at St. Clare's ' and if there really was a chance that the girl could win a scholarship and stay there without the payment of fees, going on to an art-school afterwards, then she should certainly be given the chance. 'I'm so glad you think that, Mrs. Oriell,' said Miss Theobald, pleased. 'Thank you for letting me know so son. I will tell Lucy tonight.'
Miss Theobald sent for Lucy and in a few words told her what was suggested. The girl listened with shining eyes. It all seemed too good to be true, after her terrible disappointment and shock.
'Oh, Miss Theobald ' thank you very very much!' she said. 'I'll do my best, I promise. I'll work terribly hard ' all the holidays too. I'll win that scholarship somehow, and stay on here. It nearly broke my heart to think I'd have to leave just when I was so happy!:
'Well, that's settled then,' said Miss Theobald. 'I have discussed the whole thing with the other mistresses, and they are going to give you special coaching. I shall take you for maths. Myself, and we must begin this very week, for every day's work will count. I will draw up a special time-table for you, because you will be taking different classes now. You must not be foolish and work too hard, though! I think I must tell Margery Fenworthy to keep and eye on you and make you take a rest when you get over-tired!'
'Oh ' won't Margery be pleased!' cried Lucy, thinking of her friend with pleasure. 'I shall tell her first of all.'
'Yes ' she will be delighted,' said Miss Theobald. 'Go and find her now.'
Lucy rushed off and found Margery in the common room with one or two others. She pounced on her friend and made her jump.
'Margery! Listen! I've got the most marvellous news!' she cried. 'You won' tbelieve it! I'm staying on at St. Clare's!'
'Oh Lucy! Are you going to be allowed to go in for the scholarship exam. then?' cried Margery, wishing her leg was better, so that she might dance around.
'Why, Margery ' what do you know about it?' said Lucy, in astonishment.
'Because it was all my idea!' said Margery, happily. 'I thought of it, I went to Miss Theobad about it. But I couldn't say a word to you till I knew it was decided, in case you might be disappointed. Oh, Lucy ' I'm so terribly pleased!'
'What a friend you are!' said Lucy, wonderingly, as she looked into Margery's strong, determined face. 'How lucky I am to have you! Fancy you going to all that trouble for me. Oh, Margery, I'll never never forget this. I'll remember your kindness all my life long.'
'Don't be silly,' said Margery. 'I'm the lucky one, not you! Why, now I shall have you here at St. Clare's with me, instead of being all alone. The only things is ' you will have to work so terribly hard. I shall have to keep my eye on you and see that you get some fun sometimes!:
'How funny ' that's just what Miss Theobald said!' said Lucy, laughing. 'Well, with the mistresses looking after my work and you looking after my play, I should be all right, shouldn't I?'
'What's the matter?' cried Pat, form her corner of the room. 'What are you two
talking about in such excitement? Has one of you got a 'Very Good' from Mam'zelle? '
'Not gave here next
likely, these days!' said Margery. It was quite a joke that Mam'zelle never any one a Very Good now. 'No ' the excitement is ' that Lucy is staying on after all ' and going in for the third-form scholarship exam. at the end of term. What about that?'
All the girls came over to say how glad they were. Lucy was happy again. It was lovely to be liked so much. It was lovely to have a friend who would do so much for her. If only her father's poor hand would get right, she would be even happier than she had been before the accident.
'Lucy,' said Margery, that night, just before they went up to bed. 'I've thought of something.'
'Gracious ' not another idea so soon!' said Lucy, teasingly.
'Yes ' but about me, this time, not you,' said Margery, rather soberly. 'You know, I'm sixteen, and I've no right to be so low down in the school. It's only because I've never been able to settle for long in any school, so my education has been sort of hotch-potch, all mixed 'up. But my brains aren't too bad if only I'll use them. Well, I'm going to use them like anything now ' so that I can go up in form, and keep with you a bit. I couldn't bear to be in the first-form whilst you forged ahead and became one of the top-formers, although you are two years younger. It's so difficult to be friends, proper friends, if we are in different forms.'
'Oh, Margery ' that would be splendid!' said Lucy at once. 'Yes ' I suppose I shall go up next term, and keep up in a higher form, if I do win that scholarship ' and it would be lovely if you got put up too. Do work hard!'
And so, to every mistress's enormous astonishment, Margery Fenworthy, the dunce of the first-form, suddenly produced excellent brains, and worked so much harder that one week she actually tied for top place with Lucy.
'Miracles will never cease!' said Miss Roberts, when she read out the marks to the form. 'Margery, you'll be in the second form before you know where you are! Good gracious, what a surprise this is. Doris, perhaps you will give me a nice surprise next. You have been bottom for three weeks. What about trying for top place with Lucy and Margery next week?'
Every one laughed, Doris too. The first form was a very pleasant place to be in those last few weeks of term.
Chapter 20: Janet is up to Tricks again
It was Mam'zelle who seemed to spoil things each day. She had always had a very hot temper ' but nowadays she seemed to be unusually irritable, and the girls felt the rough edge of her tongue in every lesson.
Janet got tired of it. She was very hot-tempered herself, and she found it difficult to control herself when Mam'zelle made some specially biting remark.
'Ah, Janet! Once more you have made the same mistake that you have made at least one hundred times this term!' said Mam'zelle one day, scoring a sentence with a blue pencil, and pressing so hard that it almost tore the page. 'I have no pleasure in teaching a stupid careless girl like you.'
'Well, I've no pleasure in being taught!' muttered Janet, angrily. She said it half under her breath, but Mam'zelle caught enough of it to look up with flashing eyes.
'Que dites-vous?' she cried. 'What is it that you said?' You will please repeat it.'
The class listened breathlessly. Mam'zelle was in one of her rages. That was exciting ' providing it was some one else who was getting into trouble!<
br />
Janet was bold enough to repeat what she had said, and she said it loudly, so that all the class could hear.
'I said 'I've no pleasure in being taught!' ' she repeated.
'Merchante fille!' cried Mam'zelle. 'What has happened to all you girls this term? You are rude and careless and sulky.'
The class knew that it was really Mam'zelle's fault, not theirs. She was so badtempered. They looked mutinous, and said nothing. Even Lucy would not look at Mam'zelle when her eyes flashed round the class.
'Janet, you will learn the whole French poem in this book, and you will write it out for me three times!' said Mam'zelle, her voice trembling with rage. The class gasped. The poem was three pages long!