"Blyton, Enid - St Clare's 04 - The Second Form At St Clare's (b)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Blyton Enid)

quick, and she may stir Anna up a bit-and Anna is too lazy to be
spiteful, so perhaps she will be good for Elsie in that way. But I too
have my doubts!' Elsie Fanshawe was delighted to be a joint head-girl-
though, of course, she would very much rather have been the only one.
Still, after being thoroughly disliked and kept down by the whole of the
second form, it was quite a change to be top-dog! ' Now I can jolly well
keep the others down and make them look up to me,' thought Elsie,
pleased. * I can get some of my own back. These silly little
first-formers, who have just come up, have got to learn to knuckle under
a bit. I can make Anna agree with all I do-lazy thing I'll have every
single one of the rules kept, and I'll make a few of my own, if I want
to-and I'll report any one who gets out of hand. It's worth-while not
going up into the third form, to be top of the second!' The others
guessed a little what Elsie was thinking. Although they had not known
the girl very well when they were first-formers, they had heard the
others talking about her. They knew Elsie would try to ' get her own
back'. ' Just what a head-girl shouldn't do,' said Janet. ' She should
try and set some sort of example to the others, or what's the use of
being a leader? Look at old Hilary, when she was head of the first form!
She was a good sport and joined in everything-but she always knew where
to draw the line without getting our backs up.' * I can't bear Elsie/
said Carlotta. ' I would like to Slap her hard.' ' Oh Carlotta I Have
you still got that habit? ' said Bobby, pretending to be shocked. '
Really, a second-former, too! What would Elsie say!' Elsie overheard the
last remark. ' What would I say to what? ' she asked, coming up. 'Oh,
nothing-Carlotta was simply saying she'd like to slap some one,' said
Bobby, with a grin. ' Please understand, Carlotta, that you are in the
second form now,' said Elsie, in a cold voice. ' We don't even talk
of'slapping people!' ' Yes, we do,' said Carlotta. ' Wouldn't you like
to know whom I want to slap, dear Elsie? ' Elsie heard the danger-note
in Carlotta's high voice, and put her nose in the air. ' I'm not
interested in your slapping habits,' she said, and walked off. ' Shut up
now, Carlotta,' said Bobby. * Don't go and get all wild and Spanish
again. You were bad enough with Prudence last term!' ' Well, thank
goodness old Sour-Milk Prudence was expelled!' said Carlotta. ' I
wouldn't have stayed if she had come back!' It was the hour when all the
second form were in their common room, playing, working or chattering.
They loved being together like that. The wireless blared at one end of
the room, and Doris and Bobby danced a ridiculous dance to the music.
Gladys Hillman sat in a corner, looking as miserable as usual. Nobody
could make anything of her. Isabel looked at her and felt sorry. She
went over to her. ' Come and dance,' she said. Gladys shook her head.
' What's the matter? ' asked Isabel. ' Are you homesick? You'll soon get
over it.' ' Don't bother me,' said Gladys. ' I don't bother you.' ' Yes,
you do,' said Isabel. ' You bother me a lot. I can't bear to see you
sitting here all alone, looking so miserable. Haven't you been to
boarding-school before? ' ' No,' said Gladys. Her eyes filled with
tears. Isabel felt a little impatient with her. Hadn't she any courage
at all? * You don't seem to enjoy a single thing/ said Isabel. ' Don't
you like any lesson specially-or games-or something?' ' I like acting,'