1 OFF TO BOARDING SCHOOL
DARRELL RIVERS looked at herself in the glass. It was almost time to start for the train, but therewas just a minute to see how she looked in her new school uniform.
'It's jolly nice,' said Darrell, turning herself about. 'Brown coat, brown hat, orange ribbon, and abrown tunic¹ underneath² with an orange belt. I like it.'
Her mother looked into Darrell's room, and smiled. 'Admiring yourself?' she said. 'Well, I like it alltoo. I must say Malory Towers has a lovely school uniform. Come along, Darrell. We don't want tomiss the train your very first term!'
Darrell felt excited. She was going to boarding school for the first time. Malory Towers did not takechildren younger than twelve, so Darrell would be one of the youngest there. She looked forward tomany terms of fun and friendship, work and play.
'What will it be like ?' she kept wondering. 'I've read lots of school stories, but I expect it won't bequite the same at Malory Towers. Every school is different. I do hope I make some friends there.'
Darrell was sad at leaving her own friends behind her. None of them was going to Malory Towers.
She had been to a day-school with them, and most of them were either staying on there or going todifferent boarding schools.
Her trunk was packed full. On the side was painted in big black letters DARRELL RIVERS. On thelabels were the letters M.T. for Malory Towers. Darrell had only to carry her tennis racket in itspress, and her small bag in which her mother had packed her things for the first night.
'Your trunks won't be unpacked³ the first evening,' she said. 'So each girl has to take a small hand-bagwith her nighty and tooth-brush and things like that. Here is your ten- shilling note. You must makethat last a whole term, because no girl in your form is allowed to have more pocket-money than that.'
'I shall make it do!' said Darrell, putting in into her purse. 'There won't be much I have to buy atschool! There's the taxi waiting, Mother. Let's go!'
She had already said good-bye to her father, who had driven off to his work that morning. He hadsqueezed her hard and said, 'Good-bye and good luck, Darrell. You'll get a lot out of Malory Towers,because it's a fine school. Be sure you give them a lot back!'
Now they were off at last, the trunk in the taxi too, beside the driver. Darrell put her head out to takea last look at her home. 'I'll be back soon!' she called, to the big black cat who sat on the wall,washing himself. 'I'll miss you all at first but I'll soon settle down. Shan't I, Mother?'

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