16 In the Middle of the Night
There was a silence, only broken by Mary-Lou’s sniffs¹. Most of the girls were upset and horrified². Alicia looked rather pleased with herself. Sally was tight-lipped and angry. Alicia looked at her and smiled maliciously³.
“Sorry if I’ve upset you, Sally,” she said, “but it was time we had it out with Ellen. As head-girl you should have done it yourself. As it was, you left it to me!”
“I did not!” said Sally. “I forbade you to say anything. We shouldn’t have accused Ellen—I know it’s not right till we’ve got proof. And I wanted to think of the best way of doing it—not in front of everyone, that’s certain!”
Darrell felt uncomfortably that Sally was right. It would have been best to wait a little, and think about it and then perhaps for Sally to have spoken with Ellen alone. Now the fat was in the fire! Everyone knew. Whatever would Ellen do!
“Well, all I can say is I’m grateful to Alicia for bringing the matter to a head,” said Daphne, shaking back her shining curls from her forehead. “Perhaps our belongings⁴ will be safe now.”
“You ought to be loyal to Sally, not to Alicia,” flared⁵ up Darrell.
“Don’t let’s argue any more,” said Sally. “The thing’s done now, more’s the pity. There’s the supper-bell. For goodness’ sake, let’s go.”
They went soberly down to the supper-table. Ellen was not there. Jean asked about her.
“Shall I go and fetch Ellen, Miss Parker?” she said.
“No. She’s got one of her headaches and has gone early to bed,” said Miss Parker. The girls exchanged looks. So Ellen couldn’t even face them again that evening.
“Guilty conscience,” said Alicia to Betty, in a voice loud enough to reach Darrell and Sally.
Ellen was in bed when the form went up at their bed-time. She lay on her side, her face in the pillow, perfectly⁷ still. “Pretending to be asleep,” said Alicia.

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