4 Zerelda goes into the Fourth
It was fun settling in the next day. The girls rushed into the third form classroom, which overlooked the courtyard and had a distant view of the sea.
“Zerelda’s to go to the fourth form classroom,” said Jean, looking round for the American girl. “She’s not with us after all.”
“I didn’t think I would be,” said Zerelda. “I’m much older.”
Jean looked at her. “Zerelda,” said Jean, “I’d better give you a word of advice. Miss Williams, the fourth form mistress, won’t like your hair-style—or your lipstick¹ either. You’d better alter your hair and rub that awful stuff off your lips before you go to the fourth form. Anyway, they’ll rag you like anything if you don’t.”
“Why should I do what you tell me?” said Zerelda, on her dignity at once. She thought a great deal of her appearance and could not bear to have it remarked on by these proper English girls.
“Well, I’m head-girl of this form,” said Jean. “That’s why I’m bothering to tell you. Just to save you getting into trouble.”
“But Zerelda’s hair looks lovely,” said Gwendoline, who always resented having to have her own hair tied neatly², instead of in a golden sheet over her shoulders.
Nobody took the slightest notice of Gwendoline’s bleating³.
“Well, thanks all the same, Jean, but I’m not going to make myself into a little pig-tailed English schoolgirl,” said Zerelda, in her lazy, rather insolent⁴ drawl. “I guess I couldn’t look like you, anyway. Look at you all, plain as pie! You ought to let me have a try at making you up—I’d soon get you some looks!”
Daphne, who fancied herself as very pretty, laughed scornfully. “Nobody wants to look a scarecrow like you! Honestly, if you could see yourself!”
“I have,” said Zerelda. “I looked in the glass this morning!”
“When you’re in Rome, you must do as Rome does,” said Jean, solemnly.
“But I’m not in Rome,” said Zerelda.
“No. It’s a pity you aren’t!” said Alicia. “You’ll wish you were in three minutes’ time when Miss Williams catches sight of you. Go on into the classroom next door for goodness’ sake. Miss Williams will be along in half a minute. So will our teacher, Miss Peters. She’d have a blue fit if she saw you.”

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