5 Miss James has Good News
The fifth went to their classroom just before nine o’clock. They rejoiced in the glorious view. Darrell flung the windows wide and let in the golden September air.
“Heavenly!” she said. “I hope we shall be allowed to bathe still. I bet the pool down in the rocks is just perfect now.”
Maureen looked alarmed. “Surely you’re not allowed to bathe in the winter term!” she said. “Why, at Mazeley Manor¹ we . . .”
“It must have been a wonderful place,” said Alicia, in her smooth voice.
“Oh yes—we used to . . .” went on Maureen.
“So sad it had to shut down,” interrupted Irene.
“Yes, very sad,” agreed Maureen, delighted at this sudden interest and sympathy. “You see, all of us were very . . .”
“You must find Malory Towers very second-rate after such a marvellous place,” put in Belinda, also sounding very sympathetic.
“Still, we’ll do our best,” Sally assured her. Maureen began to feel doubtful about all these interruptions, kind as they seemed. Perhaps she had better say no more till she had found her feet a little? These girls seemed so different from the ones at dear Mazeley Manor.
“What’s our new form-mistress, Miss James, like?” said Darrell to Catherine and Moira. “You’ve been taught by her for some terms—is she all right?”
“Easy-going to a point,” said Moira. “Then look out! She changes from sweet to sour in the twinkling of an eye—and it’s bad for you if you don’t notice the change-over immediately. Still, Jimmy’s not a bad sort.”
“She’s James when she’s sour, and Jimmy when she’s sweet,” explained Catherine, with her beaming smile. “Actually she’s rather a dear.”
“Oh, Catherine thinks heaps of people are ‘rather-dears’, and ‘dear-old-souls’ and even ‘pet-lambs’,” said Moira. “She never speaks evil of anyone, do you, Catherine? And if ever you want anything done, Catherine will do it for you—she just loves to run around for other people.”
Catherine blushed. “Don’t be silly, Moira,” she said, but a look of anxiety came into her eyes. Was Moira pulling her leg—sneering² at her just a little? The others didn’t wonder about it—they knew! Moira was not praising Catherine—she was sneering. Moira would probably never praise anyone whole-heartedly.
The girls had chosen their desks. The favoured ones at the back of the room went to the two old fifth-formers, of course, Moira and Catherine, and to Darrell and Sally, who had each been head-girl for a time the term before. Irene and Belinda also had back desks.

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