16 Felicity’s First Match
Felicity came to see Darrell the next day about the match with Wellsbrough School. She looked with bright eyes at her fifth-form sister.
“I say! Fancy me playing in the Fourth School Team! I thought perhaps I might by the end of the term, with luck—but next week! Thanks awfully¹ for putting me in, Darrell.”
“Well, actually—it was Moira who insisted on putting you in,” said Darrell. “I wanted to—and yet I just wondered if I was thinking favourably² of you because you were my sister, you know. Then Moira said you must certainly go in, and in you went.”
“June’s awfully disappointed she’s not in,” said Felicity. “She’s been practising like anything, Darrell. She pretends she doesn’t care, but she does really. I wish she wouldn’t say such awful things about you fifth-formers all the time—she really seems to have got her knife into you. It’s horrid³.”
“She’ll get over it,” said Darrell. “We don’t lose any sleep over young June, I can tell you!”
“Will you be able to come and watch the Wellsbrough match?” asked Felicity, eagerly. “Oh do. I shall play ever so much better if you’re there, yelling and cheering.”
“Of course I’ll come,” said Darrell. “And I’ll yell like anything—so just be sure you give me something to yell for!”
The first-formers prayed for a fine day for their match. It was to be at home, not away, and as it was the first time they had played Wellsbrough Fourth Team, they were really excited about it.
The senior school smiled to see the “babies” so excited. They remembered how they, too, had felt when they had the delight of playing in an important match for the very first time.
“Nice to see them so keen,” said Moira to Darrell. “I think I’ll get my lacrosse stick and go and give them a bit of coaching before dinner. I’ve got half an hour.”
“I’ll fetch your stick,” said Catherine at once, in her usual doormat voice.
“No thanks, Saint Catherine,” answered Moira, “I’m still able to walk to the locker⁴ and reach my own stick.”
The day of the match dawned bright and clear, a magnificent October day. The trees round the playing fields shone red and brown and yellow in their autumn colours. The breeze from the sea was salty and crisp. All the girls rejoiced as they got up that morning and looked out of the window. Malory Towers was so lovely on a day like this.

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