1 Going Back
“Felicity! Look—there’s Malory Towers at last!” cried Darrell. “I always look out for it at this bend. This is where we catch a glimpse of it first.”
Felicity gazed at the big square-looking building of grey stone standing¹ high up on a cliff by the sea. At each end was a rounded tower.
“North Tower, East Tower, South Tower, West Tower,” said Felicity. “I’m glad we’re in North Tower, overlooking the sea. Are you glad to be going back, Darrell?”
“Yes, awfully². Are you?” asked her sister, still with her eyes glued to the gracious building in the distance.
“Yes, I am really. But I do hate saying good-bye to Mother and Daddy, and Cook and Jane and the dogs and the cat, and . . .”
“The robin³ in the garden and the six hens and the ducks and the goldfish and the earwigs on the verandah!” finished Darrell, with a laugh. “Don’t be such a goose, Felicity. You know quite well that as soon as you set foot in the grounds of Malory Towers you’ll love being there!”
“Oh yes, I know I shall,” said Felicity. “But it’s quite a different world from the world of Home. And it’s a bit difficult suddenly going from one to the other.”
“Well, all I can say is—we’re lucky to have two such marvellous worlds to live in!” said Darrell. “Home—and Malory Towers! Look, who’s that in that car?”
Felicity leaned out to see. “It’s June,” she said. “June—and Alicia her cousin.”
Darrell snorted. She didn’t like the first-former June. “Don’t you go and get friendly with that sly, brazen⁴ little June again,” she warned Felicity. “You know what happened last term. You stick to Susan.”
“I’m going to,” said Felicity. “You needn’t tell me things like that. I’m not a new girl now. I’m in my second term.”
“Wish I was!” said Darrell. “I hate to think that every term the day I leave comes nearer.”
“Well, it’s the same for me,” said Felicity. “Only I don’t bother about it yet with so many terms in front of me. I say—fancy you being a fifth-former this term! In the Fifth at Malory Towers—gosh, it does sound grand. And me only a first-former.”

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