First Term at Malory Towers (15 page)

Then she had to tell all about the letter and what she had said. Her father and Miss Grayling were puzzled to hear how Sally had said she hadn't a baby sister.

“Something queer there that must be sorted out,” said Mr. Rivers to Miss Grayling. “Might prevent her from getting better as quickly as she ought to. When did you say Mr. and Mrs. Hope were coming?”

“Tomorrow,” said Miss Grayling. “I'll see them and explain. Now, Mr. Rivers—would you like us to give you a bed here tonight? It's so late.”

“Oh, no!” said Mr. Rivers. “I'm used to driving out late at night. I'll go back, thank you, And Darrell must go to bed. Now don't worry any more, darling—things are all right-and your little push didn't do Sally any harm, though probably the fall made her feel her bad tummy a little bit more. I expect she felt ill all day, poor child.”

“It wasn't a little push I gave her. It was a big one,” said Darrell.

“It makes me sad to think I've handed on to you the temper I've got myself,” said her father. Darrell tightened her arms around his neck.

“Don't worry. I'll get on top of it!” she said. “I'll soon do what
you
do—keep it for worth-while things!”

“Well, good night, darling,” said her father, and kissed her. “Go and see Sally as soon as you're allowed to. I think you'll feel better then!”

“I feel better now!” said Darrell, and slipped off his knee. Her eyes were red but she was smiling. How different she felt! All her worry was gone.

Her father went off in the darkness in his car. Miss Grayling herself took Darrell to bed and tucked her in. Darrell fell asleep even before the Head Mistress was out of the room.

And, in the San. Sally slept too, her pain gone. Matron watched over her, pleased to hear her steady, regular breathing. What a deft, quick surgeon Darrell's father was—only thirteen minutes to do the operation! Matron thought how lucky it was that he had been near enough to come.

Next morning dawned fair and bright. Darrell awoke when the dressing-bell went, tired but happy again. She lay and thought for half a minute. Her heart was full of thankfulness. Sally would be all right. Her father had said so. And he had said that Darrell hadn't had anything to do with her illness. All her worry had been for nothing. No—not quite for nothing. It had made a deep impression on her. It wouldn't be nearly so difficult to keep her temper next time. She had had a jolly good lesson!

I wish I could do something to show I'm grateful and thankful it's all turned out like this,” thought Darrell, jumping out of bed. “But there's nothing I can do. I wonder how Sally is today.”

Sally was getting on very well indeed. When she heard that her mother and father were coming to see her she could hardly believe her ears.

“But is
Mother
coming?” she asked, time and again. “Are you sure
Mother's
coming? But she couldn't come last Saturday. Is she really coming?”

Miss Grayling received Mr. and Mrs. Hope in her big drawing room. Mr. Hope was a big burly man, looking anxious. Mrs. Hope was a delicate-looking woman with a sweet face.

“Sally is not quite ready for you to see her yet,” said Miss Grayling, I am so glad to be able to tell you that the operation was very successful and she is getting along wonderfully well. Mr. Rivers, the surgeon, happened to be at a hotel not far off, and we got him to do it. He is the father of one of our girls here, Darrell Rivers.”

“Oh—Darrell Rivers,” said Mrs. Hope, and she took out a letter from her bag. I had such a
queer
letter from her today, Miss Grayling. Please read it. She appears to think she was the cause of Sally's illness, but of course she wasn't. But the other things she says are very worrying to me. Could we have Darrell in to speak to us, before I see Sally, do you think?”

Miss Grayling read the letter and looked grave. “There is something puzzling here,” she said. “Why should Sally keep saying she has no sister, when she knows she has?”

“I don't know,” said Mrs. Hope, sadly. “But Sally has been queer ever since Baby Daphne came. She won't look at her or speak to her—and once, when she didn't know I was looking, I saw her pinch poor Daphne cruelly. And Sally is not a cruel child.”

“Have you any other children?” asked Miss Grayling. Mrs. Hope shook her head.

“No,” she said. “Sally was twelve when Daphne was born. She had been the only child for all that time. I thought she would be so pleased to have a sister. We haven't spoilt Sally, you know—but she didn't have to share us with anyone till Daphne came—and sometimes I wondered if she was— well—jealous.”

“Of course she was!” said Miss Grayling at once. “I should think, Mrs. Hope, that Sally is very much attached to you, and resented sharing your love when the baby came. She probably didn't like to tell you so, in case you thought badly of her.”

“Oh, she never said a word to me!” said Mrs. Hope. “She just changed, that's all. She wasn't merry and gay any more, she didn't come to us and love us as she used to do, and she seemed to hate the baby. I thought it would blow over. And then, when it didn't, I and my husband thought it would be best if Sally came to boarding school, because I wasn't very well at the time, and it was all I could do to look after the baby, without having to cope with Sally too. We did it for the best.”

“Yes, I see,” said Miss Grayling, thoughtfully. “But, from Sally's point of view it must have seemed that you didn't want her any more, but had sent her away to make room for a baby who was taking up all your care and attention. Mrs. Hope, this jealousy of a much younger child is very common and very natural, and you mustn't blame Sally for it. Neither must you let it grow. If only you can make Sally feel you love her as much as ever you did it will be quite all right. Now—shall we have Darrell in?”

Darrell was sent for. She came in nervously, scared of what Mrs. Hope might say. But she was soon put at her ease, and she told all she knew.

Miss Grayling turned to Mrs. Hope, I think it would be a good idea if we let Darrell go in to see Sally for a few minutes before you do,” she said. “We will let her tell Sally that you have come—and we will let her say that you have left the baby behind in order to hurry as fast as possible to Sally. Will you do that, Darrell?”

Darrell nodded. She had suddenly seen all Sally's trouble! Why, she was jealous of her little baby sister! So jealous that she wouldn't even admit she had got one. Sally didn't know how lucky she was!

“I'll tell her,” she said, eagerly. “I'll do what I can too, when you've gone, to make Sally think it's fun to have a sister. I wanted to do something—and I shall love to do that!”

Darrell went to the San. upstairs. She had a little note with her for Matron from Miss Grayling. “Please allow Darrell to see Sally for a few minutes before her mother comes.”

Matron, surprised and not very pleased, opened the door to let Darrell in. Darrell tiptoed in. It was a pleasant room, with three white beds in it, and a lovely view from the big windows. Everything was creamy white and spotlessly clean. In the end bed lay Sally, white but bright-eyed.

“Hallo, Sally,” said Darrell. “I've been so worried about you. Are you better? Did my father make you better?”

“Yes. I do like him. He was so kind,” said Sally. “I did feel so awful all Saturday, Darrell. But I couldn't tell anyone, could I? I couldn't spoil the day.”

“I think you're very brave,” said Darrell. I say—guess who's here to see you?”

“Not my mother?” said Sally, her eyes shining. Darrell nodded. “Yes. And your father too. And do you know, Sally, your mother has left behind your little baby sister, so that she could come more quickly to see you? Fancy that! She must think an awful lot of you, because usually mothers can't bear to leave babies when they're small.”

Sally seemed to have forgotten that she had told Darrell she had no sister. She reached out for Darrell's hand. “Hasn't she brought Baby?” she whispered. “Did she leave her behind? Really and truly?”

“Yes, poor little thing,” said Darrell. “She must be feeling lonely! I've got a little sister, too. It's lovely to have a sister.

Mine looks up to me no end and thinks I'm wonderful. I expect yours will, too.”

Sally's ideas of sisters underwent a sudden change. Things seemed suddenly to fall into their proper places. She smiled gratefully at Darrell. “You'll come and see me when you can, won't you?” she said. “And don't say anything about— about—all my silliness, will you? To the others, I mean.”

“Of course not. It wasn't silliness. It was just a mistake on your part,” said Darrell. “Why, anyone could see by giving one look at your mother that she's a
proper
mother—I mean the kind that would always love you, however many children she had, or whatever you did. I think she's a darling.”

“So do I,” said Sally, with a sigh. “I'm sorry I was such a beast to you, Darrell.”

“And I can't tell you
how
sorry I am for having shoved you like that when you had such a pain in your tummy,” said Darrell.

“Did you shove me?” said Sally. “I've forgotten. Look, what's Matron saying?”

Matron was beckoning for Darrell to come away. Mr. and Mrs. Hope were outside the door. Darrell said a hurried good-bye and tiptoed out. Mr. and Mrs. Hope went in, and Darrell heard Sally's low cry of joy as she saw her mother.

Darrell skipped happily down the stairs and through the hall into the Court. She ran to the building in which her own classroom was. The bell was just going for the ending of a lesson.

Darrell slipped into the first-form classroom. The girls looked up at her.

“Where
have
you been? You've been ages! You've missed half of maths, lucky pig.”

“I've been to see Sally,” said Darrell, importantly.

“Fibber! No one is allowed to see her yet,” said Irene.

“Well, I
have
. And she says my father has cured her pain and made her much better,” said Darrell, proud to have such a father. “He came in the night. I saw him.”

“Darrell Rivers, you're making it all up,” said Alicia.

“No, honestly I'm not. It's all true,” said Darrell. I saw Mr. and Mrs. Hope too, and they're seeing Sally now. They are staying the night with Miss Grayling and going back tomorrow.”

“And has dear Sally found out yet whether she has a baby sister or not?” drawled Gwendoline.

Darrell felt a hot flame of temper rise up but she choked it down at once. “That's no business of yours—and it's a pity
you
didn't have about six older sisters to sit on you hard and squash you flat,” said Darrell. “You'd have been a bit nicer then. But probably only a bit.”

“Shhhhh! Mam'zelle coming!” hissed the girl at the door, and in came Mam'zelle, rather cross this morning because the third form had just proved extraordinarily stupid. Darrell didn't mind how cross Mam'zelle or Miss Potts were that day. She kept thinking of Sally's happiness. She wondered how she was getting on.

Sally and her mother and father were happy together. The curious wall that Sally had built up between herself and her mother had fallen away, because suddenly the jealousy was gone. Her mother had left the baby alone to come to her—and Sally was content. Not that she wanted Baby Daphne to be left with strangers—but it was a sign to her that her mother thought of her and loved her. Funny little Sally!

“We'll come and see you tomorrow before we go home,” said her mother, when Matron said it was time for Mr. and Mrs. Hope to go. “And, if you
badly
want me to, I'll stay an extra day, and let Daddy go home without me.”

“No,” said Sally, with a sigh. “Don't let's leave Baby too long! And I know Daddy would rather you went with him.

I'm getting better already, Mother. I'll soon be well—and I shall feel quite different.”

Then Mrs. Hope knew for certain that Sally was her own, unselfish little girl again, and she was glad. What a good thing Darrell Rivers had written to her as she did! Now everything was all cleared up.

Darrell was allowed to go and see Sally twice a day, long before anyone else was. Sally welcomed her eagerly. Sally was so different now—no longer a prim, closed-up little person, but a friendly, eager girl, ready to talk about her home and her dogs and her garden, asking Darrell about the lessons and the games, if Mam'zelle was cross, and what Miss Potts said, and whether Gwendoline and Mary-Lou were still friends.

“You know, Sally,” said Darrell, “when I felt so awfully frightened because I thought I'd injured you and might be sent away from here, I suddenly knew how it must feel to be like Mary-Lou—always scared of everything! And I was sorry I'd teased her so.”

“Let's be nice to Mary-Lou,” said Sally, who, with her strength returning to her, and with Darrell's friendly visits each day, felt that she could be nice even to Gwendoline! “Tell her I'd like her to come and see me.”

Mary-Lou was overwhelmed by this message. Fancy Sally choosing
her
for one of her first visitors! Armed with a big bottle of barley sugar she went to the San. Sally looked rather pale, but very different. Her eyes were bright, and she smiled. She welcomed Mary-Lou graciously.

They talked, and Mary-Lou blossomed a little. She was not afraid of Sally. She told her all sorts of things. Then she looked worried.

“You know, Sally, I do wish Gwendoline wouldn't keep saying horrid things about Darrell. She keeps trying to make me think that Darrell is playing nasty tricks on me. Or that

Alicia is. My ink-pot was spilt yesterday all over my atlas, and Gwendoline says she's sure Darrell did it, because she saw that Darrell's fingers were all inky that day.”

“As if Darrell would do anything like
that!
” said Sally- indignantly. “How can you listen to Gwendoline when she says things like that?”

I can't stop her,” said Mary-Lou, the scared look coming into her face again. “You see, she will keep saying that I'm her friend, and she can tell me anything.”

“
Are
you her friend?” demanded Sally.

“No. Not really. But I don't like telling her I don't want to be,” said Mary-Lou. “Don't call me a coward. I know I am. But I can't help it.”