Alice-Miranda At School (13 page)

Alice-Miranda let herself out of the study.

Miss Higgins looked up from her typing and saw Alice-Miranda's forlorn face. ‘Oh, dear girl, was it really that bad?'

‘No, not at all. The test was great fun and I told Miss Grimm that myself,' she replied.

‘Well, what is it then?' Miss Higgins stood up and walked towards Alice-Miranda. She took her hand and led her to the settee in the corner.

‘I've upset Miss Grimm. I didn't mean to. It's just
that, well, I asked her why she doesn't come out of her study. I told her that we all miss her and that the girls and the teachers and all the other staff would love to see her and then …' Alice-Miranda hesitated.

‘And then?' Miss Higgins prompted.

‘She ran out of the study through that doorway at the end and I think she was crying. I mean, she yelled at me, which is quite usual, but I could have sworn that she was upset.' Alice-Miranda stared into Miss Higgins's eyes.

‘Don't blame yourself, Alice-Miranda. She'll be fine. I'm sure she'll be back to her old self in no time at all,' Miss Higgins said reassuringly. However, privately she wondered if perhaps something
had
changed.

‘Whatever happened to Miss Grimm, Miss Higgins? Why does she hide away from everyone? Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale is such a wonderful school but she doesn't get to enjoy any of it at all. I don't understand.' Alice-Miranda sat back against the frame of the couch.

‘I'm sorry, sweetheart, but it's not something I can discuss,' Miss Higgins replied. She wanted to tell Alice-Miranda about Miss Grimm. She wanted to tell her
everything
. But Alice-Miranda was just a
child and she didn't need that burden. She wanted to tell her that Miss Ophelia Grimm had once been the most stylish and outgoing woman in the school. She had roamed around the grounds talking to the staff, admiring their work, chatting with the girls and teachers. She had girls into her study for tea and laughed as they recounted their mishaps in the Science room and at camp. She had been so young and so happy. And then, she had fallen in love.

‘Will you tell her that I'm sorry I upset her?' Alice-Miranda asked quietly.

‘Of course, dear girl. Now, you must be starving. I know that Mrs Oliver has baked a special cake for you. In honour of finishing that test. Why don't you run along to the dining room? I'll be down shortly.'

Miss Higgins stood up, took Alice-Miranda's hand and directed her to the doorway. She opened the door and watched her go. Alice-Miranda looked back and smiled.

‘Thank you, Miss Higgins.' She turned and headed off down the hallway.

Alice-Miranda walked quickly to the dining room. It was after 11 am and she was late for morning tea. Her tummy gurgled noisily and she was looking forward to whatever treat Mrs Oliver had whipped up.

The dining room rattled and chinked with the usual sounds of teacups and cutlery. But as she entered, Millie – who had been keeping one eye on the doorway – jumped up and shouted, ‘She's back!'

Immediately Jacinta Headlington-Bear leapt onto her chair and shouted, ‘Three cheers for
Alice-Miranda. Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray! Hip, hip, hooray!'

Alice-Miranda could hardly believe the scene in front of her. She was suddenly bombarded with questions.

‘What was it like?'

‘Was it hard?'

‘How do you think it went?'

She hardly had time to catch her breath.

‘When are you getting kicked out?' Alethea snarled.

‘Yes, when are you getting kicked out?' the three marionettes echoed. Alethea shot them a stare and they immediately sat down.

The room finally settled and Alice-Miranda began to speak. She was so little that the girls couldn't see her. Much to everyone's surprise, Mr Plumpton grabbed a chair and lifted Alice-Miranda onto it.

‘Thank you, Mr Plumpton,' Alice-Miranda said. His nose glowed red and he smiled awkwardly. ‘Thanks everyone. The test was great. I rather enjoyed it and I hope that I have done quite well. But I suppose I will just have to wait and see.'

Miss Reedy smiled at Alice-Miranda from the teachers' table.

‘Well, young lady, now it's time for morning tea.' Mr Plumpton picked her up and set her back down on the floor.

‘Goodness, I hope you haven't been waiting for me,' Alice-Miranda gasped.

‘Yes, we have,' said Alethea. ‘Reedy said that we should wait until you got back because you've had to do a big test – poor little pet.'

‘Well, that was very kind of her and of you all.' Alice-Miranda smiled at Alethea, who rolled her eyes and looked away.

Morning tea was delicious. Mrs Oliver hadn't cooked just one cake. She'd cooked four different types and they were all favourites of Alice-Miranda's. There was devil's food cake, which is the most delicious chocolate concoction, hazelnut torte, sponge cake filled with cream, and strawberry butterfly cupcakes.

Afterwards the girls were given an extra half-hour of playtime before they had to return to class. Miss Reedy asked Alice-Miranda to come to her study. Alice-Miranda went through the test – well, as much as she could remember.

‘My dear girl, it sounds as though you have done very well.' Miss Reedy sat staring at this simply
amazing child. ‘Let's hope that Miss Grimm gives you the results soon and doesn't make you wait too long.'

‘Yes, I hope so,' Alice-Miranda agreed.

‘Now as I understand, the next part of your program involves a rather strenuous physical challenge. I've asked Charlie if he can give you some lessons on setting up your tent and getting a fire started – those outdoorsy type things which I assume you haven't had a lot of experience with,' said Miss Reedy, glancing at her watch.

‘Well, to tell you the truth, Miss Reedy, I have been camping a few times. You see, Daddy helps out with an organisation that builds schools for children in different parts of Africa. The last two times he has been he took me and it was wonderful. He taught me how to put up the tent and to build a fire and to cook my own meals. It's funny, but Daddy said that everyone should know how to look after themselves. But I don't suppose he thought I would need those skills just yet,' she finished with a grin.

‘That's wonderful, but I'm sure it wouldn't hurt for you to have a refresher with Charlie this afternoon,' said Miss Reedy.

‘What about my lessons?' Alice-Miranda asked.

‘The faculty have decided that there is really not much point in you having your lessons until we know that you are staying for good. Better to spend the time preparing for your Wilderness Walk and then your sporting match.' Miss Reedy picked up the telephone on her desk and dialled the number for the greenhouse.

‘Hello Charlie, it's Livinia Reedy. I have Alice-Miranda with me now. Should I send her to you?' she asked in a rather clipped and business-like manner. ‘Yes, now would be perfect. She will be there in five minutes.'

Alice-Miranda stood up. ‘I suppose I should be going,' she said.

‘Yes, and work hard, my dear. Although it sounds like you have had lots of camping experience for a child your age, I'm sure that Charlie can teach you a few new tricks.'

Alice-Miranda thanked Miss Reedy and let herself out the door.

Meanwhile, Miss Grimm sat in the depths of her wardrobe with a mountain of tissues at her side. She had broken her cardinal rule. She had been unmasked. Through a haze of tears she had tracked Alice-Miranda as she left the office and headed to
the dining room. The ridiculous scene that followed was more than a little disconcerting. Then Livinia had taken the girl back to her study. Unfortunately that room did not have cameras. It was not a place Ophelia had expected to need intervention – but she was wrong. The little brat had got to Reedy. Of all people, reliable Reedy; an English teacher of great renown who wore no emotion on any sleeve.

But it seemed that they were all against her. Winchesterfield-Downsfordvale had routines. There were things that happened and things that didn't. Staff knew their places and they just got on with it. It didn't matter whether they were happy or not. As long as the results were achieved then no one would question a thing. They would leave her alone and she could run the school as she saw fit. But this child, this tiny girl with chocolate curls and eyes as big as saucers had set everything on its head. She had even seen that mad musician Mr Trout laughing in the quadrangle with a group of girls. Outrageous behaviour indeed.

Ophelia left the wardrobe and went to wash her face. She would need to look at the examination paper at some stage. She straightened her blazer, smoothed her skirt and strode back into the study,
determined not to let Alice-Miranda upset her any further. The paper lay on her desk, exactly where the child had set it down.

Ophelia sat in her leather chair and reached for the paper. ‘Alice-Miranda Highton-Smith-Kennington-Jones' was printed neatly across the top of the front page. As if I wouldn't know it belonged to her, Ophelia thought. Twit. She turned the page and began to read. Red pen in hand, she prepared to unleash inky fireworks all over the page. But a surge of disappointment rose from the bottoms of her feet. The first answer was correct, and the second and the third. In fact there was nothing on the first page to warrant any response other than a tick. Ophelia's immediate thought was that the girl must have cheated. But she had sat not three metres from her own desk, and she herself had watched her most of the time. She must have had some sort of radio microphone with Reedy feeding her the answers.

But in her heart Ophelia Grimm knew that wasn't true. Livinia Reedy would never risk her reputation in that way – not even for this child.

She read on. The answers weren't just correct, they were detailed and they were insightful and … they were incredible. At the end of the paper
she folded her arms on her desk, and then raised one hand on which to rest her head. Ninety-seven per cent. She hesitated before writing the mark on the top right-hand corner of the front cover. Apart from one long division question, the entire paper was correct. She slid the test into her bottom drawer. She would give the results after the next two tasks. It was best not to give the brat false hope.