The Worst Witch All at Sea (14 page)

‘I’m glad to note that you are suddenly so fascinated with the laws of science, Mildred,’ said Miss Hardbroom. ‘I must set you a little test to occupy your inquiring mind in case you get bored on the holiday.’

‘Thank you, Miss Hardbroom,’ said Mildred.

Maud and Enid prodded their friend as they all suppressed a major fit of the giggles.

uch to Mildred’s surprise, the rest of the day was extremely enjoyable. Even Miss Hardbroom seemed relaxed and almost friendly as the sun beat down on the sheltered beach and the waves danced on the shingle.

Much to Form Two’s delight, Miss Cackle emerged from the cave, which she had been using as a private dressing-room, wearing an extremely tight knee-length bathing-costume made of black and grey spotted material, which showed every bulge. She was also wearing a frilly black bathing-hat made of drooping rubber petals, like a giant chrysanthemum.

‘Super day for a dip, girls!’ she called as she picked her way painfully through the pebbles and plunged into the sea, sending up a cloud of spray like a big dipper crashing through the water trough.

‘This is the life, eh, Mil?’ said Maud as she floated past Mildred, who was hopping along on one foot, making swimming motions with her hands in the hope that no one would notice her deficiency in the swimming department. ‘Even Miss Hardbroom’s having a sneaky sunbathe – look.’

Mildred screwed up her eyes against

the glare. Sure enough, Miss Hardbroom, though still demurely clad in a calf-length black dress, was sitting leaning against a rock with her legs stretched out in the sun and no shoes or stockings!

‘Cor, look at that!’ said Enid. ‘No stockings! Whatever next!’

Miss Hardbroom stood up at that point and looked out to where the three girls were standing. They all jumped and turned away.

‘Come on!’ said Maud. ‘Start swimming again. She probably heard every word.’

‘She certainly did, Maud Spell-body,’ hissed Miss Hardbroom’s voice from behind them. ‘So you’d better be careful what you say.’

The three friends spun round and there was Miss Hardbroom doing an elegant crawl behind them. She was now wearing a close-fitting mauve bathing-hat and a black knee- and

elbow-length swim-suit with a purple V set into the front. The whole transformation had taken place within the space of half a minute.

After Miss Hardbroom had joined them, no one felt inclined to splash about or have any more fun, and everyone was soon grimly swimming up and down in silent rows before sedately getting out and sitting on the beach, wrapped in their towels.

As the evening approached, Mildred didn’t have a chance to sneak the kippers across to Tabby, with the boat in full view of everyone. In fact, it was rather embarrassing, as the kippers were beginning to smell awful after a day of being crammed into Mildred’s shorts.

Mildred tried to hang back as everyone settled on to their broomsticks and began flying back to the castle in ones and twos. Unfortunately, Enid and Maud waited loyally as their friend took ages rolling up her swimming-costume in a towel, then purposely dropping it and rolling it up again and retying her plimsolls three times in a desperate attempt to be the last one left on the beach.

‘Come on, Mil!’ said Maud. ‘We’re having dinner as soon as we get back. Everything’ll have gone by the time you get your laces perfect.’

There was nothing for it but to go back to the castle, kippers and all, and return later when no one was looking. At least she could sneak some more food and perhaps some milk for Tabby.

n opportunity presented itself at dusk, as Form Two were having an hour of leisure before going to bed. Maud was darning a hole in the toe of a sock and Enid was reading a manual on broomstick water-skiing, while the rest of the girls were bustling about, similarly employed. No one seemed to notice as Mildred slunk out of the door and made her way to the cliff steps.

She was halfway down when, to her horror, a voice called out from behind, making her jump out of her skin. It was Ethel.

‘Hey, Mildred,’ she called. ‘Mind if I join you?’

‘Er – no,’ said Mildred. ‘Of course not.’

‘Where are you off to then?’ asked Ethel with an unpleasant smile. ‘It’s a