"Blyton, Enid - St Clare's 05 - Claudine at St Clare's (b)" - читать интересную книгу автора (Blyton Enid)

said stiffly. ' I've been here a week already.' Without saying any more
she swung off. The others stared after her. 'What's bitten her?' said
Bobby. ' No need to be rude like that. And what did she mean- that she's
been here a week? Nobody comes back before the first day of term.'
Mirabel came up, with her friend Gladys. ' Hallo, hallo!' said the
others. ' Nice to see you again. I say, have you spoken to that girl
who's just gone-new girl called Eileen Paterson. Seems to think the
whole school belongs to her!' 'No, I haven't spoken to her yet,' said
Mirabel. ' But I know her mother is the Matron now-our old one is ill
you know. Eileen is the new Matron's daughter, and she's going to be
educated here. She came with her mother a week ago, when her mother came
to take over the job and see to the linen and things.' Bobby whistled. '
Oh! No wonder she was annoyed when we said the new Matron ought to be
welcoming the new girls, and didn't know the ropes yet!' she said. ' And
no wonder she knows her way about if she's already been here a week. I
didn't like her much.' ' Give her a chance,' said Hilary. ' You know how
you feel sort of on the defensive when you come to anywhere new, and
meet girls who've been here ages. You feel a kind of outsider at first.'
There were new girls in the other, lower forms, but these did not
interest the fourth-formers much. They were glad to see one another
again-the twins, Bobby, Hilary, Kathleen, Doris, Carlotta, and the rest.
They had all come up together into the fourth form. There were a few old
girls left in the fourth form, most of whom the twins liked. Susan Howes
was head of the form, a pleasant, kindly girl with a good sense of
responsibility and fairness. The fourth form settled down under Miss
Ellis. She was firm and calm, seldom raised her voice, expected good
work and saw that she got it. She was interested in the girls and fond
of them, and they, in return, liked her very much. The Honourable Angela
Favorleigh looked more like an angel than ever in class, with her bobbed
golden hair falling to her shoulders, the ends curling underneath most
beautifully. All her school clothes, though cut to the same pattern as
those of the others, were really beautiful. ' Do you know, she has every
single pair of shoes especially made for her? ' said Alison, in a hushed
voice to the twins. ' And she has a handbag to match every single frock
she wears, all with gold initials on.' ' Shut up,' said Pat. ' Who cares
about things like that? Your darling Angela is a snob.' ' Well, why
shouldn't she be?' said Alison, ready to defend her new friend at once.
' Her family is one of the oldest in the country, she's got a third
cousin who is a prince, and goodness knows how many titled relations!' '
You're a snob too. Alison,' said Isabel, in disgust. ' Why must you
always suck up to people like that? Don't you know that it's what you
are that matters, not what you have? ' ' I'm not a snob,' said Alison. '
I'm pleased that Angela has chosen me for her friend, of course. I think
she's lovely.' ' Pity she hasn't got more brains,' said Bobby. '
Honestly, I don't believe she really knows her twelve times table!'
Angela Favorleigh certainly was a snob. She was intensely proud of her
family, of its wealth, its cars, and her own well-bred looks. She was
very particular about making friends. She liked Alison because the girl
was pretty and dainty, had beautiful manners and quite plainly adored
the lovely Angela from the bottom of her foolish little heart. Angela