THE THIRD TERM AT PLAINS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22419, 4 June 1938, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE THIRD TERM AT PLAINS

CHAPTER I The Term Begins The, third term at Plains College opened very inauspiciously for Judith Baxter. Her parents had decided to go to Australia for a holiday and left sooner than • expected, less than half-way through Judith’s three weeks’ term holidays; her brother Ron was away in Blenheim with a school chum, so she was fdrced to spend the last week back at school under the watchful eyes of matron and the Latin mistress. Needless to say, Judith did not consider this a suitable holiday at all, even though matron was very kind and took her for rides in the car. Plains College for girls was situated near the foothills, at the back of the Canterbury Plains. Although it was an old-established school the buildings were fairly modern, and while built to let in the maximum of sun and light were not draughty. The playing grounds were spacious, and in the warmer months had a delicious, dry, tussocky scent. During the term, when the girls were in residence, the school had a happy, contented air about it, but Judith found it very lonely when she was the . only girl present. Therefore, the opening day of the third term was welcomed with joy by at least one pupil. “But why on earth didn’t you let us know?” cried Peggy Richards, disgustedly. “We’d have loved to have hgd you on the farm. Dad’s given me a chestnut pony, and he’s the loveliest creature—.” Peggy came from Marlborough and loved her farm life there.

“I know,” replied Judith, quickly cutting off the description of the chestnut pony. “But mother said it wasn’t worth it just for the few days.”

The'third of the trio arrived early that afternoon; this was Elsie James, an Auckland girl, who travelled all the way to and from the school quite unperturbed. She, too. was duly sympathetic with Judith’s sad plight, but seemed to be more interested in the boat Mr and Mrs Baxter had travelled on.

“The Awatea is a wonderful ship,” she remarked, in an envious voice, “and she has the loveliest lounge.” “Well, they might have waited till the holidays came and taken me, too,” said Judith in a disgusted tone.

“Poor Judy,” laughed another girl, arriving at that moment, “still lamenting your lost trip?" “I think you’re all mean. None of you really care much!” cried Judith, half indignant and half laughing. The dining-room was a babel of voices. Judith and Elsie were at the same table, which held six. Beside the prefect was seated a new girl, who had that rather lost, woebegone expression peculiar to new girls. She listened to the chatter about the mistresses and dormitories and holidays, which was thrown round the table without any apparent coherence. “I say, which dormitory are you In?” asked Judith, suddenly.

(A Serial Story for Girls by Cecily Clifton-Mogg)

"Marley," the new girl replied,

“Oh, that’s ours. You must have Norah Frame’s old cubicle opposite the prefect,” said Judith. “What fun, we’ll be a full dormitory again.” “Norah Frame left last year,” explained the prefect, “but your coming will make Marley have its full number of eight occupants again.”

Judith looked critically at the new girl, whose name she remembered was Angela. She was tall and thin with straight, black hair. “Looks good at games,” was Judith’s inward comment. After tea she buttonholed Elsie and whispered: “What about having this Angela for a fourth for our study? She looks a sport.”

Elsie looked doubtful. “You know that the head said we’d have to have a fourth to fill up the study properly,” argued Judy. “She looks as good as anyone, You get Peggy and I’ll get Angela; we’ll meet you in the study.” Judith pushed through the clumps of girls till she reached Angela, who having been left by the prefect for the moment, looked doubtful as to where she should go. . “Hullo,” said Judith, “I’m at your table, you remember. Come along to the study and meet the others.” Angela seemed quite willing and followed on after Judith. They left the dining-room and walked along various corridors until they reached the common-room, which had doors leading off it at regular intervals in each wall. One of these. No. 4, being open, showed Elsie and Peggy standing within by a small table; and as Angela entered she could see various cubbyholes where books, sandshoes, and odds and ends were stored. ' * ' ■ “This is the den, otherwise our study,” announced Judith; "and this is Elsie and this is Peggy. We have to have four to make up our numbers and want you to join. Will you?” As usual, Judith went straight to the point without any preamble, leaving poor Angela rather bewildered.

“You see,” explained Elsie, “the third formers sit at the table in there under a mistress, and we of the fourth forms sit in our studies

ANOTHER CHAPTER NEXT WEEK.

with the door open and do our homework. We keep all our books and so on here, too. There, have to be four girls to a study, and our fourth left in the middle of last term, so we need another one. But perhaps someone else has asked you?” She paused for breath after her long speech. Angela shook her head. “No, no one has,” she said, “but I’d love to. thank you very much. But I’m not very tidy, you know.” “Oh, you’ll soon learn,” laughed Peggy. “We have inspection every day. How about a four at tennis now?” , As lights were turned out that night in the dormitories it occurred to Judith that the third term had not begun so badly after

When a pig loses his home, what should he do? Tie a knot in his tail and call it a pig-sty (pig’s tie).