Free Winter Term at Malory Towers by Enid Blyton

our form. Well, June and Freddie do. Really super ones, too!’
    Unsurprisingly, Sylvia didn’t look terribly thrilled by this, but as the fourth formers had reached the dining-room by this time, she said no more.
    The girl was unusually silent during the meal, lost in her own thoughts. Olive, too, was quiet and sullen, but then she usually was, so the others didn’t take much notice of this. As soon as she had finished her meal, Olive left the table and went to find Miss Tallant, to discover what her punishment would be.
    â€˜Well, if Miss Tallant gave me fifty lines just for laughing, she’s certain to come down much harder on Olive,’ said Nora, quite unable to keep the note of glee from her voice.
    â€˜After all, she did disrupt the whole class.’
    â€˜I think that what Olive did is worth two hundred lines at least,’ said Bonnie, happily.
    â€˜That ought to keep her busy while we are in thecommon-room this evening, so she won’t have time to make any of her spiteful remarks!’
    But when the fourth formers gathered in the common-room that evening, it seemed that Miss Tallant had not punished Olive at all, for the girl sat down in an armchair and began reading a book.
    Felicity nudged Susan and whispered, ‘I say, look at Olive. You don’t think that she’s going to be so silly as to ignore Miss Tallant’s punishment, do you?’
    Susan frowned at this and, raising her voice, called out, ‘Olive! Why aren’t you doing the lines that Miss Tallant gave you as a punishment?’
    â€˜She didn’t give me any lines,’ said the girl, sullenly.
    â€˜Don’t tell me that she let you off scot-free!’ exclaimed Pam.
    â€˜Olive, you had better not have sneaked on me,’ said June sternly. ‘I warned you what would happen if you did.’
    â€˜I haven’t sneaked on you,’ retorted Olive, glaring at June. ‘But Miss Tallant has given me another punishment, instead of lines.’
    â€˜What is it?’ asked Felicity. ‘Are you to go to bed early?’
    â€˜No, I’m to do extra prep with Miss Tallant on Saturday morning,’ said Olive gloomily. ‘Not that it’s any of your business!’
    This really was a horrid punishment, for the girls enjoyed having their weekends all to themselves. They were happy, jolly times where everyone could do as they pleased, whether they chose to play games, go horse-riding or simply sit around laughing and joking in the commonroom. And next Saturday would be even more fun than usual, for the casting of the Christmas play was to take place that afternoon. But nobody felt in the slightest bit sorry for Olive, for all of the fourth formers thought that she had well and truly earned her punishment.
    The girl ignored the grins of the fourth formers and went back to her book, though Felicity, who stole several glances at her, noticed that she didn’t turn the pages at all. She’s only pretending to be engrossed in her book, thought Felicity. I wonder what is going on in Olive’s head? What a odd girl she is!
    Most of the fourth formers were looking forward to the meeting on Saturday afternoon, and the rest of the week seemed to pass by very slowly indeed!
    But, at last, it was Saturday, and June, looking out of the common-room window after breakfast, said, ‘It looks quite sunny for the time of year. Freddie, shall we take a walk along the cliffs in a little while?’
    â€˜That would be super,’ answered Freddie. ‘Would anyone else like to come?’
    Amy and Bonnie, neither of whom cared for exercise and fresh air, both shook their heads, but several of the others agreed eagerly to the suggestion.
    â€˜Lucy and I will join you,’ said Julie. ‘But, of course, we will be on horseback.’
    â€˜What about you, Olive?’ asked June, in a deceptively sweet tone. ‘Would you like to come with us? Oh no, half a minute! I