Read Online 06 by Last Term at Malory Towers - Free Book Online
Authors: Last Term at Malory Towers
Ads: Link
June.'
'June!' said the other three, amazed. June, the defiant, aggressive, daredevil cousin of Alicia's! Well, who would have thought of June?
'She never bothers even to listen when she's being coached,' said Sally.
'She only plays when she wants to,' said Darrell, 'and more often than not she plays the fool! She's no good.'
'June's always been like that,' said Moira. 'Ever since she's been here - she could run faster at lacrosse and ■ ackle better than anyone if she tried - but we have never been able to put her into a team. She could swim like a fish if she didn't always fool about - she's fast when she wants to be. But you can never depend on June.'
'Look,' said Amanda, with conviction in her voice, 'I tell you, if June was coached properly and soundly, at lennis and swimming - I don't know if she's any good at lacrosse, of course - I tell you that kid would he the finest player and swimmer you've ever had. Oh, f know she lools about, I know she's a dare-devil and doesn't care a rap for anyone - but my word, once she finds out she can be superlative at something, well - watch her! She'll go lo the top like lightning!'
This was all very surprising - and somehow, spoken in Amanda's loud, very sure voice, it was remarkably convincing. Darrell looked at Sally. Could Amanda be nght? Had their dislike and disapproval ol the cheeky, don't-care June prevented them from seeing that she had the promise of a first-class games-player?
'Well.' said Sallv, doubtfully, thinking of June's tennis, and remembering the way she had watched her playing the lool on the court the week before, 'well, I don't know. She's wonderfully quick and supple, and she's very strong - but her character is against her. She won't bother.'
'She just wants someone to take an interest in her and encourage her,' said Amanda. 'I bet it's a case of "give a dog a bad name and hang him", with June. If I had the handling of her, I'd soon make something of her!'
'Well, why don't you?' said Moira, rather dis¬agreeably. She had suddenly seen that Amanda was right. June was a natural games-player - she had a wonderful eye, and a beautiful style. She's cheeked me so often that I just couldn't see her good points, thought Moira, grimly. She put her question to Amanda, and stood waiting lor the answei. 'Well, why don't you?'
'Oh, Amanda can't be bothered to coach anyone, can you, Amanda?' said Sally, slyly. She felt sure that by appearing doubtful about Amanda's wish to help she would make the big, aggressive girl volunteer to do so. Clever Sally!
Amanda fell into the trap at once. 'I can be bothered to coach if the person is worth it,' she said, shortly. 'Well, I'm glad you seem to agree with me, anyway. I'll take on June and, what's more, I'll have her in the second tennis team and second swimming team before the term's finished!'
She walked out, shutting the door loudly, in her usual way. The three left in the room looked at one another. Darrell rubbed her nose as she always did when surprised and taken aback.
'Well! She's right, of course. June could be and would be a wonder at games if she wanted to. She's like Alicia - brilliant, but unstable. A wonder so long as she's doing something she wants to do. and something she's
determined to do well - but no good otherwise.'
'/ shouldn't care to take that little wretch of a June on,' said Moira. 'She's rude and ungrateful, and she fools about all the time. I wish Amanda joy of her!'
'She's certainly taken on a handful.' said Sally, picking up her games lists. 'But if she does help June's game, it'll be something! Anyway, thank goodness we've got Felicity to depend on, Darrell. She's going to follow iii your footsteps all right!'
Darrell glowed with pleasure. Yes, Felicity was all light. Felicity would make good - and yet, June would be twice as good as even Felicity, if she only took the · rouble!
'Well - it will be interesting to see what happens,' said Moira. 'Very, very interesting. The confident
'June!' said the other three, amazed. June, the defiant, aggressive, daredevil cousin of Alicia's! Well, who would have thought of June?
'She never bothers even to listen when she's being coached,' said Sally.
'She only plays when she wants to,' said Darrell, 'and more often than not she plays the fool! She's no good.'
'June's always been like that,' said Moira. 'Ever since she's been here - she could run faster at lacrosse and ■ ackle better than anyone if she tried - but we have never been able to put her into a team. She could swim like a fish if she didn't always fool about - she's fast when she wants to be. But you can never depend on June.'
'Look,' said Amanda, with conviction in her voice, 'I tell you, if June was coached properly and soundly, at lennis and swimming - I don't know if she's any good at lacrosse, of course - I tell you that kid would he the finest player and swimmer you've ever had. Oh, f know she lools about, I know she's a dare-devil and doesn't care a rap for anyone - but my word, once she finds out she can be superlative at something, well - watch her! She'll go lo the top like lightning!'
This was all very surprising - and somehow, spoken in Amanda's loud, very sure voice, it was remarkably convincing. Darrell looked at Sally. Could Amanda be nght? Had their dislike and disapproval ol the cheeky, don't-care June prevented them from seeing that she had the promise of a first-class games-player?
'Well.' said Sallv, doubtfully, thinking of June's tennis, and remembering the way she had watched her playing the lool on the court the week before, 'well, I don't know. She's wonderfully quick and supple, and she's very strong - but her character is against her. She won't bother.'
'She just wants someone to take an interest in her and encourage her,' said Amanda. 'I bet it's a case of "give a dog a bad name and hang him", with June. If I had the handling of her, I'd soon make something of her!'
'Well, why don't you?' said Moira, rather dis¬agreeably. She had suddenly seen that Amanda was right. June was a natural games-player - she had a wonderful eye, and a beautiful style. She's cheeked me so often that I just couldn't see her good points, thought Moira, grimly. She put her question to Amanda, and stood waiting lor the answei. 'Well, why don't you?'
'Oh, Amanda can't be bothered to coach anyone, can you, Amanda?' said Sally, slyly. She felt sure that by appearing doubtful about Amanda's wish to help she would make the big, aggressive girl volunteer to do so. Clever Sally!
Amanda fell into the trap at once. 'I can be bothered to coach if the person is worth it,' she said, shortly. 'Well, I'm glad you seem to agree with me, anyway. I'll take on June and, what's more, I'll have her in the second tennis team and second swimming team before the term's finished!'
She walked out, shutting the door loudly, in her usual way. The three left in the room looked at one another. Darrell rubbed her nose as she always did when surprised and taken aback.
'Well! She's right, of course. June could be and would be a wonder at games if she wanted to. She's like Alicia - brilliant, but unstable. A wonder so long as she's doing something she wants to do. and something she's
determined to do well - but no good otherwise.'
'/ shouldn't care to take that little wretch of a June on,' said Moira. 'She's rude and ungrateful, and she fools about all the time. I wish Amanda joy of her!'
'She's certainly taken on a handful.' said Sally, picking up her games lists. 'But if she does help June's game, it'll be something! Anyway, thank goodness we've got Felicity to depend on, Darrell. She's going to follow iii your footsteps all right!'
Darrell glowed with pleasure. Yes, Felicity was all light. Felicity would make good - and yet, June would be twice as good as even Felicity, if she only took the · rouble!
'Well - it will be interesting to see what happens,' said Moira. 'Very, very interesting. The confident
Similar Books
