The Worst Witch All at Sea (4 page)

Mildred’s form were unfortunate enough to be presided over by Miss Hardbroom, the most terrifying mistress in the school. She was a genius at reducing her pupils to a gibbering heap with one withering glance. No one ever dreamed of passing a note, or giggling, or even speaking, unless asked a question, during Miss Hardbroom’s lessons.

On the way to class, Mildred managed to tell Enid and Maud the sad news about Tabby.

Miss Hardbroom was sitting bolt upright behind her desk, waiting for the girls to settle, as they all filed into the room and took their places, arranging books and writing-equipment in their desks. The room was only fractionally warmer than outside, and the girls discreetly rubbed their feet and blew on their hands in a futile attempt to warm themselves up.

‘Come along now, girls,’ said Miss Hardbroom. ‘Stop all this silly nonsense. It isn’t
that
cold. Lunch-break isn’t far away, and then you can all run briskly around the Great Hall to get yourselves nice and warm. Anyway, girls, welcome back for the Summer Term — Mildred Hubble, what is the matter
now
?’

Mildred looked at her feet, embarrassed by the tears which she could not stop from rolling down her cheeks.

‘It’s her cat, Miss Hardbroom,’ said Maud. ‘Miss Cackle sent it to be a kitchen mouser, and Mildred’s got Fenella Feverfew’s, because Fenella left it behind when she left last term.’

‘Well, Mildred,’ said Miss Hard-broom, ‘I don’t know what you are crying for. I would have seen it more as a cause for celebration if I were you. Fenella’s cat is an absolute credit to the school. I hope we shall soon see a marked improvement in your flying, without that nuisance of a tabby. Sit down and pull yourself together at once.’

‘I have an announcement to make, girls,’ she continued, ‘which should cheer Mildred up considerably. Mr Rowan-Webb, the magician Mildred rescued from the school pond last term, has written and asked if Mildred and her form would like to spend a week at his home by the sea during the Summer Term, by way of a thank-you to Mildred.’

There were gasps of delight from the girls, who all turned to Mildred with joyous comments.

‘It seems that we all have
you
to thank for this little treat,’ said Miss Hardbroom, making it sound as if Mildred had done something wrong.

Mildred didn’t know whether to smile or look solemn.

‘Goodness me, girl,’ said Miss Hardbroom, noting Mildred’s anxious face. ‘Surely the thought of a week at the seaside is a cheering thought?’

‘Oh yes, Miss Hardbroom,’ sniffed Mildred, ‘it’s cheered me up very much. But I was wondering if I could bring Tabby with me as a little break from the kitchen. I wondered if it would…’ Her voice trailed away as she saw Miss Hardbroom’s eyebrow arch into a slant, like a poised spear.

There was no point in continuing. Mildred stared down at her feet and tried to look suitably pleased about the holiday, which was difficult when trying not to cry.

Maud sneaked a hand under Mildred’s desk and squeezed her friend’s arm. They both knew that a holiday would be no fun at all, with Tabby left behind in the kitchen wondering why Mildred didn’t come to collect him.

radually, the weather improved. It stopped snowing, the snow melted and soon the girls were all out in the chilly playground again, trying to devise new ways of keeping warm. The holiday was planned for the first week in May and everyone hoped that it might be warm enough by then to swim and have some fun. Mildred was the only one who didn’t seem to be looking forward to the treat in any way.

‘I wonder if there’ll be a sandy beach,’ said Maud, as they all stood ankle-deep in slush in the playground during lunch-break.

‘— and caves!’ said Enid.

‘And a whole week of sunshine so that we can sunbathe and swim,’ said Maud. ‘What do
you
think, Mil?’

‘Mildred
doesn’t
think,’ said Ethel Hallow, who just happened to be passing by on her way to the library. ‘At least, I didn’t see much evidence of any thought last term.’

‘Oh, do leave me alone, Ethel,’ said Mildred, hunching her cloak up around her ears.

‘Not looking forward to our little treat then?’ Ethel continued, in her usual sneering tone. ‘I can’t think why the whole thing’s in honour of
you
, anyway. You’re always messing everything up, you’re the worst witch in the school –’

‘Come on, Mildred,’ said Maud, trying to keep the peace. ‘Let’s go somewhere else and leave Ethel to her sour grapes.’

They all trailed across the playground and tried to get out of the wind by huddling in the broom-shed (which is exactly the same as a bike-shed, except that it houses broomsticks instead of bicycles).

In fact, Ethel’s observations about the holiday in Mildred’s honour were very ill-advised. The whole incident

ending up with Mildred in the pond had been completely due to Ethel in the first place. During the Winter Term, Ethel had changed Mildred into a frog. Mildred had hopped off to find help and been discovered by Miss Hardbroom, who had put her into a jar in the potion laboratory. The frog-Mildred had escaped from her jar and fled to the pond to hide, where she had met the magician, Mr Rowan-Webb, also turned into a frog by enchantment. Mildred had rescued him and made sure he was reinstated as a human, so he was naturally very grateful to her, but Ethel was jealous of all the attention and praise which had been heaped on Mildred.