‘I’ve spoken to Miss Tibbs. Under the circumstances you aren’t going to be punished after all, Mary. In fact she’s writing to your parents to tell them how brave you were.’
‘Yes, it was extraordinary,’ Trevor said. ‘Pavich was dangerous, but thanks to you we have all of them safely under lock and key. A good few days’ work. I think my Inspector will want to thank you, too. He’s coming up from London tomorrow. I daresay there will be a small reward for you.’
Mary felt herself going crimson. ‘I think we’d better get going. The tide will be coming in soon, and we have to walk. There’s no bus till this afternoon.’
‘Why don’t you go and get yourself a cream cake and a coffee each?’ Trevor said, and handed over a ten shilling note. ‘Spend the rest of the day in town, enjoying yourselves, and go back on the afternoon bus. I’m sure no one will mind. It is Saturday, after all!’
The four girls thanked him profusely and made their exit. Mary lingered for a moment. ‘I hope you’re soon back at school Miss Eggleton. I’m really looking forward to studying with you this term.’
‘I’ll be back next week, Mary, and thank you for your concern. If you hadn’t been keeping an eye on me we wouldn’t have caught those evil men at all! Tell the others to start rehearsing. I shall want to go over the play the minute I get back!’
Mary laughed and ran to join the others. She desperately wanted to find a public call box and tell her brother all about what had happened, but there were cream cakes waiting to be eaten. Anyway, he probably wouldn’t believe her. Adventures like that just didn’t happen to girls. At least, that was his opinion. No, she would save it, and tell him at half term.
That evening, back at school in their dormitory, the three girls made a tremendous fuss of Mary, and she felt as though she had been officially welcomed into their little group at last.
‘If you hear anything else in the middle of the night, my girl, you’re to wake all of us,’ Gloria said.
‘You can try waking me,’ Jennifer said sleepily. She was already in her pyjamas and lying on her bed. ‘But I can’t guarantee to wake up in the middle of the night. It’s just not done!’
The others laughed. ‘Well, you’ve certainly livened up our little dormitory, Mary,’ Ros told her. ‘I’ve a feeling things aren’t going to be at all dull in the fifth term after all!’
