Laurels Are Poison

thing.’

‘You know,’ said Mrs Bradley, ‘you should not allow yourself to fall into Miss Trevelyan’s slip-shod methods of speech.’

‘I know. Never mind that now. Come back to it later. Warden, do you know anything about a Columba student named — although you won’t believe it — Cornflake?’

‘I’d like to,’ said Mrs Bradley. ‘Can you talk in front of Miss Topas?’

‘Yes, if you’ve no objection. Anyway, as she’s in Columba, perhaps Miss Topas ought to know. Mind, I’ve got nothing to go on, but these various little stunts which have cropped up from time to time during the term are obviously inside work, and, in my opinion, this bird Cornflake could bear watching. She isn’t what she seems. Moreover, she’s a red-hot gymnast, and can do all the things the average fly can do, and more. If she couldn’t oil into Athelstan, nobody could. Come over to the gym., if you don’t mind. There’s something I’d like to show you.’

Miss Topas supplied footnotes to Laura’s description of Miss Cornflake, and, when Miss Topas had gone, Laura said, a little shyly:

‘I say, I don’t want to put ideas into your head, Warden, but I wish you’d ask Miss Pettinsalt what she makes of our friend.’

‘Good idea,’ said Mrs Bradley, whose thoughts were moving even faster than Laura’s, for the reason that Miss Cornflake, if what she suspected was a fact, would make so complete a missing link that she seemed too good to be true. She rang up Bede, which had the honour, at that time, of Miss Pettinsalt’s company.

‘Out,’ said Mrs Bradley. ‘But it is only a pleasure deferred. We’ll get her later. Now, let’s have the rest of the information.’

‘Some of it’s in the gym. The rest isn’t information; it’s merely surmise. The three of us — as apparently you spotted from your window — got into the gym. this afternoon to do a turn on the ropes and rings, and this woman Cornflake was there.

‘Well, granted we may have startled her a bit, would you expect a student — even from Columba, where, granted, they’re all as old as the hills and most have done teaching before they came here — but would you expect the following?’ (Here she gave a passable imitation of Miss Cornflake’s tones and bearing.) ‘ “And what are you people doing here?” This, Warden, being said haughty, as indicated.’

‘Curious,’ said Mrs Bradley, her opinion crystallizing into certainty.

‘More than curious, Warden; a dashed give-away. What’s a Secondary School mistress doing at Columba? And a P.T. specialist at that? And why does she go about, according to Miss Topas, practically dumb and half-witted, and yet does that most amazing P.T. in School Prac.? Dirty work somewhere, Warden. That’s what I think.’

Mrs Bradley cackled, and suggested that they repair forthwith to the gymnasium.

‘But how are we to get in, if you haven’t a key?’ demanded Laura. ‘And that’s another thing. How did that blighter get in? Because we had the only ladder. Likewise, how did she get out? These are deep waters, Warden.’

‘You certainly seem to be up to the neck in them,’ Mrs Bradley remarked, with a chuckle. ‘Let us go across to Bede Hall, and see whether Miss Cornflake did not borrow a key.’

‘She said she was there without permission.’

‘Ah, well, there are ways and other ways of borrowing, are there not?’

‘If that’s a dirty dig, Warden, then I’m justified in saying I don’t know.’

‘Touche,’ said Mrs Bradley, with a polite grin. ‘By the way, I may have to commit assault and battery on Miss Cornflake. There might be some point in having witnesses. Bring Miss Boorman and Miss Cartwright.’

‘Not Miss Trevelyan?’

‘Not Miss Trevelyan. She is one of my favourite students, but she has little or no discretion.’

‘Has Cartwright, then?’

‘Miss Cartwright’s standing with the Principal is, fortunately, so questionable that I can terrify her into silence,’ replied the Warden, with a leer of evil joy.

‘Hot dog, Warden!’ said Laura; and went to beat up the escort.

‘But why not me?’ wailed Kitty.

‘You’ve got the morals of a sieve,’ responded Laura. ‘At least, that’s what she said.’ Leaving her friend to fathom the implication of this allusion, she took the meek but excited Alice in tow, and went off to find Miss Cartwright

That amphibious lady was lying on her bed, smoking and reading. She rose with alacrity, and put on her frock, a coat and some shoes.

‘What’s she want me for?’ she asked.

‘Spot of bother about the gym.’

‘Nothing to do with me. Hate the place, anyway. Why should she pick on me?’

‘How should I know? She merely sent me to find you.’

Miss Cartwright’s anxieties were not diminished when the party, instead of bearing south-west towards the gymnasium, turned due east for Columba. Mrs Bradley had vouchsafed no explanation, and offered none as they walked along, herself and Laura in the lead, Miss Cartwright and Alice following.

‘Miss Cornflake?’ said the Warden of Columba. ‘I’ll send for her at once. I expect she’s in her study- bedroom.’