The Worst Witch to the Rescue (15 page)

‘Spare me the sound of your voice for a few minutes, Mildred,’ said Miss Hardbroom, smoothing back a tendril of dripping hair. ‘Let’s get out of this wind before you launch into the usual raving explanation of your tiresome behaviour. Miss Cackle is waiting in her study.’

Miss Cackle was just making a second cup of hot chocolate when her study door crashed open and a dripping Miss Hardbroom swept in, guiding the drenched Mildred in front of her.

‘Oh, my goodness!’ exclaimed Miss Cackle. ‘Miss Hardbroom, Mildred, come over here and stand by the fire. Mildred, take off that wet cloak and cardigan at once! Miss Hardbroom, please remove your cloak and get yourself warm. You’ll both catch pneumonia in all those wet things.’

Mildred wrestled her way out of the cloak, which had twisted itself like a
scarf around her shoulders, and began, very carefully, to unbutton her cardigan. Miss Cackle was watching her intently, waiting to take the wet garments and drape them near the fire, so there was no hiding Einstein, who was still lurking deep inside his shell.

‘Good gracious me!’ said Miss Cackle. ‘Is that a
tortoise
, Mildred?’

‘Yes, Miss Cackle,’ said Mildred bleakly. ‘He’s called Einstein. He can speak, Miss Cackle, but he’s been so upset being up in the tree that I think he’s gone into his shell – if you see what I mean – with the shock of it all. Tortoises are really afraid of heights and they have terrible claustrophobia, so it’s no wonder he’s in shock.’

‘How did he get up the tree in the first place, Mildred?’ asked Miss Hardbroom in a matter-of-fact voice. ‘They don’t fly – as well as having claustrophobia and a fear of heights – do they? Or is this just another little-known fact about tortoises that only
you
are privileged to know?’

‘Someone took him up there, Miss Hardbroom,’ said Mildred.

‘Do you happen to know who that someone was, Mildred?’ asked Miss Cackle.

‘I think it was Ethel Hallow, Miss
Cackle,’ said Mildred miserably.

‘And how do you
know
it was Ethel?’ asked Miss Hardbroom.

‘Her toad told me,’ said Mildred, realizing how mad this sounded. ‘You know, the one she used today in potions. He’s called Cyril. He could speak, so he hopped along to tell me what had happened. He knocked on the door with his feet and –’

‘So where is the toad now, Mildred?’ asked Miss Hardbroom.

‘I let him go,’ said Mildred, ‘in the yard. They don’t mind the rain – in fact, they actually prefer it – and he wanted to go home.’

Miss Hardbroom stared in wonder, first at Mildred and then at Miss Cackle. ‘Where did the tortoise come from, Mildred?’ asked Miss Cackle, looking totally baffled.

‘I think this is going to be a very long story, Headmistress,’ said Miss Hardbroom. ‘I’ll take charge of the traumatized tortoise for the night and we can assemble the relevant pupils and the tortoise at some point tomorrow. Not Cyril, though – a pity, as I’m sure he could fill us in on several important details.’

‘Could I keep Einstein with me, Miss Hardbroom?’ asked Mildred desperately. ‘He still hasn’t come out of his shell and I’m really worried about him.’

‘He’ll be quite safe with me, Mildred,’ said Miss Hardbroom. ‘You may take a hot bath to warm yourself up, but be quick about it.’

‘Could we have the meeting early, Miss Hardbroom?’ asked Mildred. ‘It’s just that the spell only works until noon and he won’t be able to speak again after that.’

Miss Hardbroom held the shell up and looked into the dark interior, where Einstein’s front legs were pulled in tightly to shield him from view.

‘Are you
sure
he can speak, Mildred?’ she asked.

‘Perhaps he’s hibernating,’ said Miss Cackle brightly.

‘They’re just coming
out
of hibernation at this time of year, Miss Cackle,’ said Miss Hardbroom waspishly. ‘Tomorrow morning then, Mildred, before assembly.’

‘Oh, thank you
so
much, Miss Hardbroom,’ said Mildred gratefully, ‘and please could you put him somewhere nice and warm. They hate the cold and he’s had such a terrible time.’

‘I do know a
little
bit about tortoises, Mildred,’ said Miss Hardbroom. ‘Now off to bed with you and don’t forget the hot bath.’

right and early next morning, there was a tap on Mildred’s door while she was still getting dressed, ready to go down to breakfast.

Mildred opened the door and found a nervous-looking first-year named Mavis standing outside.

‘What is it?’ asked Mildred, trying to sound kindly. The first-years looked so small and shy and Mildred remembered only too well what that felt like.

‘I’ve brought a message from Miss Hardbroom,’ said Mavis. ‘She wants to see you in Miss Cackle’s study right away.’

‘OK, Mave,’ said Mildred. ‘Message received. Off you go – and ask Maud to save me some toast, would you?’

‘Of course!’ replied Mavis proudly, glad to be of assistance to Mildred Hubble, whose adventures were legendary throughout the school.

Mildred brushed and replaited her hair as tightly as possible and smoothed her dress, hoping to make a good impression from the first moment of what could prove to be a very difficult interview.

Mildred knocked firmly on Miss Cackle’s door.