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been there for a week. It’ll take a while to get used to being in a large school, and to being so regulated. Of course you miss us—we miss
you
terribly. But we’ll see one another every weekend, and I guarantee you’ll like St. Winifred’s better soon. Your—your father and Maud and I, and the rest of the family, would be so disappointed if you left. You would be disappointed in yourself when you were older—you would have given up this chance for an excellent education.”
    Her face softened. “Many things in life are difficult, but you already know that. You’ve always been my brave lassie—can you try to be brave now and give the school a chance?”
    Polly sighed.
Of course
Noni would react like this. What would her grandmother think if she knew Polly was only there for a year? “All right,” she muttered.
    Noni kissed her. “Good for you. Now, why don’t you make yourself a sandwich and go find Biddy and Vivien. It’ssuch a beautiful day. You don’t have to be back until dinnertime—ask your friends if they’d like to come.”
    Biddy and Vivien were much more sympathetic to Polly’s complaints about St. Winifred’s. They sat on the beach, enthralled and horrified, as Polly told them about the rules and the ugly uniform, described the food and imitated the Hornet.
    “You poor thing!” said Biddy. “It sounds like a prison.”
    “It is,” said Polly. “I hate it!”
    “I would hate it, too,” said Vivien. “But Biddy and I aren’t much better off, Polly.”
    She and Biddy shared a governess with Dorothy, another girl on the island. “We only have to go in the mornings,” said Vivien, “but they last forever. Miss Peate is so boring, and she isn’t very smart. I’m far better at math than she is.”
    “She has B.O.!” said Biddy. “And she files her nails while we’re reading.”
    “At least you have the afternoons off,” said Polly.
    “Yes, but we both have to work,” said Vivien. “I have to help Dad in the orchard, and Biddy has to babysit.”
    “I have to look after Shirley all afternoon and pick up the twins from school,” said Biddy. “Neither of them mindsme—they drive me crazy. Oh, Polly, everything has changed so much! I wish it were last year and we were still in grade seven.”
    The other two agreed. They sat there glumly until Polly said, “Well, at least
next
year I’ll be back on the island all the time.”
    “Yes, you will,” said Biddy. “I’m so glad you don’t like St. Winifred’s. I was worried that you’d want to stay.” She jumped up. “Come on, we only have the weekend together! Can we take out your uncle’s gasboat?”
    The rest of the day went by far too fast. The sea was so calm that they were able to take the boat as far as Vivien’s farm. Then they helped pick apples and ate their sandwiches under the trees. After lunch, they putted back in the boat, then rode their bikes to the lighthouse, with Tarka and Biddy’s dog, Bramble, riding in their baskets as usual. Then they hung around Biddy’s room, looking at movie magazines.
    Polly stretched out on Biddy’s bed and listened to the other two argue about who was prettier—Jean Harlow or Loretta Young. Being part of this cozy threesome again felt so safe.
    “I wish we could
see
some of these movies,” complained Biddy. “Will you be able to go to movies in Victoria, Polly?”
    “Maybe,” said Polly. “When Maud was there, the boarders were sometimes taken to them.”
    “Lucky you!” said Vivien. “It’s so frustrating to live somewhere with no movie theatre.”
    Polly didn’t want them to think there was anything good about St. Winifred’s. “They only go on the weekends,” she said. “I’m not a full-time boarder, so I’ll never see one.”
    “Tell us about your roommates,” said Biddy. “Are they nice?”
    “Two of them are. Eleanor’s really smart and Daisy’s good at sports. She’s trying to get on her house basketball team.”
    “Who’s the third one?”