Second Form at Malory Towers

The Second Form at Malory Towers is a children's novel by Enid Blyton set in an English boarding school. It is the second book in the Malory Towers school story series. The novel was published in 1947.

In the second form at Malory Towers, Darrell Rivers comes back to school with her best friend Sally Hope.

When they all are in their dormitory that first night, they find out that there are three new girls. They are : Belinda Morris (a girl who has a great talent in art), Ellen Wilson (who earned a scholarship and is extremely serious), and last, but not least, Daphne Millicent Turner (an envious girl who befriends Gwendoline Mary Lacey, another spoilt, envious only child. She is believed to be very wealthy indeed).

The next day, Darrell's best friend - Sally Hope - is announced Head Girl of the Second Form. Alicia Johns, who was top of their form last term, becomes jealous because she is not even in the running for the head of form (she is not chosen because of her hardness). Daphne is a poor student with no aptitude for studies and games. Gwendoline Mary Lacey the spoilt,selfish,conceited,and snobbish girl of the form is very much impressed by Daphne's wealth, prettiness, and gracefulness. While Daphne's French is poor she is desperate for help but won't take any coaching from the two French mistresses.

Little Mary Lou who is timid, shy, loyal and kind, offers to help her without realising that she did Daphne's work for her. Gwen becomes jealous of her friend's attention of Mary Lou but Daphne tells her that she is just using Mary Lou but this is not entirely true because Daphne likes her. Ellen worries herself because of her work which is not brilliant as she would like. It is revealed that Ellen comes from a poor family and she had worked extremely hard during the holidays to win the only scholarship that could take her to Malory Towers.

Alicia and her best friend Betty Hill from West Tower feel restless and decide to play a trick on their singing master Mr. Young. They rub invisible chalk on his piano seat and when he gets up a bright pink pattern is shown on his suit. They are begged to play the trick again but this time Darrell writes the word "Oy" on the French mistress Mam'zelle Dupont's seat.

The next excitement are the French plays. The girls are not excited about this because both the Mamzelles produce them and had quite different ideas. Mamzelle Dupont wants her favourite Daphne to play both of the lead parts in the plays. Daphne charms Mamzelle Dupont by charming her beautiful smile which gets her out of trouble by most of her teachers except Miss Potts, Mamzelle Rougier and Miss Parker. Mamzelle Rougier dislikes Daphne because of Daphne's under handed character and poor quality of work. She wants to make Darrell and Sally the lead characters instead. Mamzelle Rougier argues with Mamzelle Dupont about over the choice of whom should play the lead parts in the plays. Their argument interests the children and Belinda makes some marvellous caricatures of the two mistresses in which Mamzelle Dupont is portrayed as the herione and Mamzelle Rougier as the villain. This is so because Mamzelle Dupont had a great sense of humour and was more liked by the students than the other Mamzelle who is sour and bad tempered.

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