A new term and Mildred arrives back at school with trepidation. Thinking that some extra responsibility might do her some good, Miss Cackle asks Mildred to look after a new first year, Enid Nightshade. On the surface the new girl seems rather quiet - even dull. Mildred has been put on probation by Miss Cackle, and if she does one tiny thing wrong, she's out. She throws herself wholeheartedly into watching Enid and Maud feels left out. Meanwhile, Mr. Blossom has waged a war against a wayward fungus that has spread all over the school. One night, as he is skulking about the halls pulverizing it, he sees a monkey - too much spray? Enid's true character is discovered while the girls are rehearsing for a play with Miss Drill. When Enid has had enough of Ethel's snootiness, she unties the rope holding the scenery upright, and it falls on her head. She passes out cold, and the girls are punished. Their punishment is to scrub the floors, a task of which Enid quickly tires. She runs off leaving Mildred alone with the scrub-brush. When Mildred's curiosity finally gets the better of her, Mildred abandons the scrubbing and goes to find Enid. She opens the door to her room and the monkey escapes. Mildred thinks she'll do Enid a good turn and chases it on her broomstick, which ends in disaster. Miss Hardbroom thinks the monkey is Ethel, but in fact it's Enid's cat, which she's turned into a monkey for fun. She is obviously cheekier than she looks! Mildred will have to watch her or she'll be in even more trouble than usual.
—van_whistler@hotmail.co.uk