I think a lot of the school stories concern how various characters react to what I call the Marlow prestige. All of the Marlows have good looks, good intellectual ability and talent at sports. Naturally that's going to produce some jealousy and resentment, but there's another factor.

Some of the Marlows - Nicola, Rowan, Kay in the right circumstances, Ann when it comes to Guides - have a natural ability to command and to command a room. Other Marlows - Ginty and Lawrie - share (possibly to an unwarranted degree) in the expectation that they can do the same - it's a sort of collective Marlow prestige. It means they get noticed when other girls of no less talent or ability (at the things they're being noticed for) aren't. And I think that's what Esther reacts against; specifically because she shares Lawrie's fears, the fact that Lawrie is humoured to a degree she isn't must rankle.