St. Clare's 4 - The Second Form At St. Clare's - Blyton, Enid 1 OFF TO SCHOOL AA!" THE last #ee$ o% the s&mmer holidays %le# y, and the t#ins, (at and !sael O'S&lli)an, seemed to e in a r&sh o% &yin* clothes, %ittin* them on, loo$in* o&t lacrosse stic$s, %indin* %indin* lacrosse oots, and h&ntin* %or all $inds o% thin*s that seemed to ha)e com+letely disa++eared. ' here is my $nittin*-a*' said (at, t&rnin* a #hole dra#er-%&ll o% thin*s &+side do#n. ' ! $no# ! ro&*ht it home at the end o% last term.' ' ! can only %ind one o% my lacrosse oots,' #ailed !sael. ' &mmy, ha)e yo& seen the other' ' /es, it came ac$ %rom the ootma$er's yesterday,' said rs. O'S&lli)an. ' here did yo& +&t it' ' (ac$in* to *o to school is al#ays m&ch more m&ddlin* than +ac$in* to come ac$ home,' said (at. ' ! say. !sael-#on't it e %&n to e in the second %orm this term' ' ho is yo&r %orm-teacher there ' as$ed their mother, &n+ac$in* hal% (at's thin*s and +ac$in* them all o)er a*ain. ' iss 0en$s,' said (at. ' !'ll e sorry to lea)e iss oerts and the %irst %orm, in some #ays. e did ha)e %&n there.' ' ! et #e'll ha)e some %&n in iss 0en$s's class too,' said !sael. ' ! don't thin$ she's 2&ite so strict as iss oerts.' ' 3on't yo& elie)e it' said !sael, tryin* to cram a tin o% to%%ees into a corner. ' She may not ha)e iss oerts's sarcastic ton*&e-&t she's all there 3on't yo& rememer ho# she &sed to deal #ith Tessie #hen Tessie &sed to try on her +retendsnee5es' ' /es-sent /es-sent her to atron %or a lar*e dose o% a#%&l medicine, s&++osed to sto+ a cold ' *i**led (at. ' All the same, ! et #e'll *et a#ay #ith 2&ite a lot o% thin*s in iss 0en$s's %orm.' ' ! ho+e yo& mean to #or$,' said rs. O'S&lli)an, +&ttin* in the to+ tray o% !sael's tr&n$. ' ! #as 2&ite +leased #ith last term's re+ort. 3on't let me ha)e a ad one as soon as yo& *o &+ into another %orm, #ill yo&' ' e'll #or$ all ri*ht, &mmy,' &mmy,' said (at. ' ! can tell yo&, the teachers at St. Clare's aren't easy-*oin* #here #or$ is concerned. They $ee+ o&r noses to the *rindstone ! am'5elle's the #orst. She really seems to thin$ #e o&*ht to learn to tal$ French etter than #e s+ea$ En*lish' ' "o #onder yo&r French accent is so m&ch im+ro)ed, then,' said rs. O'S&lli)an, #ith a la&*h. ' "o# (at- let me see i% ! can +ossily sh&t yo&r tr&n$. /o&'d etter sit on it #hilst ! try to sh&t the clas+s.' The tr&n$ #o&ldn't sh&t. rs. O'S&lli)an o+ened it a*ain and loo$ed inside. ' /o& /o& can't ta$e all those oo$s,' she said, %irmly. ' &mmy, ! m&st,' said (at. ' And ! sim+ly m&st ta$e those *ames too-#e lo)e 6i*sa#s in the #inter term.' ' ell, (at, all ! can say is, yo&'d etter ta$e oo$s, *ames, to%%ees, isc&its and $nittin* thin*s, and lea)e ehind yo&r clothes,' said the t#ins' mother. ' "o#-e sensile-ta$e o&t three oo$s and #e can sh&t the tr&n$.' (at too$ o&t three oo$s, and, #hen rs. O'S&lli)an #as not loo$in*, +&t them h&rriedly into !sael's tr&n$. Her o#n tr&n$ no# sh&t do#n %airly easily, and #as loc$ed. Then rs. O'S&lli)an #ent to !sael's. 'The thin*s yo& *irls ta$e ac$ #ith yo& no#adays hen ! ...7 ' hen yo& #ere a *irl yo& only too$ a small case, and that held e)erythin*' chanted the t#ins, #ho had heard these remar$s e%ore. ' &mmy, #e'll oth sit on !sael's tr&n$, shall #e ' rs. O'S&lli)an o+ened the tr&n$ and %irmly remo)ed three oo$s %rom the to+ layer. She loo$ed at them in s&r+rise. ' ! seem to ha)e seen these e%ore ' she said. The t#ins *i**led. They sat on the tr&n$ and it sh&t #ith a *roan. 'And no# to +ac$ yo&r hand-a* #ith ni*ht-thin*s in,' said rs. O'S&lli)an, loo$in* at the schoollist to ma$e s&re nothin* had een %or*otten. ' That #on't ta$e lon*.' "i*ht-*o#ns, tooth-r&shes, %ace-%lannels and s+on*es #ent into small a*s. Then the t#ins #ere ready. They #ere oth dressed neatly in their school #hiter &ni%orms o% *rey, #ith #ith l&e lo&ses and scarlet ties. They +&t on *rey coats and *rey %elt hats #ith the school rion ro&nd, and loo$ed at each other. ' T#o *ood little St. Clare *irls,' said (at, loo$in* dem&re. ' "ot so )ery *ood,' said her mother, #ith #ith a smile. '"o#-there is the car at the door, ready to ta$e &s to the station. Ha)e #e really *ot e)erythin* /o& /o& m&st #rite and tell me i% yo& #ant anythin* else.' ' Oh, #e're s&re to #ant lots o% thin*s' said (at. ' /o /o&'re &'re a darlin*, the #ay yo& send &s thin*s. !t's %&n to e *oin* ac$ to St. Clare's. !'m a#%&lly *lad yo& sent &s there, &mmy.' &mmy.' ' And ho# yo& hated *oin* at %irst 'Said rs. O'S&lli)an, rememerin* the %&ss the t#ins had made, e8+ensi)e school. ' /es-#e /es-#e made &+ o&r minds to e so a#%&l that the school #o&ldn't $ee+ &s,' said (at. 'And #e #ere a#%&l too-&t #e co&ldn't $ee+ it &+. St. Clare's #as too m&ch %or &s-#e 6&st had to e decent in the end ' ' 3o come on,' said !sael. ' e shall miss the train !'m lon*in* to meet all the *irls in London, and see them a*ain, aren't yo&, (at ! do li$e the 6o&rney do#n to St. Clare's.'
They #ere o%% at last. They had to tra)el to London, and *o to the station #here the St. Clare train started. The #hole train #as reser)ed %or the St. Clare *irls, %or it #as a i* school. There #as a terri%ic noise on the +lat%orm, #here scores o% *irls #ere #aitin* %or the train. Their mothers #ere there to id them *ood-ye, and teachers mo)ed ao&t, tryin* to collect the *irls to*ether. (orters (orters sho)ed l&**a*e into the )an, and e)ery one #as e8cited. ' Boy Oh, there's Boy' yelled (at, as soon as they arri)ed on the cro#ded +lat%orm. ' And 0anet too. Hie, Boy, hie, 0anet' ' Hallo, t#ins' cried Boy. Her merry eyes crin$led &+ as she smiled. ' !t's *ood to see yo&r t&rn-&+ nose a*ain,' said (at, sli++in* her arm thro&*h Boy's. ' Hallo, 0anet ot any more tric$s %rom that rother o% yo&rs' ' ait and see,' *rinned 0anet. A mistress came &+ at that moment and o)erheard the remar$s. ' Ah-did ! hear the #ord T!C9S, 0anet ' she said. ' ell, 6&st rememer yo&'re in my %orm this term, and there are really Terrile (&nishments %or tric$s li$e yo&rs' ' /es, iss 0en$s,' *rinned 0anet. ' !'ll rememer. Are Are all the o thers here yet ' "o# #e m&st *et into the train. The *&ard is loo$in* rather #orried, ! see.' ' Carlotta et into o&r carria*e' yelled Boy, seein* the dar$eyed, dar$-haired *irl r&nnin* do#n the +lat%orm. ' hat sort o% hols, did yo& ha)e 3id yo& *o ac$ to the circ&s ' Carlotta #as a so&rce o% *reat attraction and admiration to the *irls, %or she had once een a circ&s-*irl, and her &nderstandin* and handlin* o% horses #as mar)ello&s. "o# she had to settle do#n at St. Clare's, and learn many thin*s she had ne)er heard o%. She had %o&nd her %irst term )ery di%%ic<, &t at the end o% it she #as %irm %riends #ith most o% her %orm, and the mistresses #ere +leased #ith her. She ran &+ to the t#ins and Boy, her )i)id little %ace *lo#in* #ith +leas&re. ' Hallo' she said. ' !'ll *et into yo&r carria*e. Oh, loo$-there's yo&r co&sin Alison. She loo$s rather miserale.' ' ! %eel miserale,' said Alison O'S&lli)an, comin* &+, loo$in* )ery #oe-e*one. ' ! shall miss my %riend Sadie dread%&lly this term.' , Sadie had een an American *irl #ith no ideas in her head at all eyond clothes and the cinema. She had had a )ery ad in%l&ence on Alison, &t, as she #as not comin* ac$ that term, it #as to e ho+ed that the %eather-headed Alison #o&ld +&ll hersel% to*ether a little, and try to do etter. She #as a +retty little thin* #ho easily &rst into tears. Her co&sins #elcomed her #armly. ' Hallo, Alison ! 3on't %ret ao&t Sadie. /o&'ll /o&'ll soon %ind other %riends.' They all *ot into the carria*e. 3oris arri)ed, +antin*. Hilary ent#orth, #ho had een head o% the %irst %orm, %l&n* hersel% do#n in a corner seat. She #as )ery m&ch #onderin* i% she #o&ld e head o% the second %orm. She #as a tr&st#orthy and res+onsile *irl #ho li$ed ein* head. 'Hallo, e)eryody,' e)eryody,' she said. '"ice to see yo& all a*ain. ell, Carlotta-een ridin* in the in*, ! s&++ose L&c$y $id' ' /o& /o& $no# ! don't elon* to a circ&s any more,' said Carlotta. ' ! #ent to s+end my holidays #ith my %ather and my *randmother. y %ather seems to li$e me 2&ite a lot-&t my *randmother %o&nd a lot o% %a< #ith my manners. She says ! m&st +ay more attention to them this term e)en than to my lessons ! /o& m&st all hel+ me' ' Oh no' said (at, #ith a la&*h. ' e don't #ant yo& any di%%erent %rom #hat yo& are, my dear, hot-tem+ered, entirely nat&ral, +er%ectly honest little Carlotta e *et more %&n o&t o% yo& than o&t o% anyone. e don't #ant yo& chan*ed one little it ! Any more than #e #ant Boy chan*ed. e shall e8+ect some mar)ello&s tric$s %rom yo& this term, Boy.' ' i*ht,' said Boy. ' B&t ! tell yo& here and no#, !'m *oin* to #or$ too' ' iss 0en$s #ill see to that,' said Hilary. ' ememer #e shall no lon*er e in the ottom %orm. e')e *ot to #or$ %or e8ams, and +ass them' ' e're o%%' said (at, leanin* o&t o% the #indo#. ' ood-ye, &mmy e'll #rite on S&nday' The train steamed slo#ly o&t o% the station. The *irls dre# in their heads. All the carria*es #ere %&ll o% chatterers, tal$in* ao&t the #onder%&l hols, they had had, the +laces they had een to, and #hat sort o% term it #o&ld e. ' Any ne# *irls ' said !sael. ' ! ha)en't seen one.' ' ! thin$ there's only one,' said Boy. ' e sa# a miserale-loo$in* creat&re standin* a little #ay &+ the +lat%orm-! don't $no# #hether she'll e second %orm or %irst %orm. "ot second, ! ho+e-she loo$ed s&ch a misery' , 'Alison's doin* her hair a*ain already,' already,' said (at. ' Alison (&t yo&r com a#ay. irls, irls, ! thin$ #e'll ha)e to ma$e it a r&le that Alison Alison doesn't do her hair more than %i%ty times a day' E)ery one la&*hed. !t #as *ood to e ac$, *ood to e all to*ether once more. The #inter term #as *oin* to e %&n : !" THE SECO"3 FO
They #ere o%% at last. They had to tra)el to London, and *o to the station #here the St. Clare train started. The #hole train #as reser)ed %or the St. Clare *irls, %or it #as a i* school. There #as a terri%ic noise on the +lat%orm, #here scores o% *irls #ere #aitin* %or the train. Their mothers #ere there to id them *ood-ye, and teachers mo)ed ao&t, tryin* to collect the *irls to*ether. (orters (orters sho)ed l&**a*e into the )an, and e)ery one #as e8cited. ' Boy Oh, there's Boy' yelled (at, as soon as they arri)ed on the cro#ded +lat%orm. ' And 0anet too. Hie, Boy, hie, 0anet' ' Hallo, t#ins' cried Boy. Her merry eyes crin$led &+ as she smiled. ' !t's *ood to see yo&r t&rn-&+ nose a*ain,' said (at, sli++in* her arm thro&*h Boy's. ' Hallo, 0anet ot any more tric$s %rom that rother o% yo&rs' ' ait and see,' *rinned 0anet. A mistress came &+ at that moment and o)erheard the remar$s. ' Ah-did ! hear the #ord T!C9S, 0anet ' she said. ' ell, 6&st rememer yo&'re in my %orm this term, and there are really Terrile (&nishments %or tric$s li$e yo&rs' ' /es, iss 0en$s,' *rinned 0anet. ' !'ll rememer. Are Are all the o thers here yet ' "o# #e m&st *et into the train. The *&ard is loo$in* rather #orried, ! see.' ' Carlotta et into o&r carria*e' yelled Boy, seein* the dar$eyed, dar$-haired *irl r&nnin* do#n the +lat%orm. ' hat sort o% hols, did yo& ha)e 3id yo& *o ac$ to the circ&s ' Carlotta #as a so&rce o% *reat attraction and admiration to the *irls, %or she had once een a circ&s-*irl, and her &nderstandin* and handlin* o% horses #as mar)ello&s. "o# she had to settle do#n at St. Clare's, and learn many thin*s she had ne)er heard o%. She had %o&nd her %irst term )ery di%%ic<, &t at the end o% it she #as %irm %riends #ith most o% her %orm, and the mistresses #ere +leased #ith her. She ran &+ to the t#ins and Boy, her )i)id little %ace *lo#in* #ith +leas&re. ' Hallo' she said. ' !'ll *et into yo&r carria*e. Oh, loo$-there's yo&r co&sin Alison. She loo$s rather miserale.' ' ! %eel miserale,' said Alison O'S&lli)an, comin* &+, loo$in* )ery #oe-e*one. ' ! shall miss my %riend Sadie dread%&lly this term.' , Sadie had een an American *irl #ith no ideas in her head at all eyond clothes and the cinema. She had had a )ery ad in%l&ence on Alison, &t, as she #as not comin* ac$ that term, it #as to e ho+ed that the %eather-headed Alison #o&ld +&ll hersel% to*ether a little, and try to do etter. She #as a +retty little thin* #ho easily &rst into tears. Her co&sins #elcomed her #armly. ' Hallo, Alison ! 3on't %ret ao&t Sadie. /o&'ll /o&'ll soon %ind other %riends.' They all *ot into the carria*e. 3oris arri)ed, +antin*. Hilary ent#orth, #ho had een head o% the %irst %orm, %l&n* hersel% do#n in a corner seat. She #as )ery m&ch #onderin* i% she #o&ld e head o% the second %orm. She #as a tr&st#orthy and res+onsile *irl #ho li$ed ein* head. 'Hallo, e)eryody,' e)eryody,' she said. '"ice to see yo& all a*ain. ell, Carlotta-een ridin* in the in*, ! s&++ose L&c$y $id' ' /o& /o& $no# ! don't elon* to a circ&s any more,' said Carlotta. ' ! #ent to s+end my holidays #ith my %ather and my *randmother. y %ather seems to li$e me 2&ite a lot-&t my *randmother %o&nd a lot o% %a< #ith my manners. She says ! m&st +ay more attention to them this term e)en than to my lessons ! /o& m&st all hel+ me' ' Oh no' said (at, #ith a la&*h. ' e don't #ant yo& any di%%erent %rom #hat yo& are, my dear, hot-tem+ered, entirely nat&ral, +er%ectly honest little Carlotta e *et more %&n o&t o% yo& than o&t o% anyone. e don't #ant yo& chan*ed one little it ! Any more than #e #ant Boy chan*ed. e shall e8+ect some mar)ello&s tric$s %rom yo& this term, Boy.' ' i*ht,' said Boy. ' B&t ! tell yo& here and no#, !'m *oin* to #or$ too' ' iss 0en$s #ill see to that,' said Hilary. ' ememer #e shall no lon*er e in the ottom %orm. e')e *ot to #or$ %or e8ams, and +ass them' ' e're o%%' said (at, leanin* o&t o% the #indo#. ' ood-ye, &mmy e'll #rite on S&nday' The train steamed slo#ly o&t o% the station. The *irls dre# in their heads. All the carria*es #ere %&ll o% chatterers, tal$in* ao&t the #onder%&l hols, they had had, the +laces they had een to, and #hat sort o% term it #o&ld e. ' Any ne# *irls ' said !sael. ' ! ha)en't seen one.' ' ! thin$ there's only one,' said Boy. ' e sa# a miserale-loo$in* creat&re standin* a little #ay &+ the +lat%orm-! don't $no# #hether she'll e second %orm or %irst %orm. "ot second, ! ho+e-she loo$ed s&ch a misery' , 'Alison's doin* her hair a*ain already,' already,' said (at. ' Alison (&t yo&r com a#ay. irls, irls, ! thin$ #e'll ha)e to ma$e it a r&le that Alison Alison doesn't do her hair more than %i%ty times a day' E)ery one la&*hed. !t #as *ood to e ac$, *ood to e all to*ether once more. The #inter term #as *oin* to e %&n : !" THE SECO"3 FO
!T #as )ery stran*e at %irst to e in the second %orm, instead o% the %irst. The t#ins %elt )ery im+ortant, and loo$ed do#n on the %irst-%ormers, %eelin* that they #ere )ery yo&n* and &nim+ortant. B&t the third-%ormers also loo$ed do#n on the second %orm, so thin*s soon shoo$ themsel)es o&t, and e)ery one settled do#n. '!t's %&nny to *o to the second %orm class-room instead o% to iss oerta's room,' said (at. ' ! $ee+ on *oin* to the %irst %orm room, as ! al#ays &sed to do.' ' So do !,' said 0anet. ' iss oerts is e*innin* to thin$ #e're doin* it on +&r+ose. e'd etter e care%&l.' ' There's a #hole lot o% ne# *irls in the %irst %orm, a%ter all,' said (at. ' iss oerts m&st ha)e collected them alto*ether on the train. That's #hy #e didn't see them. There's ao&t t#el)e' '! shall ne)er $no# all their names,' said !sael. ' Any#ay-they're only little $ids-some o% them not yet %o&rteen t' All the %irst%ormers ha)e een mo)ed &+,' said Boy. 'E8ce+t yo&n* (am-and she's only 6&st %o&rteen. ! et she'll e head o% the %irst %orm' (am Boardman had een ne# the term e%ore, and #as a )ery hard-#or$in* child. As Boy said, she #as made head o% the %irst %orm, and #as e8tremely +ro&d o% the hono&r. She had many ne# *irls &nder her, and #as ea*er to hel+ them all. Only t#o *irls had een le%t do#n in the second %orm- Elsie Fansha#e and Anna 0ohnson. The *irls #ho had 6&st come &+ #ere sorry to see them there, %or they #ere not m&ch li$ed. Elsie Fansha#e #as s+ite%&l, and Anna 0ohnson #as la5y. ' ! s&++ose one o% them #ill e head *irl,' said Hilary, #ith a *rimace. ' ell-! don't %ancy either o% them, do yo&, Boy ' ' They oth thin$ themsel)es )ery s&+erior to &s,' said Boy. ' 0&st eca&se they')e een second-%ormers %or a year.' ' ! sho&ld e ashamed,' said Carlotta. ' ! #o&ld not li$e to s+end more than a year in any %orm. B&t Anna Anna is so la5y she #ill ne)er *et &+ into the third %orm,!'m s&re' ' ! elie)e iss 0en$s didn't send them &+ eca&se she ho+ed they'd &c$ &+ a it i% they #ere heads,' said (at. ' ! rather thin$ she's *oin* to ma$e them 6oint head *irls. e shall ha)e to loo$ o&t i% Elsie's head-she's really catty.' ' e')e *ot that isery-*irl in o&r %orm a%ter all,' said Boy, loo$in* at the ne# *irl, #ho #as standin* mo&rn%&lly not %ar o%%, loo$in* at nothin*. ' She ne)er says a #ord, &t loo$s as i% she'll &rst into tears at any moment' The isery-*irl, as the others called her, #as named ladys Hillman. The *irls tried to ma$e her tal$ and Boie did her est to ma$e her la&*h, &t ladys too$ no notice o% any one. She #al$ed y hersel%, seemed to ream all the time, and hardly s+o$e a #ord. ' Better lea)e her alone,' said Hilary. ' (erha+s she's "ot many o% the St. Clare *irls %elt home-sic$ #hen they ret&rned to school, eca&se it #as all so 6olly and %riendly, and there #as so m&ch to do that there seemed no time to miss home and +arents. The e*innin* o% term #as al#ays %&n - ne# oo$s *i)en o&t, ne# *irls to si5e &+, ne# des$s to sit in, and sometimes ne# %orms to *o to. ' There's a ne# mistress,' said Boy, in e8citement. e8citement. ' She's to ta$e Eloc&tion and 3rama Loo$ there she is- isn't she dar$ ' iss ;&entin certainly #as dar$, and e8tremely *ood loo$in*. She had lac$ +iercin* eyes, and a ea&ti%&l )oice. Alison tho&*ht she #as #onder%&l. ' /o& #o&ld ' said Boy. ' /o&'ll e doin* yo&r hair li$e iss ;&entin ne8t, s#e+t o)er yo&r ro# and ro&nd yo&r ears. There'll al#ays e some one %or yo& to co+y, my dear Alison 3o yo& rememer last term ho# yo& co+ied e)erythin* yo&r dear %riend Sadie did ' Alison %l&shed. She #as al#ays ein* teased and she ne)er seemed to *et &sed to it. She t&rned a#ay #ith a toss o% her +retty head. The others la&*hed at her. There #as nothin* ad in Alison - &t on the other hand there #as nothin* )ery *ood either. She #as, as (at so o%ten said, ' 6&st a +retty little %eather-head ' The second %orm soon settled do#n #ith iss 0en$s. At %irst it seemed stran*e to them not to ha)e iss oerts teachin* them %or most o% the mornin*. They missed her dry remar$s and cris+ #ords o% +raise. iss 0en$s #as not so shre#d as iss oerts, nor #as she so cool #hen an*ry. She co&ld not ear the sli*htest hint o% r&deness, and she had no sym+athy at all %or '%rills and %ancies' as she +&t it. "o *irl dared to %&ss her hair o&t too m&ch, or to #ear anythin* &t a +lain *old ar %or a rooch in iss 0en$s's class. ' Alison is in %or a ad time' *rinned Boy one mornin*, #hen Alison Alison had een sent to remo)e a o# %rom her hair and a rooch %rom her collar. ' So is Carlotta' said (at. ' iss 0en$s doesn't li$e %rills and %ancies-&t she doesn't li$e &ntidiness either 0&st loo$ at yo&r hair, Carlotta. Carlotta. !t's #ild eno&*h in the ordinary #ay-&t it loo$s li$e a *olli#o*'s hair at the moment.' ' 3oes it really ' said Carlotta, #ho ne)er cared in the least #hat she loo$ed li$e. ' ell, those s&ms #e had to do #ere so hard ! 6&st had to cl&tch my hair all the time' ' Old am'5elle's still the same,' said !sael. ' F&nny, old, hot-tem+ered, %lat-%ooted %lat-%ooted thin*-&t
! li$e her all the same. She al#ays *i)es &s some e8citement-and ! et she #ill this term, too. 3o yo& rememer ho# she and Carlotta nearly came to lo#s last term ' /es-the /es-the s&mmer term had een a )ery e8citin* one. The *irls loo$ed at am'5elle and rememered all the 6o$es they had +layed on her. 3ear old am'5elle, she al#ays %ell %or e)erythin*. She #as )ery terri%yin* #hen she lost her tem+er, &t she had a *reat sense o% h&mo&r, and #hen her short-si*hted eyes t#in$led ehind their *lasses, the *irls %elt a real %ondness %or her. ' Ah,' said am'5elle, loo$in* ro&nd the second %orm. ' Ah /o& /o& are no# the second %orm-)ery im+ortant, )ery res+onsile, and )ery hard-#or$in*, n'est ce +as The %irst-%ormers, they are aies, they $no# nothin*- &t as soon as yo& a rri)e in the second %orm, yo& are i* *irls, yo& $no# a *reat deal. /o&r French #ill e 2&ite +er-r-r-r-r%ect +er-r-r-r-r%ect And 3oris-ah, e)en 3oris #ill e ale to roll her 's in the +ro+er French #ay' E)ery one la&*hed. (oor 3oris, al#ays ottom at oral French, co&ld ne)er roll her 's. 3oris *rinned. She #as a d&nce, &t noody minded. She #as a #onder%&l mimic and co&ld $ee+ the #hole %orm in roars o% la&*hter #hen she li$ed. ' -r-r-r-r-r-r ' said Carlotta, &ne8+ectedly. She She so&nded li$e an aero+lane ta$in* o%%, and am'5elle %ro#ned. ' /o& /o& are no# in the second %orm, Carlotta,' she said, coldly. ' e do not do those thin*s here.' ' "o, am'5elle,' said Carlotta, mee$ly. ' O% co&rse not.' 'Tric$s and 6o$es are not +er%ormed in any %orm hi*her than the %irst,' #arned am'5elle. ' hilst yo& are %irst-%orm aies, one does not e8+ect m&ch %rom yo&-&t as soon as yo& lea)e the ottom %orm ehind, it is di%%erent. e e8+ect e8+ect yo& to eha)e #ith di*nity. One One day the head-*irl may e one o% yo& here, and it is not too soon to +re+are %or s&ch an hono&r.' ini%red 0ames, the m&ch-admired head-*irl, had le%t, and Belinda To#er To#ers, s, the s+orts ca+tain, had ta$en her +lace. This #as a )ery +o+&lar choice, %or Belinda #as #ell $no#n y the #hole school, and )ery m&ch li$ed. As s+orts ca+tain she $ne# +ractically all the *irls, and this #o&ld e a *reat hel+ to her as head-*irl. She #as not so *entle and 2&iet as ini%red, and many *irls #ere a%raid o% her o&t-s+o$enness, &t there #as no do&t she #o&ld ma$e an e8cellent head-*irl. Belinda )isited e)ery common room in t&rn and made the same short s+eech to the *irls there. ' /o& all $no# !'m head-*irl no#-and !'m still s+orts-ca+tain too. /o& can come to me i% yo&'re in a s+ot o% tro&le at any time and !'ll hel+ i% ! can. /o&'ll /o&'ll all ha)e to toe the mar$ #here *ames are concerned, eca&se ! #ant to +&t St. Clare's ri*ht on the ma+ this #inter, #ith lacrosse. e m&st #in e)ery match #e +lay e')e *ot some %ine +layers %or a school team, &t ! #ant e)ery %orm to s&++ly +layers %or the second and third match-teams too. So &c$ &+, all o% yo&, and +ractise hard.' Alison Alison *roaned as Belinda #ent o&t o% the second %orm common room. ' hy do #e ha)e to +lay *ames' she said. ' They 6&st ma$e &s hot and &ntidy and tired.' ' /o& /o& %or*et they do other thin*s as #ell,' said 0anet. ' e ha)e to learn to #or$ to*ether as a team-each one %or his side, hel+in* the others, not each one %or himsel%. That sort o% thin* is es+ecially *ood %or yo&, my dear Alison-yo&'d sit in in a corner and loo$ at yo&rsel% in the the mirror all day lon* i% yo& co&ld-and co&ld-and a %at lot o% *ood that #o&ld do to yo& or anyody else.' ' Oh, e 2&iet,' said Alison. ' /o&'re /o&'re al#ays *ettin* at me' !t #as %&n to e ac$ a *ain, and to hear all the %amiliar school chatter, to to *roan o)er +re+., to eat enormo&s teas, to tal$ ao&t lacrosse, to la&*h at someody's 6o$e, and to loo$ %or#ard to the class yo& li$ed the est-+aintin*, maye, or m&sic, or eloc&tion-or e)en maths There #as a s&r+rise %or the second %orm at the end o% the %irst #ee$. Another- ne# *irl a++eared She arri)ed at tea-time, #ith red eyes and a s&l$y mo&th. She loo$ed de%iantly at e)ery one as she too$ h er +lace at the second %orm tale. ' This is irael
' ! say- the second %orm is *oin* to e 2&ite an e8citin* +lace this term' = TO HEA3-!LS A"3 TO "E !LS !SS 0E"9S made oth the old second-%ormers into 6oint head-*irls o% the %orm. She a nd iss Theoald, the Head istress, had had a tal$ ao&t them, and had decided that +erha+s it #o&ld e the ma$in* o% them. ' Elsie is a s+ite%&l ty+e,' said iss 0en$s. ' She has ne)er een +o+&lar, tho&*h tho&*h she #o&ld ha)e li$ed to e -so she *ets ac$ at the others y ein* s+ite%&l and sayin* nasty thin*s. And Anna Anna is one-la5y-#on't do a thin* i% she can hel+ it' ' ell, a little res+onsiility may e *ood %or them,' said iss Theoald, tho&*ht%&lly. tho&*ht%&lly. ' !t #ill *i)e Elsie a sense o% im+ortance, and rin* o&t any *ood in her- and Anna #ill ha)e to estir hersel% i% she #ants to $ee+ her +osition. Let them oth try.> try.> ' ! don't $no# ho# they #ill #or$ to*ether,' to*ether,' said iss 0en$s, do&t%&lly. do&t%&lly. ' They don't li$e each other )ery m&ch.' ' Let them try,' said iss Theoald. ' Elsie is 2&ic$, and she may stir Anna &+ a it-and Anna is too la5y to to e s+ite%&l, so +erha+s she #ill e *ood %or Elsie Elsie in that #ay. #ay. B&t ! too ha)e ha)e my do&ts' Elsie Fansha#e #as deli*hted to e a 6oint head-*irl- tho&*h, o% co&rse, she #o&ld )ery m&ch rather ha)e een the only one. Still, a%ter ein* thoro&*hly disli$ed and $e+t do#n y the #hole o% the second %orm, it #as 2&ite a chan*e to e to+-do* ' "o# ! can 6olly #ell $ee+ the others do#n and ma$e them loo$ &+ to me,' tho&*ht Elsie, +leased. > ! can *et some o% my o#n ac$. These silly little %irst-%ormers, #ho ha)e 6&st come &+, ha)e *ot to learn to $n&c$le &nder a it. ! can ma$e Anna a*ree #ith all ! do-la5y thin* !'ll ha)e e)ery sin*le one o% the r&les $e+t, and !'ll ma$e a %e# o% my o#n, i% ! #ant to-and !'ll re+ort any one #ho *ets o&t o% hand. !t's #orth-#hile not *oin* &+ into the third %orm, to e to+ o% the second' The others *&essed a little #hat Elsie #as thin$in*. Altho&*h they had not $no#n the *irl )ery #ell #hen they #ere %irst-%ormers, they had heard the others tal$in* ao&t her. They $ne# Elsie #o&ld #o&ld try to ' *et her o#n ac$'. ' 0&st #hat a head-*irl sho&ldn't do,' said 0anet. ' She sho&ld try and set some sort o% e8am+le to the others, or #hat's the &se o% ein* a leader Loo$ at old Hilary, #hen she #as head o% the %irst %orm She #as a *ood s+ort and 6oined in e)erythin*-&t she al#ays $ne# #here to dra# the line #itho&t *ettin* o&r ac$s &+.' > ! can't ear Elsie? said Carlotta. ' ! #o&ld li$e to Sla+ her hard.' ' Oh Carlotta ! Ha)e yo& still *ot that hait ' said Boy, +retendin* +retendin* to e shoc$ed. ' eally, a second-%ormer, too too hat #o&ld Elsie say' Elsie o)erheard the last remar$. ' hat #o&ld ! say to #hat ' she as$ed, comin* &+. 'Oh, nothin*-Carlotta #as sim+ly sayin* she'd li$e to sla+ some one,' said Boy, #ith #ith a *rin. ' (lease &nderstand, Carlotta, that yo& are in the second %orm no#,' no#,' said Elsie, in a cold )oice. ' e don't e)en tal$ o%'sla++in* +eo+le' ' /es, /es, #e do,' said Carlotta. ' o&ldn't yo& li$e to $no# #hom ! #ant to sla+, dear Elsie ' Elsie heard the dan*er-note in Carlotta's hi*h )oice, and +&t her nose in the air. ' !'m not interested in yo&r sla++in* haits,' she said, and #al$ed o%%. ' Sh&t &+ no#, Carlotta,' Carlotta,' said Boy. > 3on't *o and *et all #ild and S+anish a*ain. /o& #ere ad eno&*h #ith (r&dence last term' ' ell, than$ *oodness old So&r-il$ (r&dence #as e8+elled' said Carlotta. ' ! #o&ldn't ha)e stayed i% she had come ac$' !t #as the ho&r #hen all the second %orm #ere in their common room, +layin*, #or$in* or chatterin*. They lo)ed ein* to*ether li$e that. The #ireless lared at one end o% the room, and 3oris and Boy danced a ridic&lo&s dance to the m&sic. ladys Hillman sat in a corner, loo$in* as miserale as &s&al. "oody co&ld ma$e anythin* o% her. !sael loo$ed at her and %elt sorry. She #ent o)er to her. ' Come and dance,' she said. ladys shoo$ her head. ' hat's the matter ' as$ed !sael. ' Are yo& homesic$ /o&'ll /o&'ll soon *et o)er it.' ' 3on't other me,' said ladys. ' ! don't other yo&.' ' /es, /es, yo& do,' said !sael. ' /o& other me a lot. ! can't ear to see yo& sittin* here all alone, loo$in* so miserale. Ha)en't yo& een to oardin*-school e%ore ' ' "o,' said ladys. Her eyes %illed #ith tears. !sael %elt a little im+atient #ith her. Hadn't she any co&ra*e at all > /o& /o& don't seem to en6oy a sin*le thin*? said !sael. ' 3on't yo& li$e any lesson s+ecially-or *ames-or somethin*' ' ! li$e actin*,' said ladys, &ne8+ectedly. ' And And ! li$e lacrosse. That's all. B&t ! don't li$e them here. ! don't li$e anythin* here.' She #o&ldn't say any more, and !sael *a)e her &+. She #ent across to (at. ' Ho+eless' she said. ' 0&st a mass o% sel%-+ity and tears ! She'll %ade a#ay and #e'll ne)er notice she's *one i% she doesn't &c$ &+ !'d almost rather ha)e that
r&de irael than ladys.' irael had een the so&rce o% m&ch annoyance and am&sement to the second %orm. She #as r&de to the +oint o% ein* &nearale, and reminded e)ery one e)ery day that she #asn't *oin* to stay a day eyond hal%-term. ' 3on't tell me that any more,' e**ed Boy. ' /o& can't ima*ine ho# *lad ! am yo&'re *oin* at hal%-term. !t's the only ri*ht s+ot ! can see. B&t ! #arn yo&- don't e too r&de to am'5elle, or s+ar$s #ill %ly-and don't *et on the hi*h horse too m&ch #ith o&r dear head-*irl, Elsie Fansha#e, or yo&'ll *et the #orst o% it. Elsie is +retty cle)er yo& $no#, and yo&'re rather st&+id.' ' "o, !'m not' %lashed irael, an*rily. ' ! only seem st&+id eca&se ! don't #ant to try-&t yo& sho&ld hear me +lay the +iano and the )iolin ! Then yo&'d see' ' hy, yo& don't e)en learn m&sic' said Boy. ' And !')e ne)er seen yo& o+en yo&r mo&th in the sin*in* dass. e all came to the concl&sion that yo& co&ldn't sin* a note.' ' That's all yo& $no#' said irael, r&dely. ' olly, #hat a school this is ! al#ays $ne# oardin*-school #o&ld e a#%&l-&t it's #orse than ! e8+ected. ! hate li)in* #ith a lot o% r&de *irls #ho thin$ they're the cat's #his$ers 6&st eca&se they')e een here a year or t#o' ' Oh, yo& ma$e me tired,' said Boy, and #al$ed o%%. ' eally, #hat #ith yo& and the isery-*irl, and s+ite%&l old Elsie #e're adly o%% this term' iss 0en$s $e+t a )ery %irm hand on irael. ' /o& may not intend to #or$,' she said, ' &t yo& are not *oin* to sto+ the others %rom #or$in* ! /o& #ill do one o% three thin*s, my dear irael-yo& #ill stay in the classroom and #or$-or yo& #ill stay in the classroom and do nothin* at all, not e)en say a #ord-or yo& #ill *o and stand o&tside the classroom till the lesson is %inished' At %irst irael tho&*ht it #as mar)ello&s to de%y iss 0en$s and e sent o&tside. B&t she soon %o&nd it #earisome to stand there so lon*, #aitin* %or the others to come o&t. Also, she #as al#ays a little a%raid that the Head istress, iss Theoald, #o&ld come alon*. Lo&dly as irael declared that she cared %or noody, noody at all at silly St. Clare's, she #as in a#e o% the 2&iet Head istress. ' 3id yo& tell iss Theoald that yo& didn't mean to stay here lon*er than hal%-term' as$ed (at. E)ery *irl had to *o to see the Head istress #hen she arri)ed on the %irst day. ' O% co&rse ! did > said irael, tossin* her head. ' ! told her ! didn't care %or anyone, not e)en the Head' This #as &ntr&e. irael had meant to say 2&ite a lot-&t iss Theoald had someho# said it %irst. She had loo$ed *ra)ely at the red-eyed *irl #hen she had come in, and had told her to sit do#n. irael o+ened h er mo&th to s+ea$, &t iss Theoald silenced her. ' ! m&st %inish this letter,' she said. ' Then #e #ill tal$.' She $e+t irael #aitin* %or ten min&tes. The *irl st&died the Head's calm %ace, and %elt a little a#ed. !t #o&ld e di%%ic< to e r&de to someone li$e this. The lon*er she #aited, the more di%%ic< it #o&ld e to say #hat she had meant to say. iss Theoald raised her head at last. ' ell, irael,' she said, ' ! $no# yo& %eel &+set, an*ry and de%iant. /o&r %ather insisted yo& sho&ld come a#ay to school eca&se yo& are s+oilt and ma$e is home &nearale. /o& also domineer o)er yo&r smaller rother and sister. He chose St. Clare's eca&se he tho&*ht #e mi*ht e ale to do somethin* %or yo&. "o-don't interr&+t me. Belie)e me, ! $no# all yo& #ant to say-&t yo& don't $no# #hat ? ha)e to say.' There #as a +a&se. E)en de%iant irael did not dare to say a #ord. 'e ha)e had many di%%ic< *irls here,' said iss Theoald. ' e rather +ride o&rsel)es on *ettin* the est o&t o% them. /o& see, irael, di%%ic< children o%ten ha)e %ine thin*s hidden in their characters-thin*s that +erha+s more ordinary children don't +ossess . . .' ' hat thin*s ' as$ed irael, interested in s+ite o% hersel%. ' ell-sometimes di%%ic< children ha)e a *reat talent %or somethin*-a *i%t %or art or drama, a talent %or m&sic -or maye they ha)e some *reat 2&ality-o&t-standin* co&ra*e, +erha+s. ell, ! don't $no# i% this is the case #ith yo&, or #hether yo& are 6&st a s+oilt and &nr&ly *irl-#e shall see. All ! #ant to say no# is-*i)e yo&rsel% a chance and let me see i% there is anythin* #orth#hile in yo& this hal%-term. !% there is not, #e don't #ant yo& to stay. e shall e *lad %or yo& to *o.' #as so &ne8+ected that irael a*ain had nothin* @ne $a> mean> > say tnat nothin* on earth #o&ld ma$e her stay at St. Clare's eyond the hal%-t here #as iss Theoald sayin* that she didn't to $ee+ her lon*er than that-&nless-&nless she #orth-#hile ! orth-#hile ! don't care i% !'m #orth#hile or not' tho&*ht to hersel%, indi*nantly. ' And ho# dare 3addy #rite and tell iss Theoald those thin*s ao&t me hy co&ldn't he $ee+ o&r a%%airs to himsel%' irael )oiced this tho&*ht alo&d. ' ! thin$ it #as horrid o% my %ather to tell yo& thin*s ao&t me? she said, in a tremlin* )oice. ' They #ere said in con%idence to some one #ho &nderstood,7 said iss Theoald. ' Ha)e yo& $e+t yo&r o#n ton*&e 2&iet ao&t yo&r +ri)ate a%%airs this a%ternoon, irael "o-! rather thin$
yo& *a)e yo&rsel% a#ay to the #hole school at tea-time #hen yo& arri)ed' irael %l&shed. /esshe had said %ar too m&ch. She al#ays did. She co&ld not $ee+ control o)er her ton*&e. ' /o& may *o,' said iss Theoald, +ic$in* &+ her +en a*ain. ' And rememer-it is not St. Clare's #hich is on trial-it is yo& ! ho+e ! shall not say *ood-ye to yo& and re6oice to see the last o% yo& at hal%-term. B&t- ! shall not e s&r+rised i% ! do' irael #ent o&t o% the room, her ears tin*lin*, her %ace still red. She had een &sed to *ettin* all her o#n #ay, to lettin* her ro&*h ton*&e say #hat it +leased, and to r&lin* her +arents and rother and sister as she +leased. hen her %ather had at last declared in an*er that she m&st *o a #ay, there had een a royal attle et#een them. The s+oilt *irl had ima*ined she co&ld r&le the roost at St. Clare's too. B&t she certainly co&ld not r&le iss Theoald '"e)er mind-!'ll lead e)eryone else a dance' she tho&*ht. ' !'ll sho# 3addy and the others that ! mean #hat ! say ! #on't e sent a#ay %rom home i% ! don't #ant to *o.' And so irael set hersel% to e as annoyin* as +ossile, to s+oil thin*s %or the others, and to try and domineer in the classroom, as she had al#ays done at home. B&t she had not ar*ained %or the treatment she *ot at last %rom an e8as+erated class. 4
!ABEL !S A "
THE second %orm did not so m&ch mind #hen irael #as annoyin* in classes they disli$ed, s&ch as the maths, class, #hich they %o&nd di%%ic< that term-or e)en in am'5elle's class #hen she too$ irre*&lar French )ers, hated y e)ery *irl. B&t they did disli$e it #hen she s+oilt, or tried to s+oil, the En*lish class, or the Art Class. ' !t s+oils o&r readin* o% The Tem+est, #hen yo& ma$e idiotic remar$s, or %lo+ ao&t in yo&r seat and ma$e iss 0en$s $ee+ on sayin* 7 Sit &+ !7' said Hilary, an*rily. ' Either eha)e adly eno&*h to *et sent o&t o% the room at once, idiot, or else $ee+ 2&iet.' ' And i% yo& dare to &+set yo&r +aint#ater all o)er someody a*ain, and ma$e &s lose ten min&tes o% the art class #hilst #e all *et tic$ed o%% y iss al$er !'ll scra* yo&,' said Carlotta, all in one reath. ' e #o&ldn't mind so m&ch i% yo& did somethin* really %&nny, li$e Boy or 0anet did last term-#hat yo& do sn'?%&nny 6&st idiotic, s+oilin* thin*s %or the #hole class.> >D ! shall do #hat ! li$e,' said irael. >% /o& #ill not,' said Elsie, s+ite%&lly. ' !'m head-*irl o% this %orm-#ith Anna-and #e say yo& are to eha)e yo&rsel%, or #e'll $no# the reason #hy.' > > /o& do $no# the reason #hy,' said irael, +ertly. 'Any one #o&ld thin$ yo& #ere si8 years old, the #ay yo& eha)e,' said Boy, in dis*&st. ' ell-! #arn yon-yo&'ll e sorry i% yo& $ee+ on li$e this. e're all *ettin* tired o% yo&.' The e8+losion came d&rin* the 3rama class. This #as ta$en y the ne# teacher, iss ;&entin, and #as really rather an e8citin* class. The *irls #ere to #rite and act their o#n +lay. 3ar$-eyed iss ;&entin #as %&ll o% *ood s&**estions, and the +lay #as almost #ritten. The ne# teacher #as not m&ch *ood at disci+line. She relied on her *ood loo$s and rather charmin* manner, and on the interest o% her lessons, to hel+ her to disci+line her classes. Alison adored her, and, as the *irls had already %oreseen, #as co+yin* her in e)erythin*, %rom her little tric$s o% s+eech, to the #ay she did her hair. ost o% the *irls li$ed iss ;&entin, tho&*h they did not )ery m&ch res+ect the #ay she coa8ed them to eha)e #hen they ecame a little &nr&ly. They really +re%erred the do#nri*ht methods o% iss oerts or iss 0en$s. irael, o% co&rse, soon %o&nd that iss ;&entin #as 2&ite &nale to $ee+ her in order. ' /o&r t&rn no#, irael dear,' iss ;&entin #o&ld say, smilin* ri*htly at her. irael #o&ld +retend not to hear, and iss ;&entin #o&ld raise her )oice sli*htly. ' irael /o&r t&rn no#, dear' The class disli$ed iss ;&entin's ' dears' and ' lams' and other names-e8ce+t Alison. She lo)ed them. They all loo$ed at irael im+atiently. She #as al#ays losin* time li$e this, #hen they #anted to *et on. irael #o&ld +retend to come ac$ to earth #ith a start, %&mle %or the +lace, e *ently hel+ed y iss ;&entin, and at last say somethin*, &s&ally incorrect. hen there #as any actin* to e done she came in at the #ron* moment, said the #ron* lines, and alto*ether eha)ed in a most annoyin* manner. iss ;&entin #as at a loss to $no# ho# to deal #ith her. ' irael ! ha)e ne)er yet sent a *irl o&t o% my class,' she #o&ld say, in s&ch a sorro#%&l )oice that it 2&ite #r&n* Alison's heart. ' "o# come-+&ll yo&rsel% to*ether and try a*ain.' One mornin*
Alison #as #aitin* to act a +art she lo)ed. She had rehearsed it o)er and o)er a*ain to hersel%, actin* it, as she tho&*ht, to +er%ection. She #as lon*in* %or her t&rn to come, so that she mi*ht *loat o)er the s&*ared #ords o% +raise she %elt s&re #o&ld dro+ %rom iss ;&entin's li+s. There #ere ten more min&tes to *o-6&st ao&t time %or Alison's t&rn to come. And then irael chose to e st&+id a*ain, sayin* her lines incorrectly, doin* the #ron* thin*s so that iss ;&entin had to ma$e her s+ea$ and act t#o or three times. The teacher, %ollo#in* her &s&al r&le o% e in* +atient and enco&ra*in*, #asted nearly all the +recio&s ten min&tes on irael. Alison cast her eye on the cloc$, and it her li+. All her rehearsin* #o&ld e #asted no#. Ho# she hated that st&+id irael, holdin* &+ e)ery class in order to e annoyin*. ' "o# irael dear,7 said iss ;&entin, in her charmin*, +atient )oice, ' say it li$e this . . .' !t #as too m&ch %or Alison. She stam+ed her %oot, ' irael Sto+ %oolin* ! !t's hate%&l the #ay yo& ta$e iss ;&entin in-and she's so +atient too. /o&')e #asted hal% the time-and no# ! shan't ha)e my t&rn.' ' (oor little Alison' said irael, moc$in*ly. ' She adly #anted to sho# o%% to her +recio&s iss ;&entin, hear her say 7 ell done, darlin*,7 ' There #as a dead silence. Then Alison &rst into a o% tears, and Carlotta o8ed irael's ears )ery smartly. iss ;&entin stared in horror. ' irls irls hat are yo& thin$in* o% Carlotta /o& ama5e me. ! cannot ha)e this eha)io&r, ! really cannot. Carlotta, a+olo*i5e at once to irael.' ' Certainly not,' said Carlotta. ' ! don't mean to e r&de to yo&, iss ;&entin-&t yo& m&st see %or yo&rsel% that irael deser)ed it. ! $ne# noone else &t me #o&ld dare to do it-and it's een comin* to irael %or 2&ite a lon* time.' The ell ran* %or the ne8t class. iss ;&entin #as most relie)ed. She had no idea ho# to tac$le thin*s o% this sort. She *athered &+ her oo$s 2&ic$ly. 'There is no time to say any more, *irls,' she said. '! m&st *o to my ne8t class. Carlotta, ! still insist that yo& +&t thin*s ri*ht #ith irael y a+olo*i5in*.' She #ent o&t o% the room in a %l&rry. Carlotta *rinned ro&nd at the others. ' ell ' she said, ' don't stand starin* at me li$e that as i% !'d done somethin* a#%&l. /o& $no# 2&ite #ell yo&')e all #anted to o8 irael's ears yo&rsel)es. e're as tired o% her as #e can e. !t's a +ity hal%-term isn't here and #e can see the ac$ o% her.' 'Carlotta, yo& sho&ldn't do thin*s li$e that,' said 0anet. ' Alison, %or +ity's sa$e, sto+ ho#lin*. irael, yo& deser)ed it, and no# +erha+s yo&'ll sh&t &+ and eha)e +ro+erly.' irael had *one rather #hite. She had not attem+ted to hit ac$ at Carlotta. ' !% yo& thin$ that #ill sto+ me doin* #hat ! li$e to s+oil thin*s %or anyody yo&'re mista$en,' she said, at last, in a ti*ht $ind o% )oice. ' !t'll ma$e me #orse.' D ! s&++ose it #ill,' said Hilary. ' ell-!'ll *i)e yo& a #arnin*. !% yo& don't sto+ ein* an idiot, #e shall ma$e thin*s &ncom%ortale %or yo&. ! don't mean #e shall o8 yo&r ears. e shan't. B&t there are other #ays.1 irael said no more-&t as she made no attem+t that day or the %ollo#in* to eha)e sensily, the *irls made &+ their minds that they m&st carry o&t their threat. They met in one o% the m&sic-rooms. Elsie Fansha#e #as +leased. This e8cited her-it *laddened her s+ite%&l nat&re, and added to her sense o% im+ortance, %or, as she #as one o% the head-*irls, she co&ld direct e)ery one in #hat they had to d o. ' e')e met to*ether to decide ho# to *et ac$ at irael,' she e*an. Hilary interr&+ted her. 'ell-not e8actly 7*et ac$ 7, Elsie,' she said. ' !t's more to +re)ent her %rom *oin* on dis*racin* hersel% and o&r class.' ' Call it #hat yo& li$e,' said Elsie, im+atiently. ' "o# -#hat ! +ro+ose is this #e'll ta$e her oo$s %rom her des$ and hide them. e'll ma$e her an a++le-+ie ed each ni*ht. e'll stitch &+ the +oc$ets and slee)es o% her o&t-door coat. e'll +&t stones into her ellin*tons. e'll . . .' ' !t all so&nds rather s+ite%&l,' said Hilary, do&t%&lly. ' "eed #e do 2&ite so many thin*s ! $no# irael is +er%ectly sic$eiiin* and needs a *ood lesson-&t don't let's ma$e o&rsel)es as ad as she is' ' ell-do as yo& li$e,' said Elsie, rather sneerin*ly. ' !% yo&'re too *oody-*oody to %ollo# the lead o% yo&r head-*irls, #ell, there #ill e +lenty o% &s #ho'll do #hat ! say.' ' ! et Anna didn't thin$ o% any o% those thin*s,' said Boy, loo$in* at the +l&m+, +lacid Anna, sittin* eside Elsie. The meetin* disc&ssed the matter a little more, and then, at the so&nd o% a school-ell, ro$e &+. Only ladys had said nothin*. She had sat, as &s&al, in a $ind o% dream, +ayin* hardly any attention to #hat #as said. The *irls #ere ecomin* so &sed to the isery-*irl, as they called her, that they really hardly noticed #hether she #as there or not. ' ell,' said Hilary, as the *irls ran o%% to chan*e %or *ames,' ! s&++ose #e m&st do somethin* to teach irael that t#o can +lay at ein* annoyin*-&t someho# a lot o% s+ite%&lness seems to ha)e *ot mi8ed &+ in it.' ' !t's o&nd to, #ith Elsie Fansha#e to lead &s' said Boy. ' ! #ish she
#asn't o&r head-*irl. She's not the ri*ht sort. As %or Anna, she's no &se at all-6&st a la5y l&m+' ' irael's *oin* to ha)e a %e# shoc$s %rom no# on,' said Alison, #ho #as more +leased than anyone to thin$ o% the tric$s that #ere to e +layed on irael. ' ! %or one #ill do e)erythin* #ith the *reatest +leas&re' ' ! ho+e yo&r darlin* iss ;&entin #ill e +leased #ith yo&' said Boy, #ith a *rin, and scam+ered o%% to the %ield e%ore Alison co&ld thin$ o% any re+ly. !ABEL A"3 THE !SE/-!L !T #as not +leasant to e tho&*ht a tiresome n&isance y *irls and teachers ali$e. irael #as *ettin* tired o% her de%iant +ose. "oody had e)er tho&*ht it #as %&nny, as she had ho+ed. "oody had e)er la&*hed. They had 6&st *ot im+atient. The *irl e*an to %eel sorry she had e)er started her irritatin* eha)io&r. A *reat %eelin* o% misery o)ertoo$ her the e)enin* o% the day she had een sla++ed y Carlotta. She %elt that no one li$ed her, and certainly no one lo)ed her. Hadn't her o#n %ather sent her a#ay And her mother had a*reed to it ! Ho# co&ld she +&t &+ #ith that There #as no #ay to ans#er thin*s li$e that e8ce+t y ein* de%iant. irael %elt that she did not #ant to e #ith the others that e)enin* in the noisy common room. She stole a#ay y hersel% to one o% the m&sic-rooms. She had s+o$en tr&ly #hen she had told Boy that she co&ld +lay the +iano and the )iolin. She lo)ed m&sic, and #as a really *ood +er%ormer on the +iano, and a ea&ti%&l +layer o% the )iolin. B&t eca&se o% her de%iant ostinacy, she had re%&sed to learn either o% the instr&ments at St. Clare's, #hen her %ather had s+o$en to her ao&t them. ' /o& can learn #ell there,7 he had told her. ' There are e8cellent teachers o% oth.' ' hat's the &se' irael had %lashed ac$ at him ' !'m only *oin* to e there %or hal% a term-and yo& don't #ant to ha)e to +ay %&ll %ees %or t#o lots o% m&sic lessons, do yo&, as #ell as %&ll %ees %or the ordinary lessons ' ' Gery #ell. Ha)e it yo&r o#n #ay,' said her %ather. So nothin* had een said ao&t learnin* m&sic, and the *irl had missed her #ee$ly lessons )ery m&ch. &sic had al#ays hel+ed her stron*, domineerin* nat&re-and no#, #itho&t it, she telt lost. She #as de+ressed and &nha++y to-ni*ht-her mind lon*ed %or somethin* to %asten on, somethin* to lo)e. She tho&*ht o% her )iolin at home, and #ished #ith all her heart that she had ro&*ht it #ith her. !t #as dar$ hi the m&sic-room. irael did not t&rn on the li*ht, %or she #as a%raid someody +assin* mi*ht see her, and she did not #ant any com+any 6&st then. She leaned her arms on a little tale and tho&*ht.Her hands to&ched somethin*-a )iolin case. Somethin* in the %eel o% it stirred her, and s&ddenly, #ith hands that tremled a little, she &ndid the stra+ and too$ o&t the )iolin inside. She +&t it lo)in*ly &nder her chin, and *ro+ed %or the o#. And then the little dar$ m&sic-room #as %&ll o% m&sic, as irael +layed to hersel%. She +layed to com%ort hersel%, to %or*et hersel%, and the notes %illed the little room, and made it ea&ti%&l. 'That's etter,' said irael at last. 'That's m&ch etter ! didn't $no# ho# m&ch !'d missed my m&sic. ! #onder #hereao&ts the +iano is. !'ll +lay that too. hy didn't ! thin$ o% this e%ore ' She *ro+ed her #ay to the +iano, and e*an to %in*er the notes *ently in the dar$ness. She +layed %rom memory, and chose melodies that #ere sad and yearnin*, to match her o#n mood. She tho&*ht she #as alone, and she +&t her #hole heart into her +layin*. Then s&ddenly she heard a so&nd in the room eside her, and she sto++ed at once, her heart th&m+in*. She heard a sti%led so. ' ho's there ' said irael, in a lo# )oice. There #as no ans#er. Someone e*an so%tly to *ro+e her #ay to the door. irael %elt a stir o% an*er. ho #as it s+yin* on her ho had come into the room li$e that She 6&m+ed &+ and *raed #ildly at the some one n ear the door. She ca&*ht a lo&se slee)e and held on. ' ho is it' she said. ' e-ladys,' said a )oice. ' ! #as in here alone- #hen yo& came in. ! didn't $no# yo& #ere *oin* to +lay. B&t yo& +layed s&ch ea&ti%&l m&sic ! had to stay-and then it *ot sad, and ! cried.' ' /o&'re al#ays cryin*,' said irael, im+atiently. D hat's the matter ' ' ! shan't tell yo&,' said ladys. ' /o&'ll only tell the others, and they'd la&*h. They call me isery-*irl, ! $no#. !t's hate%&l. They'd e isery-*irls too i% they #ere li$e me.' ' Li$e yo&-#hy, #hat's the matter #ith yo& ' as$ed irael, her c&riosity aro&sed. ' Loo$ here-tell me. ! shan't 6eer at yo& or anythin*.' 'ell, don't t&rn on the li*ht then,' said ladys. /o&'ll thin$ !'m )ery %eele, so !'d rather tell yo& in the dar$.' ' /o& are a
2&eer %ish,' said irael. ' Come on- #hat's the matter' ' !t's my mother,' said ladys. ' She's a#%&lly ill-in hos+ital-and ! don't $no# i% she'll *et etter. ! sim+ly can't tell yo& ho# m&ch ! lo)e her, and ho# m&ch ! miss her. ! ha)en't a %ather, or rothers or sisters- only my mother. !')e ne)er een a#ay %rom her e)en %or a ni*ht till no#. ! $no# it so&nds silly to yo&- yo&'ll call me ayish and mother's *irl-and so ! am, ! s&++ose. B&t yo& see, other and ! ha)en't had any one &t each other-and !'m so terrily, terrily homesic$, and #ant to e #ith other so m&ch. . . .' ladys &rst into sos a*ain, and cried so miseraly that irael %or*ot her o#n tro&les %or the moment and +&t her arm a#$#ardly ro&nd the *irl. She sa# ho# little co&ra*e ladys had *ot-she sa# ho# little she tried to %ace #hat had come to her-and she %elt a little scorn%&l. B&t no one co&id hel+ %eelin* sorry %or the miserale *irl. irael had no idea #hat to do %or the est. ' ell,' she said, sayin* the %irst thin* that came into her head, ' #ell, ho# #o&ld yo& li$e to e me Sent a#ay %rom home y yo&r mother and %ather eca&se they didn't #ant yo&, and said yo& &+set yo&r rother and sister and made e)ery one &nha++y That's #hat !')e *ot to +&t &+ #ith !'m not so l&c$y as yo&, ! thin$' ladys raised her head, and %or the %irst time %or*ot her &nha++iness in her scorn o% irael. ' /o& &nl&c$y 3on't e silly-yo& don't $no# ho# l&c$y yo& are To ha)e a %ather and a mother, a rother and a sister, all to lo)e and to lo)e yo&. And ! only ha)e my mother and e)en she is ta$en a#ay %rom me irael, yo& deser)e to e sent a#ay %rom home i% yo& can't &nderstand that %amilies sho&ld lo)e one another ! can tell yo&, i% ! had all those +eo+le to lo)e ! #o&ldn't eha)e so adly to them that they'd send me a#ay. /o& o&*ht to e ashamed o% yo&rsel%.' Comin* %rom the silent ladys, this #as most a stonishin*. irael stared into the dar$ness, not $no#in* #hat to say. ladys *ot &+ and #ent to the door. ' !'m sorry,' she said, in a m&%%led )oice. > /o&'re &nha++y-and !'m &nha++y-and ! sho&ld e sorry %or yo&, and com%ort yo&. B&t yo& made yo&r o#n &nha++iness-and ! didn't ma$e mine. That's the di%%erence et#een &s.' The door an*ed and irael #as alone. She sat still in s& r+rise. ho #o&ld ha)e tho&*ht that ladys co&ld say all that irael tho&*ht ac$ to her o#n home. She sa# the *olden head o% her little sister, the dar$ one o% her rother, ent o)er home-#or$. She sa# the *entle, +atient %ace o% her mother, #ho al#ays *a)e in to e)ery one. She rememered the *ood-h&mo&red %ace o% her %ather, chan*ed to a sad and an*ry co&ntenance eca&se o% her o#n contin&al insistence on her o#n #ay. 1 !t #as other's %a< %or *i)in* in to me? she tho&*ht. ' And Harry and 0oan sho&ld ha)e stood &+ to me. B&t it's di%%ic< %or yo&n*er ones to stand &+ %or themsel)es -and a%ter all, ! am di%%ic<. ! #ish ! #as home no#. !'m lonely here, and !')e eha)ed li$e an idiot. ! $no# other #o&ld al#ays lo)e me-and yet !')e een eastly to her-and t&rned 3addy a*ainst me too. Harry and r6oan #ill e *lad !')e *one. "oody in the #orld #ants %r6e or lo)es me.' Sel%-+ity rin*s tears more 2&ic$ly to the eyes than anythin* else. irael +&t her head on the tale and 66ye+t. She %or*ot ladys and her tro&le. She only %elt sorry %or hersel%. She dried her eyes a%ter a #hile, and sat &+. ' ! shall sto+ eha)in* adly,' she tho&*ht. ' ! shall lea)e at hal%-term and *o ac$ home and try to do etter. !'m tired o% ein* silly. !'ll t&rn o)er a ne# lea% tomorro#, and +erha+s the *irls #ill %eel more %riendly.' She *ot &+ and s#itched on the li*ht. Her #atch sho#ed %i)e min&tes to ninealmost ed-time. She sat do#n at the +iano and +layed to hersel% %or a #hile, and then, #hen the nine-o'cloc$ ell so&nded, made her #ay &+stairs to ed, %&ll o% *ood resol&tions. She e*an to ma$e +ict&res o% ho# nice the *irls #o&ld e to her #hen they %o&nd she #as t&rnin* o)er a ne# lea%. (erha+s the t#ins #o&ld %ind she #as someody #orth $no#in* a%ter all. (oor irael hen she *ot into ed that ni*ht, she %o&nd that she co&ld only *et her le*s hal%#ay do#n it The *irls had made a ea&ti%&l a++le-+ie ed, and, not content #ith that, Elsie had +&t a s+ray o% holly across the end o% the sheet. irael *a)e a sho&t o% dismay as the holly +ric$ed her toes. ' Oh ! ho's +&t this eastly thin* into my ed !t's scratched my %oot horrily' irael had ne)er had an a++le-+ie ed made %or her e%ore. She co&ld not ima*ine #hat had ha++ened. She tried to %orce her le*s do#n to the ottom o% the ed, &t only s&cceeded in tearin* the sheet. The *irls #ere in %its o% la&*hter. They soon sa# that irael had not e8+erienced an a++le-+ie ed e%ore, and had no idea that the to+ sheet had een t&c$ed &nder the olster, and then %olded in hal%, hal%-#ay do#n the ed, and ro&*ht ac$ to %old o)er the lan$et. 3oris rolled on her ed in *lee, and e)en +lacid Anna s2&ealed #ith 6oy. > olly /o&'ll ha)e to re+ort that tear to atron in the mornin*? said Elsie, #hen she heard the
sheet torn in hal%. ' /o& idiot /o& mi*ht ha)e *&essed that #o&ld ha++en. /o&'ll s+end the ne8t se#in*-class mendin* a lon* rent.' irael thre# the holly at Elsie. She had no# disco)ered #hat had ha++ened, and #as an*ry and h&rt. She *ot into ed and dre# the co)ers ro&nd her. The others ch&c$led a little and then one y one %ell aslee+. !n the mornin* irael a#o$e early. She lay and tho&*ht o)er #hat she had decided the ni*ht e%ore. !t #asn't *oin* to e easy to ma$e a com+lete chan*eo)er, &t she didn't see anythin* else to do. She sim+ly co&ld "OT *o on ein* idiotic. Once yo& #ere ashamed o% yo&rsel%, yo& had to sto+. !% yo& didn't, then yo& really #ere an idiot. So, %&ll o% *ood resol&tions still, irael #ent to her classes. She #o&ld #or$ #ell. She #o&ld *i)e am'5elle a *reat s&r+rise. She #o&ld +lease iss 0en$s. She #o&ld ma$e &+ %or her r&deness to iss ;&entin. She #o&ld e)en e decent to that #ild little Carlotta, and %or*i)e her %or that o8 on the ears. The *irls #o&ld see she #asn't so ad as they tho&*ht she #as, and they #o&ld t&rn o)er a ne# lea% too, and e %riendly to her. E)erythin* #o&ld e lo)ely a*ain-and at the hal%-term she #o&ld lea)e, and +eo+le #o&ld e sorry to see her *o !t #as #ith these +leasant tho&*hts that +oor irael entered on a day o% horrid shoc$s and &n+leasant s&r+rises A 3A/ OF SHOC9S A"3 S<(!SES -AL!SO" and Elsie #ere the t#o #ho en6oyed +&nishin* 0lirael more than any o% the others. Elsie eca&se she r%as nat&rally s+ite%&l, and Alison eca&se she had een so annoyed at losin* her t&rn in iss ;&entin's class. ' !'ll se# &+ the slee)es o% irael's coat,' said Alison to Elsie. !'ll do them a#%&lly ti*htly. She'll e %&rio&s' '!'ll ta$e o&t some o% her oo$s and hide them,' said Elsie. ' Anna, *o and %ind irael's ellin*ton oots and +&t small +eles insider-ri*ht in the toes.' ' Oh, can't some one else do that ' said Anna. ' ! shall ha)e to *o do#n to the *ames-room to *et the oots. Boie, yo& *o.' Elsie #ent to the classroom e%ore mornin* school and remo)ed )ario&s oo$s and e8ercise +a+ers. There #as no one else in the room. The *irl s+ite%&lly dro++ed in$ on to a maths, +a+er that irael had done. ' This #ill teach her to eha)e etter' said Elsie to hersel%. ' "o#-#here shall ! +&t the oo$s ' She decided to +&t them at the ac$ o% the hand#or$ &+oard, and co)er them #ith the loose ra%%ia there. So into the c&+oard #ent the oo$s, and then Elsie, ha)in* a %e# min&tes to s+are, loo$ed ro&nd %or somethin* else to do. She sa# the List o% Classroom 3&ties h&n* &+ on the #all and #ent to read them. !t #as irael's t&rn that #ee$ to $ee+ the )ases #ell-%illed #ith #ater. Elsie +&rsed &+ her li+s s+ite%&lly. ' !'ll em+ty o&t the #ater-and then, #hen the %lo#ers e*in to droo+, iss 0en$s #ill notice and irael #ill *et tic$ed o%% %or %or*ettin* the #ater,' tho&*ht Elsie. So &t o% the #indo# #ent the #ater %rom the %o&r i* )ases. The %lo#ers #ere h&rriedly re+laced 6&st as the %irst dl #ent %or lessons. The second %orm troo+ed in to ta$e their +laces. Alison #ent to hold the door %or iss 0en$s. irael too$ a loo$ ro&nd at the *irls, ho+in* to *et a smile %rom some one. She #as lon*in* to say that she meant to t&rn o)er a ne # lea%. B&t noody loo$ed at her e8ce+t Elsie, #ho n&d*ed Anna and then t&rned a#ay. ' She's comin*' hissed Alison. The class sto++ed lo&n*in* o)er their des$s and tal$in*. They stood &+ and #aited in silence. iss 0en$s #as )ery strict ao&t +oliteness and *ood manners in her class. ' ood mornin*, *irls,' said the mistress, +&ttin* her oo$s on her des$. ' Sit, +lease. e #ill . . . *ood *racio&s, Alison, #hat is that yo& are #earin* on yo&r le%t #rist ' ' A racelet,' said Alison, s&l$ily. The *irls loo$ed at it and *i**led. !t #as )ery li$e one that iss ;&entin #ore. Alison lo)ed to #ear anythin* that e)en remotely resemled her elo)ed iss ;&entin's elon*in*s. ' Alison, ! am *ettin* tired o% as$in* yo& to remo)e o#s and rooches and racelets and *oodness $no#s #hat,' said iss 0en$s. ' hat #ith +&ttin* &+ #ith irael's st&+idities, and yo&r )anities, !'m *oin* really *rey' iss 0en$s had %lamin* red hair, #ith not a scra+ o% *rey in it. The *irls smiled, &t #ere not certain eno&*h o% iss 0en$s's tem+er that day to la&*h o&t lo&d. ' Brin* me that racelet, Alison,' said iss 0en$s, in a tired )oice. ' /o& can ha)e it ac$ in a #ee$'s time +ro)idin* that d&rin* that t&ne ! ha)en't had to remo)e any other %rills and %ancies %rom yo&.' Alison s&l$ily *a)e &+ the racelet. She $ne# it ,#as
i%t%le that no 6e#ellery sho&ld e #orn #ith school , &t the little %eather-head #as al#ays trimmin* &+ #ith somethin* or other, no# +lease *et o&t yo&r maths, oo$s and the ise yo& did %or +re+, and #e #ill *o on to the ne8t o% s&ms,' said iss 0en$s. ' !t's m&ch the same as ioiie #e did yesterday. or$ them o&t, +lease, and is any di%%ic<y, let me $no#. Come &+ one y las ! call yo&, #ith yo&r maths, e8ercise +a+er, and ! correct it at my des$ #ith yo&.' class *ot &sy. 3es$s #ere o+ened and oo$s *ot (encils #ere ta$en %rom o8es. E8ercise oo$s o+ened, and there #as a *eneral air o% *ettin* do#n ird #or$. %ilirael h&nted all thro&*h her des$ %or her maths. Ho# c&rio&s !t didn't seem to e there, Iaye yo& orro#ed my maths, oo$ ' she as$ed 0anet a #his+er. "o #his+erin*,' said iss 0en$s, #ho had ears li$e a J. ' hat is it, irael One o% yo&r &s&al inter-itions, ! s&++ose.' "o, iss 0en$s,' said irael, mee$ly. ' ! can't %ind maths, oo$, that's all.' irael, yo&'re al#ays +retendin* yo& can't %ind this that,' said iss 0en$s. ' et yo&r oo$ at once and ''B&t, iss 0en$s, it really isn't here,' said irael, '%i%lintin* %rantically thro&*h her des$ a*ain. The *irls !%6%ltid*ed one another and *rinned. They all $ne# #here s+it #as - at the ac$ o% the hand#or$ c&+oard. irael loo$ thro&*h her des$ all day &t she #o&ldn't 6lnd her oo$. D%%9 DKD7D' Share 0anet's oo$, then,' said iss 0en$s, shortly,only hal%-elie)in* irael. irael hea)ed a si*h o% 0% relie% , and o+ened her arithmetic oo$ to co+y do#n the ''1 s&ms %rom 0anet's te8t-oo$. She +&t ready her maths, +a+er, #hich she had done in +re+, the ni*ht e%ore, to sho# to iss 0en$s. B&t as she t&rned it o)er the ri*ht #ay, she stared at it in horror. !t #as co)ered #ith in$-s+ots ' 0&st as !')e made &+ my mind to t&rn o)er a ne# lea%, all these thin*s ha++en' tho&*ht irael in dismay. ' ! can't ima*ine ho# ! *ot that in$ on my +a+er. iss 0en$s #ill ne)er elie)e ! didn't $no# it #as there.' irael #as ri*ht-iss 0en$s didn't elie)e it She loo$ed in dis*&st at the &ntidy +a+er. She #o&ld not e)en correct it. ' Another o% yo&r nice little #ays, ! s&++ose? she said. > 3o it a*ain, +lease.' ' iss 0en$s, ! really didn't ma$e all those in$-s+ots? said irael. B&t she had *i)en in too many adly-done +a+ers e%ore, on +&r+ose, %or iss 0en$s s&ddenly to elie)e her no#. ' ! don't #ant to disc&ss the matter,' said iss 0en$s. ' 3o it all a*ain, and let me ha)e it this e)enin*, #itho&t any mess on it at all.' irael #ent ac$ to her des$. She ca&*ht Elsie's s+ite%&l smile, &t she did not *&ess yet that there #as a cam+ai*n a*ainst her. She sat do#n, an*ry and +&55led. The French class came ne8t, a nd irael disco)ered, to her dismay, that not only her French oo$s, &t also the French +a+er she had #ritten o&t the day e%ore as home#or$, had disa++eared. She h&nted thro&*h her des$ a*ain and a*ain, and am'5elle *re# sarcastic. ' irael, is it +ossile %or yo& to come o&t o% yo&r des$ e%ore the lesson is ended Soon ! shall %or*et #hat yo&r %ace is li$e.' ' am'5elle, !'m sorry, &t ! can't seem to %ind the French +a+er ! did yesterday,' said irael, emer*in* %rom her d es$ %l&shed and #orried. !% there #as one thin* that am'5elle co&ld not stand, it #as the non-a++earance o% any #or$ she had set the class to do. She %ro#ned, and her *lasses slid do #n her i* nose. The *irls #atched *lee%&lly. The $ne# the si*ns o% *atherin* #rath. am'5elle re+laced her *lasses on the rid*e o% her nose. ' Ah, irael /o& cannot seem to %ind the #or$ yo& 4id, yo& say Ho# many t&nes ha)e ! heard that e8c&se since ! ha)e een here at St. Clare's A tho&sand times, ten tho&sand times ! /o& ha)e not done the #or$. 3o not deny it, ! $no#. /o& are a tiresome *irl-yo& ha)e een tiresome e)er since the %irst day yo& came. /o& #ill al#ays e tiresome. /o& #ill *i)e me that #or$ e%ore the end o% the mornin* or yo& #ill not +lay lacrosse this a%ternoon.' ' B&t, am'5elle, ! really did do it' +rotested irael, almost in tears. ' ! can't %ind my ordinary French oo$s, either. They're *one.' ' Al#ays this irael holds &+ my class' cried am'5elle, raisin* her hands to the ceilin* and #a**in* them in a #ay that made 3oris lon* to imitate her at once. ' She loses thin*s-she loo$s %or them-she ma$es e8c&ses-! cannot ear this *irl.' ' "or can anyody,' said Alison, deli*hted at the s&ccess o% the tric$. irael %lashed an an*ry *lance at her. She #as e*innin* to #onder i% the *irls had had anythin* to do #ith the mysterio&s disa++earance o% her thin*s. ' !t's too ad all this ha++enin* no#? she tho&*ht. > am'5elle mi*ht elie)e me. ! really am s+ea$in* the tr&th.' B&t irael had so o%ten een silly and &ntr&th%&l that she had only hersel% to lame no# i% no one elie)ed her #hen she did act&ally tell the tr&th. She tried once more #ith am'5elle. D 6% lease do elie)e me, am'5elle? she e**ed. ' Elsie sa# me doin* the +a+er last ni*ht. 3idn't
yo&, Elsie ' ' !ndeed ! didn't,' said Elsie, malicio&sly. ' Ah, this &ntr&th%&l irael' cried am'5elle. ' /o& #ill do me the +a+er once eca&se yo& ha)e not done it- and a*ain yo& #ill do it %or me eca&se yo& ha)e told an &ntr&th.' irael sa# her time at rea$ *oin*. She #o&ld ha)e to do the t#o +a+ers then. She loo$ed ro&nd the class %or sym+athy.
A"OTHE meetin*, this time called y Hilary, #as held that ni*ht. !t #as h eld in the common room. E)ery one #as there &t irael, #ho #as doin* her maths, +a+er all o)er a*ain in the classroom. > hat's the meetin* %or ' as$ed Elsie, hal%-indi*nant 6that any one &t hersel% sho&ld call a meetin*. ' !t's ao&t irael,' said Hilary. ' /o& $no#, she 'didn't s+lit on &s #hen she had the chance to-so ! )ote #e sto+ +layin* tric$s on her no#. Any#ay, #e +retty #ell +&t her thro&*h it today' !' ' e're certainly not *oin* to sto+,' said Elsie, at once. , > hat, sto+ #hen she's only 6&st e*&n to learn her lesson K7 She'll e as ad as e)er i% #e don't *o on sho#in* her N #e can ma$e thin*s 6&st as tiresome %or her as she has made them %or &s' ' "o, #e')e done eno&*h,' said Hilary. ' !t ma$es@ine 7' %eel rather mean. ! rather #ish #e hadn't done 2&ite so many thin*s-and any#ay, ! don't $no# #ho s+ilt in$ o)er her maths, +a+er, and too$ the #ater o&t o% the %lo#ers. e didn't arran*e that. ho did it' There #as a silence. Elsie #ent red. She did not dare to say she had done anythin* more than had already een arran*ed-the others mi*ht thin$ her s+ite%&l, or mean. ' ! elie)e it #as Elsie' said Carlotta, s&ddenly. ' Loo$ ho# red she's *one' E)ery one loo$ed. Elsie sco#led. ' O% co&rse ! didn't do anythin*,' she said. ' ! don't thin$ #e did nearly eno&*h. ! thin$ a *irl #ho o+enly says she's 6olly #ell *oin* to ma$e hersel% too eastly to stay more than hal% a term o&*ht to e #ell sho#n &+' ' ell, she has een sho#n &+-y her o#n sel%' said 0anet. ' "o one #o&ld ha)e $no#n anythin* ao&t her or her +ri)ate a%%airs i% she hadn't *one ro&nd yellin* them o&t ! thin$ Hilary is ri*ht-r-#e #on't do anythin* more.' ' /o& tal$ as i% Hilary is head-*irl,' said Elsie, s+ite%&lly. ' ell-so she #as in the %irst %orm,' said Boy, losin* her tem+er. ' And let me tell yo& she #as a m&ch etter one than yo&, Elsie.' '3on't %or*et that Anna is head-*irl too? said (at. Anna smiled slee+ily. Boy t&rned on her at once. ' As i% anyone can rememer that Anna is head-*irl, or anythin* i hat's the *ood o% a head-*irl #ho is al#ays too la5y to do a sin*le thin* e')e *ot t#o head-*irls in this %orm-and one is s+ite%&l and catty and o)erearin*-and the other is %at and la5y' ' Sh&t &+, Boy,' said Hilary, &ncom%ortaly. ' !t's no *ood losin* yo&r tem+er li$e that. Let's *et ac$ to the +oint-and that is, #e're not *oin* to +ersec&te irael any more. Let's *i)e her a chance and see i% today's lessons ha)e ta&*ht her anythin*. She $no#s #ell eno&*h #e ha)e all een #or$in* a*ainst her-and that m&st e a )ery horrid e8+erience.' ' Hilary ent#orth-i% yo& don't sto+ tal$in* as i% yo& #ere head o% this %orm, yo&'ll e sorry,' said Elsie, an*ered y Boy's candid s+eech. ' Anna-%or hea)en's sa$e sit &+ and ac$ me &+.' ' B&t ! don't thin$ yo&'re ri*ht,' said Anna, in her *entle )oice. ' ! don't #ant to +ersec&te irael, either. ! don't %eel s+ite%&l to#ards her no#.' ' /o&'re too la5y to %eel anythin*,' said Elsie, s&r+rised and %&rio&s at Anna's &ne8+ected re%&sal to ac$ her &+. ' /o& $no# +er%ectly #ell that as head-*irls #e m&st #or$ to*ether-and it's an &n#ritten r&le that the %orm *o y #hat #e say.' ' ell, ! can't #or$ #ith yo& in this? said Anna. ' ! may e %at and la5y and all the other thin*s yo& +roaly thin$ ao&t me, and don't say-&t ! am not catty. So ! say, as head-*irl o% the %orm-#e #ill "OT contin&e #ith o&r tric$s a*ainst irael.' ' ell' said (at, ' this is *oin* to e di%%ic<-t#o head-*irls, each sayin* di%%erent ! s&++ose #e'd etter +&t it to the )ote, #hich *irl #e %ollo#. "o#-hands &+ %or Anna and doin* #hat she says' 'E)ery sin*le hand #ent &+ at once. Anna *rinned %or once sat &+ really strai*ht. Elsie #ent #hite. "o#-hands &+ those #ho #ish to %ollo# Elsie,' said "ot a sin*le hand #ent &+, o% co&rse. Elsie stood an*rily. ' This is #hat comes o% ha)in* to stay do#n #ith a lot hal%-a$ed %irst-%ormers' she said, her )oice tremlin*. ,.. ell-!'ll tell yo& #ho em+tied the #ater o&t o% the Gases-and dro++ed in$ on irael's maths, +a+er-it #as yo&r +recio&s Anna !% yo& #ant to %ollo# a *irl #ho does thin*s li$e that, and then is ashamed to o#n &+ to them, #ell, yo& can' She % l&n* hersel% o&t o% the room and slammed the door lo&dly. Anna raised her #ell-mar$ed eye-ro#s. 'ell, *irls,' she said, in her rather dra#lin* )oice,' ! ass&re yo& ! am not *&ilty.' E)ery one elie)ed her. Anna mi*ht e la5y and not other hersel% or &nderta$e any $ind o% res+onsiility- &t at least she #as tr&th%&l and honest. !'m not *oin* to co&nt Elsie as head-*irl any more,' %aid !sael. ' e'll ha)e only Anna. Come on, Anna- Stir yo&rsel%, and settle thin*s one #ay or another.' ' (oor Anna-she #ill ha)e to o+en her eyes and #a$e &+ at last,' said Carlotta's hi*h )oice, rather malicio&sly. Anna stood &+ s&ddenly. ' ell-!'m 6&st as tired o% Elsie's s+ite and cattiness as yo& are,' she said. ' So i% yo&'ll do #ith 6&st me as head-*irl, !'ll #a$e &+ a it. !t's not een easy tryin* to #or$ in #ith Elsie. !'m not *oin* to
*i)e her a#ay- &t ! 6&st can't ear some o% the thin*s she says and does. "o#-it's not eno&*h 6&st to sto+ +ersec&tin* irael- can't #e do somethin* +ositi)e-! mean, somethin* to +&t her ri*ht, instead o% 6&st sto++in* her ein* #ron*' E)ery one *a+ed at Anna. This #as the %irst time the i*, slee+y-eyed *irl had e)er made s&ch a lon* s+eech. or s&**ested anythin* o% her o#n accord. Hilary tho&*ht her s&**estion #as e8cellent. ' /es-that's the #ay to do thin*s really? she a*reed. ' !t's not eno&*h to sto+ thin*s *oin* #ron*yo&')e *ot to set them *oin* the other #ay-on the ri*ht road. B&t ! don't %or the li%e o% me see ho#. irael is terrily di%%ic<. ! can't see that she's any *ood at anythin* at all. There isn't anythin* to #or$ on.' ' She's ad at lessons-no *ood at *ames-ho+eless at art-+oor at *ym? said !sael. ' !% there #as somethin* she #as *ood at, #e co&ld ma$e it o&r startin*-+oint-yo& $no#, +raise her &+ a it, and *i)e her some sel%-res+ect. That's #hat +eo+le need #hen thin*s ha)e *one #ron*.' Then the second %orm had a *reat s&r+rise. The isery-*irl s+o$e, in her rather timid little )oice ' irael is *ood at somethin* A#%&lly *ood ' E)ery one stared at ladys in do&le-ama5ement, astonished that she sho&ld ha)e s+o$en at all, and ama5ed to hear #hat she said. ladys seemed to shrin$ &nder the *a5e o% so many +airs o% eyes. She #ished she had not s+o$en-&t she had een interested, in s+ite o% hersel%, in the scene that had -een *oin* on-and she had s&ddenly %elt that she #o&ld li$e to hel+ st&+id irael. A%ter all-she had +&t her arm ro&nd her the ni*ht e%ore, and had een $ind in her o#n a#$#ard #ay. ' hat do yo& mean ' said Anna. ' ell-she's %ri*ht%&lly *ood at m&sic? stammered ladys, horri%ied no# to thin$ she had to s+ea$ to so many *irls at once. ' Ho# do yo& $no# ' as$ed 0anet. ' She's ne)er +$yed any instr&ment here-and she doesn't e)en o+en her mo&th in the sin*in*-class? ' ! $no# eca&se !')e heard her? said ladys. ' She #as in the m&sic-room last ni*ht-yo& $no#, the one ne8t to the oot-c&+oard-and %irst she +layed a )iolin-7oh, st ea&ti%&lly-and then she +$yed the +iano. And it all in the dar$ too.' ' !n the dar$ N' said Carlotta, in s&r+rise. ' hate)er yo& t#o doin* there in the dar$ Ho# 2&eer ! yo& &s&ally *o and sit in the m&sic-rooms in the dar$ ' K ladys didn't $no# #hat to say. She co&ldn't con%ess at she o%ten #ent to the lonely little m&sic-rooms y el% #hen she %elt e8tra homesic$-the *irls #o&ld +t&*h at her, and she co&ldn't ear that. She stared at rlotta and said nothin*. r -' ell, can't yo& ans#er ' said Carlotta, im+atiently. '3o yo& o%ten *o and listen to irael +layin* in the r$' ' "o-o% co&rse not,' said ladys. ' !-! 6&st ha++ened e there-#hen irael came in-and she didn't see So ! heard her +layin*, yo& see.' The *irls loo$ed at one another. So ladys disa++eared s6l%ato the dar$ little m&sic-rooms at ni*ht-all alone. 066hat a 2&eer *irl she #as They loo$ed at her thin lite little %ace, and t#o or three o% them %elt a +an* o% a+athy %or the isery-*irl and her lonely tho&*hts, ate)er they mi*ht e. "oody la&*hed or teased her ao&t ein* in the dar$ in the m&sic-room. E)en do#n- ri*ht Carlotta made no remar$ ao&t it. ' /o& $no#,' said 0anet, loo$in* ro&nd at the little com+any o% *irls, ' irael reminds me in some #ays o% the O'S&lli)an t#ins' ' hat do yo& mean ' said (at, indi*nantly. ' ell-don't yo& rememer ho# a#%&lly di%%ic< yo& #ere a year a*o, #hen yo& %irst came to St. Clare's,' said 0anet. ' /o& 6&st made &+ yo&r minds to e a#$#ard, and yo& #ere /o& o&*ht to &nderstand irael's +oint o% )ie#, and e ale to tell &s ho# to tac$le her. hat made yo& t#o chan*e yo&r ideas and #ant to stay here ' 'Oh-as soon as #e reali5ed #e #ere actin* st&+idlyand yo& #ere %riendly to &s-#e 6&st sort o% settled do#n and lo)ed e)erythin*,' said (at, tryin* to rememer that %irst e8citin* term. ' i*ht,' said Anna, ta$in* char*e o% the meetin* a*ain. ' That's 6&st #hat #e'll do e thin$ irael #as decent %or not s+littin* on &s today-so #e'll e %riendly to#ards her no# instead o% eastly-and +erha+s i% #e *et her to +lay to &s, and + raise her &+ a it-she'll settle do#n too. hat ao&t it ' ' /es, Anna' said e)ery one, ladys too. Hilary *a5ed in s&r+rise at Anna. She #o&ld ne)er ha)e tho&*ht that slee+y Anna co&ld ha)e come to the %ore li$e this- #hy, she really seemed to e ta$in* a $een interest in e)erythin* And ta$in* the lead too. (erha+s it #o&ld e a *ood thin* that the class had ro$en a#ay %rom Elsie's leadershi+. Anna seemed as i% she #as *oin* to ta$e the chance o%%ered to her y the &ne8+ected 2&arrel. ' Sh ! Here conies irael' said (at, as the door o+ened. At once the *irls e*an to chatter and *ale ao&t anythin* that came into their heads. irael loo$ed at them s&s+icio&sly. She %elt s&re they had een disc&ssin* her Horrid thin*s. ell-i% they had oon +lannin* %resh tric$s to +lay on her, she #o&ld *o ac$ to her old #ays and &+set e)ery sin*le class she co&ld P
!ABEL !GES THE FO A S<(!SE THE t#ins tal$ed to*ether that ni*ht #hen they #ere in ed. Their eds #ere ne8t to one another and they co&ld #his+er #itho&t any one else hearin* #hat they said. ' e o&*ht to ha)e a %e# e8citements no#' #his+ered (at. ' ! et Elsie #on't sit do#n &nder this She'll %ind some #ay o% *ettin* ac$ at Anna-and all o% &s as #ell' ' ! ho+e irael #ill e sensile no#,' said !sael. ' She loo$ed most s&s+icio&sly at all o% &s, ! tho&*ht- and she hardly ans#ered 0anet at all #hen she s+o$e to her.' ' ell, !'m not s&r+rised, really,' said (at, #ith a ya#n. ' A%ter all-#e did do an a#%&l lot o% thin*s to her today. !t #as %&nny at %irst-&t ! didn't li$e it m&ch a%ter#ards-e)en tho&*h ! m&st say ! thin$ irael deser)ed a little ro&*h-handlin*. ! say-didn't yo& thin$ it #as %&nny, ladys s+ea$in* &+ li$e that-and admittin* she #as in the m&sic-room all alone F&nny $id, isn't she' ' (at, #hat 0anet said #as 2&ite tr&e? said !sael, s+ea$in* rather lo&dly. ' Sh ! 3on't s+ea$ so lo&d? #his+ered (at. ' hat do yo& mean ' ' ell, yo& $no#-#e did eha)e a little it li$e irael-and #e did hate it #hen e)ery one disli$ed &s -it #as a miserale %eelin*? said !sael. ' So let's ma$e a ee-line %or irael tomorro#, and &c$ her &+ a it. St. Clare's has done a lot %or &s-let's do a it %or irael.' ' (at !sael !% yo& don't sto+ tal$in* at once, !'ll re+ort yo& to iss 0en$s tomorro#' s&ddenly came Elsie's shar+ )oice thro&*h the dar$ness. ' /o& can't. /o&'re not head-*irl? came Carlotta's chee$y )oice, e%ore the t#ins co&ld ans#er. ' !'ll re+ort yo& too, %or &ntidy dra#ers and c&+oard? said Elsie, %&rio&sly. ' ell-it #ill only e the % i%tieth time, ! sho&ld thin$? said Carlotta, la5ily. ' o ahead. iss Catty Elsie' There #as a deli*hted s2&eal o% la&*hter %rom the dormitory at this. Elsie sat & + in ed, %&rio&s. ' Carlotta ! !% yo& dare to tal$ li$e a lo#-do#n circ&s *irl to me . . .7 she e*an. B&t at that e)ery one sat &+ in ed, indi*nant. ' Listen ' e*an Boy, ' any one #ho calls Carlotta lo#-do#n deser)es a s+an$in* #ith a hairr&sh ! e're all +ro&d o% Carlotta-rememer ho# she sa)ed Sadie %rom ein* $idna++ed last term !t's yo& #ho are lo#-do#n, Elsie "o#-6&st yo& rememer #hat ! said ao&t that hair-r&sh' Elsie #as %&rio&s. She e*an to tell Boy e8actly #hat she tho&*ht o% her. She %or*ot to $ee+ her )oice lo#, and #hen iss 0en$s came alon* to see that all #as 2&iet in the dormitory, she #as ama5ed to hear a )oice *oin* on and on in the dar$ness-an an*ry )oice, a s+ite%&l )oice She s#itched on the li*ht and stood in silence y the door. E)ery *irl #as sittin* &+ in ed. Elsie's )oice died a#ay in horror. She stared #ide-eyed at iss 0en$s. ' ho #as that tal$in* 6&st no# ' en2&ired iss 0en$s, in her cool )oice. "oody ans#ered. Elsie sim+ly co&ld not ear to o#n &+. She s#allo#ed hard, ho+in* that iss 0en$s #o&ld deli)er a *eneral lect&re and *o. iss 0en$s didn't. She 6&st stood and #aited. ' ho is in char*e o% this dormitory ' she as$ed. ' Oh yo&, ! s&++ose, Elsie-as yo& are one o% the head-*irls %or this %orm. ell-as the c&l+rit does not seem to ha)e eno&*h co&ra*e to o#n &+, +erha+s yo&, as head-*irl, #ill see to it that the *irl is +&nished y *oin* to ed one ho&r earlier tomorro#. ill yo& ' ' /es, iss 0en$s,' ans#ered Elsie, in a )ery s&d&ed tone. There #as a smothered *i**le %rom Carlotta's ed, h&rriedly t&rned into a lo&d co&*h. ' /o& seem to ha)e a cold, Carlotta,' said iss 0en$s, +retendin* to e 2&ite concerned. ' (erha+s yo& had etter *o to atron tomorro# mornin* and *et a dose o% medicine %or it.' ' Oh, ! shall e 2&ite all ri*ht tomorro# mornin*, iss 0en$s, than$ yo&,' Carlotta h&rriedly ass&red her. ' ood ni*ht, *irls,' said iss 0en$s, and s#itched o%% the li*ht. As soon as her %ootste+s had died a#ay, the *irls e*an to *i**le and #his+er. ' Elsie See yo& +&t yo&rsel% to ed an ho&r earlier tomorro#' #his+ered Carlotta. Elsie lay in ed, her chee$s &rnin*. hy hadn't she o#ned &+ Then she #o&ldn't ha)e een so h&miliated ! She 6olly #ell #o&ldn't *o to ed early the ne8t ni*ht, any#ay. She sh&t her ears #ith her %in*ers, so as not to hear #hat the *irls #ere #his+erin*. She did not dare to tell them to sto+and as %or threatenin* to re+ort them-#ell, that #o&ld ma$e them la&*h all the more E)ery one %elt scorn%&l o% Elsie-&t they also tho&*ht the #hole thin* #as %&nny. The *irls #ere 2&ite determined that Elsie sho&ld *o to ed early the ne8t ni*ht. They #ere not *oin* to let her o%% the +&nishment she had mee$ly +romised to *i)e to #rea$ on the c&l+rit The ne8t day the t#ins *a)e irael a cheer%&l *rin at the rea$%ast-tale. She smiled ac$, s&r+rised and #anned. She had
een e8+ectin* a %e# more tric$s, and the &ne8+ected smile s&r+rised her )ery m&ch. A%ter rea$%ast (at and !sael s+o$e to irael. ' 3id yo& hear ao&t the ro# in o&r dormitory last ni*ht ' as$ed (at. ' ! $ne# there #as somethin* &+,' said irael. ' ! heard the others tal$in* ao&t it. hat #as it ' The t#ins told irael ao&t Elsie and iss 0en$s, and the *irl smiled. ' Than$s %or tellin* me,' she said, ' !t #as %&nny. ! say-is the %orm *oin* to do eastly thin*s to me today /o& $no#, !'d 6&st decided to t&rn o)er a ne# lea%-#hen yo& did all those thin*s.' ' Had yo& really decided to chan*e ' said (at, in s&r+rise. ' ell-don't #orry-#e're not *oin* to *et ac$ at yo& any more. B&t %or *oodness' sa$e do yo&r it too. !t's +retty sic$enin* ha)in* class a%ter class &+set, yo& $no#. /o& may %eel in a tem+er ao&t yo&r home-a%%airs-&t that really isn't any reason %or )entin* yo&r tem+er on the class' ' "o-! see that no#,' said irael. ' !'m an idiot- al#ays ha)e een. ell-! et yo&'ll e *lad to see the ac$ o% me at h al%-term.' ' ait and see,' said !sael. ' ! say-o&r %orm is *i)in* a concert ne8t #ee$, in aid o% the ed Cross. E)ery one is to d o somethin*. Co&ld yo& +lay the )iolin %or &s, do yo& thin$ And +erha+s the +iano too ' ' Ho# do yo& $no# ! +lay ' as$ed irael, in s&r+rise. B&t at that moment iss 0en$s &stled the #hole class o%% %or a nat&re-#al$, and irael %o&nd hersel% #al$in* #ith the timid ladys, #ho, rememerin* the ni*ht in the dar$ m&sic-room, %elt a%raid to say a #ord. irael %elt a#$#ard too, so the t#o hardly e8chan*ed a sin*le #ord. The t#ins, #hen the chance came, h&rriedly told the rest o% the %orm that they had as$ed irael to +lay at the concert +lanned %or the %ollo#in* #ee$. E)ery %orm had een as$ed to *et &+ somethin* in aid o% the ed Cross, and this #as to e the second %orm's contri&tion. ' 3id she say she #o&ld ' as$ed Boy. ' "o-&t #e'll +&t her name do#n on the +ro*ramme,' said (at. ' ! et she #ill ! She #as 2&ite nice this mornin*.' irael %o&nd her oo$s ac$ in her des$ that day. Anna had ta$en them %rom their hidin*-+lace and +&t them ac$. Elsie had sco#led, &t had said nothin*. She didn't $no# #hom she hated most-Anna-or that sa&cy Carlotta hen the +ro*ramme %or the ed Cross concert #as dra#n &+ that e)enin*, !sael called across to irael. ' Hie, irael !')e +&t yo& do#n %or a )iolin solo, and a +iano solo. hat #ill yo& +lay Can yo& tell &s the names o% the +ieces ' ' ! ha)en't my )iolin here,' said irael, hesitatin*ly. ' (ooh-yo& can easily send a tele*ram home %or it,' said (at. ' And Anna #ill lend yo& hers to +ractise on this #ee$-#on't yo&, Anna ' ' O% co&rse,' said Anna. ' !'ll *o and *et it no# and yo& can see i% yo& li$e the %eel o% it. !t's a *ood one.' Anna #ent to %etch her )iolin. She too$ it o&t o% its case and +&t it into irael's hands. As she had said, it #as a *ood one. irael dre# the o# across it lo)in*ly. ' (lay somethin*,' said !sael. And then, as in the dar$ m&sic-room, irael +layed some o% the melodies she lo)ed. She %or*ot the *irls in the common room, she %or*ot St. Clare's, she %or*ot hersel%. She #as a real little m&sician, and she +&t all her heart into the m&sic she lo)ed. The *irls listened s+ell-o&nd. T#o or three *irls in the school +layed the )iolin )ery #ell-&t irael made it s+ea$. The notes ran* o&t +&re and tr&e, and Anna #as ama5ed that her )iolin co&ld +rod&ce s&ch m&sic. hen irael sto++ed, e)ery one cla++ed %rantically. ' ! say /o& are mar)ello&s ' said (at, her eyes shinin*. ' olly-yo&'ll ma$e e)ery one sit &+ at the concert ne8t #ee$, ! can tell yo&. "o# *o and +lay somethin* on the +iano. o on. /o& sim+ly m&st' irael loo$ed ro&nd at the admirin* a&dience, #ith %l&shed chee$s and ri*ht eyes. Only Elsie Fansha#e did not a++la&d. She sat at a tale, readin* a oo$, ta$in* no notice at all. ' o on, irael-+lay &s somethin* on the +iano' insisted (at. irael #ent across to the old +iano in the common room. !t #as there %or the *irls to str&m on, i% they #anted to.
to e sent. Anna's is a lo)ely one-&t !'m more at home #ith my o#n.' ' ood,' said !sael. ' ! sayaren't yo& a dar$ horse -ne)er sayin* a #ord ao&t yo&r m&sic-$ee+in* it &+ yo&r slee)e li$e that /o&')e *ot a real *i%t. ! #ish ! had a *i%t. /o&'re l&c$y' irael #ent to hel+ !sael to dra# &+ the +ro*ramme. Her #ords echoed in her mind. ' /o&')e *ot a real *i%t' She rememered iss Theoald's #ords too. ' 3i%%ic< children o%ten ha)e some hidden 2&ality-some *i%t-somethin* to ma$e them #orth-#hile' "oody at home tho&*ht he r #orth-#hile-or s&rely they #o&ldn't ha)e sent her a#ay B&t she #as #orth#hile See ho# the *irls lo)ed hearin* her +lay. !t #as a +ity she hadn't acce+ted her %ather's o%%er to learn m&sic at St. Clare's. She had no other *i%t &t m&sic, and she had re%&sed to de)elo+ that, o&t o% ostinacy. ' ! et yo& co&ld +ass any m&sic e8am, yo& #ent in %or,' said !sael, handin* irael a %e# +ro*rammes to +rint. ' "oody in o&r %orm is s+ecially *ood at m&sic. !t's a +ity yo& don't learn. /o& #o&ld e a credit to &s-yo&'d ma$e some o% the to+-%ormers sit &+, ! et And ! *&ess yo&'d #in the m&sic-+ri5e.' ' ell-!'ll certainly send that tele*ram tomorro#,' said irael, +rintin* the +ro*rammes neatly. She %elt ha++y %or the %irst time that term. !t #as n ice to e #or$in* in %riendliness #ith some one li$e !sael. !t #as lo)ely to e +raised %or somethin*. "oody tho&*ht a *reat deal o% her m&sic at home, eca&se none o% them #ere m&sical-e8ce+t her rother-and dear me, ho# she sn&ed him irael %elt annoyed #ith hersel% #hen she rememered that. She o&*ht to ha)e enco&ra*ed him. ' ! really m&st ha)e een tiresome,' she tho&*ht. ' ell-*oin* a#ay %rom home does ma$e yo& see thin*s clearly. hen ! *o ac$ at hal%-term !'ll sho# them !'m not as ad as they thin$' That ni*ht, at ei*ht o'cloc$, all the second %orm #in$ed at one another. !% Elsie #as *oin* to ed an ho&r earlier, it #as time she #ent. B&t she sho#ed no si*n. She had come ac$ %rom s&++er and had settled do#n to read a*ain, sayin* nothin* to anyody. ' Bedtime %or little *irls' said Carlotta. Elsie too$ no notice. ' "a&*hty *irls m&st *o to ed early,' said Boy, lo&dly. Elsie did not mo)e. The *irls loo$ed at one another. !t #as 2&ite clear that Elsie #as not *oin* to *et &+ and *o. She had not only een a%raid to o#n &+ to iss 0en$s the ni*ht e%ore-&t she #as no#L*oin* to e)ade the +&nishment ! To e)ery one's s&r+rise Anna s+o$e. ' Elsie 0' she said. ' /o& $no# +er%ectly #ell #hat yo& ha)e to do. 3on't ma$e &s all ashamed o% yo&.' ' /o& can't tal$ to me li$e that' said Elsie, t&rnin* o)er a +a*e. ' ! can,' said Anna, calmly. ' ! am head-*irl o% the %orm. ! ha)e the ri*ht to tell yo& #hat to do.' ' /o& ha)en't,' said Elsie, %&rio&sly. ' !'m head-*irl too.' ' /o&'re not, yo&'re not' cried a do5en )oices. ' e only reco*ni5e Anna as head-*irl no#. e don't #ant yo&' ' Only iss 0en$s can decide a thin* li$e that,' said Elsie, loo$in* ro&nd at the *irls. ' (erha+s yo& are ri*ht,' said Anna, in her slo# )oice. 'Come #ith me and #e #ill let iss 0en$s decide.' Hilary loo$ed at Anna in admiration. She $ne# that this #as the one thin* that #o&ld de%eat Elsie. On no acco&nt #o&ld Elsie *o to iss 0en$s at the moment !t #o&ld e %ar too h&miliatin*. Elsie hesitated. The *irls #aited. They $ne# Elsie #o&ld not consent to *o #ith Anna. Anna stood &+ as i% she #as *oin*. '!'m not *oin* to iss 0en$s,' said Elsie, in a lo# )oice. ' ! tho&*ht not,' said Anna, and sat do#n a*ain. ' ell-either iss 0en$s decides this matter or the *irls do. ! don't mind.' ' e'll decide-#e')e already decided' said 0anet. ' Anna is o&r head-*irl, and #e don't #ant Elsie. And that ein* so, Elsie-yo&'ll 6&st do as Anna says, and *o o%% to ed. !t's yo&r o#n silly %a<.' That #as too m&ch %or Elsie. Her ostinacy rose &+ and she +&rsed her thin li+s. ' !'m not *oin*,' she said. ' !'m not oeyin* Anna. She may e yo&r head-*irl- &t ! #on't admit she's mine' ' i*ht,' said Carlotta, cheer%&lly, *ettin* &+. ' Come on, Boy-0anet-t#ins. et hold o% Elsie, and #e'll &m+ her all the #ay &+stairs to ed e can't ha)e her disoeyin* iss 0en$s's orders li$e this y #ord -#on't the third %orm stare #hen #e *o y #ith +oor Elsie' ' "odon't' cried Elsie, in dismay, 6&m+in* to her %eet. She $ne# the #ild little Carlotta #o&ld sto+ at nothin*. ' !'ll *o. !'ll *o. B&t ! hate yo& all' She &rst into tears, and #ith lo&d sos #ent to the door. Carlotta sat do#n. hen Elsie had *one, she loo$ed ro&nd. ' ! didn't really mean &s to &m+ her &+ the stairs to ed,' she said, ' &t ! *&essed she'd *o o% her o#n accord i% ! s&**ested it.' ' She'll e a#%&l tomorro#,' said Boy. Anna shoo$ her i* head. ' "o,' she said. ' ! $no# Elsie. She #ill e*in to %eel a martyr, and terrily sorry %or hersel%. She #ill try to *et o&r sym+athy y ein* s&d&ed and mee$.' ' /es-! thin$ yo&'re ri*ht,' said 0anet. ' ell-
the est thin* is not to ta$e any notice o% her at all. e don't #ant to *et s+ite%&l-6&st let's lea)e her alone and ta$e no notice at all.' ' That's the est thin*,' said Anna. She too$ &+ her $nittin* a*ain. ' Oh dear-ein* the only head-*irl is )ery #earin*. There seem so many thin*s to decide'
Q
A""A SEES THE HEA3-!STESS
THE ne8t mornin* irael #anted to send her tele*ram. Anna told her #hat to do. ' /o&'ll ha)e to *o and *et +ermission %rom iss Theoald. Then yo& can sli+ do#n into the to#n #ith someody a%ter mornin* school,' she said. ' !'ll *o #ith yo& i% yo& li$e.' irael #ent to as$ +ermission. She $noc$ed at iss Theoald's door a nd #as told to come in. The Head istress loo$ed &+. She did not smile. ' hat is it, irael ' she as$ed. ' (lease, iss Theoald, may ! send a tele*ram home ' as$ed irael. Still iss Theoald did not smile or &nend in any #ay. She loo$ed really stern. irael e*an to %eel )ery &ncom%ortale. ' hat is the tele*ram ao&t ' she as$ed. ' /o& $no# that yo& cannot lea)e e%ore hal%-term. There is no sense in &+settin* yo&r ho&sehold #ith tele*rams.' ' !t's nothin* to do #ith my lea)in*,' said irael. ' !t's-it's-#ell. iss Theoald, ! 6&st #ant to as$ my mother i% she'll send my )iolin, that's all.' The head loo$ed s&r+rised. ' /o&r )iolin ' she said. ' hy /o& don't learn m&sic, do yo&' '"o,' said-irael. '! #ish ! did no#. B&t ! #o&ldn't #hen 3addy *a )e me the chance. /o& see- the second %orm are *i)in* a concert %or the ed Cross ne8t #ee$-and ! said ! #o&ld +lay %or them. !'d li$e my o#n )iolin to +lay on. !t's a ea&ty.' iss Theoald loo$ed at irael. ' So yo& ha)e a *i%t, irael' she said. ' /o& rememer #hat ! said to yo& ! #onder i% there is anythin* #orth-#hile in yo& a%ter all' irael #ent red. She stood on %irst one %oot and then on another. She %elt certain that iss Theoald had had ad re+orts o% her %rom e)ery mistress. ' !'m not s&re that ! shall let yo& as$ %or yo&r )iolin,' said iss Theoald at last. ' ! hear that yo& miseha)e at +ractically e)ery class. /o& try to s+oil e)erythin*, it seems. Ho# do ! $no# that yo& #ill eha)e at the concert ' ' ! #ill,' said irael, earnestly. ' /o& #on't elie)e me, +erha+s-&t !')e t&rned o)er a ne# lea% no#. !')e *ot tired o% ein* silly.' ' ! see,' said iss Theoald. ' /o&')e sto++ed miseha)in* 6&st eca&se yo&'re tired o% it-not eca&se yo&'re ashamed o% it, or #ant to do etter, or #ant &s to thin$ #ell o% yo&. Only 6&st eca&se yo&'re tired o% it. /o& dis*&st me, irael. o, +lease. !'m disa++ointed in yo&. ! had ho+ed that +ossily yo& mi*ht t&rn o)er a ne# lea% %or some etter moti)e. ! tho&*ht ! sa# some co&ra*e in yo&, some real intelli*ence that mi*ht hel+ yo& to reali5e yo&r %oolishness and sel%ishness in eha)in* as yo& did. "o# ! see that yo& ha)e none-yo& only sto+ eca&se yo& yo&rsel% are tired o% miseha)io&r, and, +ossily, are tired also o% ha)in* the others &n%riendly to#ards yo&. (lease *o.' irael #as str&c$ #ith horror at the cold, stern #ords. She had %elt so +leased #ith hersel% to thin$ she #as t&rnin* o)er a ne# lea%. She had, een ashamed o% hersel%. She hadn't on ly *ot tired o% ein* silly. She o+ened her mo&th to de%end hersel%, &t the si*ht o% iss Theoald's stern %ace %ri*htened her. She #ent o&t o% the room #itho&t a #ord. iss Theoald sat and tho&*ht %or a %e# min&tes. Then she ran* her ell. 'As$ iss 0en$s to come to me %or a %e# min&tes,' she told the maid. iss 0en$s soon a++eared. ' Sit do#n %or a moment,' said iss Theoald. ' ! #ant to tal$ to yo& ao&t irael
the t#o *irls to yo&. (erha+s they can tell yo& more ao&t irael. (ersonally ! thin$ #e mi*ht *i)e her a chance no#, and let her ha)e her )iolin.' She le%t the room and #ent to %ind Anna and Elsie. They #ere in the common room #ith the others. As the door o+ened and iss 0en$s a++eared all the *irls rose to their %eet and sto++ed chatterin*. 0anet t&rned o%% the #ireless. ' iss Theoald #ants the t#o head-*irls to *o to her %or a %e# min&tes,' said iss 0en$s in her cool )oice. ' ill yo& *o at once, +lease ' She le%t the room. There #as a silence. Anna stood &+ to *o. So did Elsie. B&t 2&ic$ as tho&*ht Carlotta +&lled her do#n a*ain to her chair. ' /o&'re not head-*irl, Elsie. /o& $no# yo&'re not. e #on't ha)e yo&-and i% #e #on't ha)e yo&, then Anna is the only head-*irl. /o& are not *oin* to iss Theoald' ' 3on't e an idiot' sna++ed Elsie, scramlin* &+ a*ain. ' /o& $no# !')e *ot to *o. ! can't tell iss Theoald !'m no lon*er head-*irl.' ' ell, Anna can,' said Hilary. ' !t's &n%ort&nate. Elsie-&t #e all ha++en to thin$ the same ao&t this. /o& #ere a ad head-*irl-and #e #on't acce+t yo&. /o& #o&ldn't let iss 0en$s decide it-yo& acce+ted o&r decision-and yo&')e *ot to aide y it. Anna m&st *o alone.' ' She's not to, she's not to,' said Elsie, hal%-cryin*. ' !t's shame%&l. hat #ill iss Theoald thin$ ' ' /o& sho&ld ha)e tho&*ht o% these thin*s e%ore,' said Hilary. ' Anna, *o. Say as little as yo& can ao&t Elsie, o% co&rse-&t +lease let it e &nderstood that yo& are the only head-*irl o% the second %orm no#.' Anna #ent. Elsie sa# that the #hole o% the second %orm #o&ld sto+ her y %orce i% she tried to %ollo#. So she lay ac$ in her chair, loo$in* as %orlorn and miserale as she co&ld, lettin* the tears tric$le do#n her chee$s. She ho+ed that the *irls #o&ld %eel &ncom%ortale, and )ery sorry. B&t noody did. !n %act, they too$ no notice o% her at all, and #ent on cheer%&lly chatterin* amon* themsel)es. !t #as Sat&rday mornin*, and e8ce+t %or an ho&r's lessons, they #ere %ree to do as they chose. irael #as not there. She had had a shoc$, and it had &+set her )ery m&ch. She did not #ant anyone to see that she had een cryin*, so she had *one to the cloa$room to athe her eyes. She came o&t o% the room 6&st as Anna +assed it on her #ay to the Head. Anna s+o$e to her. ' Hallo ! 3id yo& *et +ermission %rom the Head to send %or yo&r )iolin !'ll come do#n to the +osto%%ice #ith yo& i% yo& li$e.' ' ! didn't *et +ermission,' said irael, miseraly. ' Anna, iss Theoald #as a#%&l to me. She thin$s !')e only t&rned o)er a ne# lea% eca&se ! #as tired o% ein* an idiot. B&t ! ha)en't. !'m a#%&lly ashamed o% mysel% no#. !t #as dread%&l ha)in* yo& all doin* eastly thin*s to me the )ery day !'d made &+ my mind to do etter -and no# e)en iss Theoald is a*ainst me. hat's the &se o% tryin* !t's 6&st no *ood at all. ! shan't +lay at the concert. ! shan't do anythin*.' Anna stared at irael, s&r+rised. ' Loo$ here, ! can't #ait no#,' she said. ' !')e een sent %or y the Head. B&t !'ll ha)e a tal$ #ith yo& a%ter#ards, see !'m a#%&lly sorry, irael. eally ! am. Cheer &+.' She ran do#n the +assa*e to iss Theoald's dra#in*-room and $noc$ed. ' Come in' said the Head's +leasant )oice. Anna entered, hal%-scared. iss Theoald #as $ind and 6&st -&t her #isdom and di*nity a#ed e)ery *irl, and it #as 2&ite an ordeal to *o %or any $ind o% inter)ie#. ' ood mornin*, Anna,' said iss Theoald. ' here is Elsie Fansha#e ' ' Elsie isn't head-*irl no#, iss Theoald,' said Anna, %eelin* a#$#ard. iss Theoald loo$ed most s&r+rised. ' ! hadn't heard this,' she said. ' hy isn't she' ' e all decided that she #asn't 2&ite %it to e at +resent,' said Anna, %indin* it di%%ic< to e8+lain #itho&t *i)in* Elsie a#ay too m&ch. ' iss 0en$s $no#s nothin* o% this? said the Head. ' hy didn't yo& as$ her ad)ice ' ' Elsie didn't #ant &s to,' said Anna. ' She said she #o&ld' rather acce+t o&r decision, #itho&t &s ta$in* matters any %&rther. !t's-it's rather di%%ic< to e8+lain, iss Theoald, #itho&t tellin* tales.' ' 3id Hilary ent#orth and the O'S&lli)an t#ins a*ree to this ' as$ed the Head. She had *reat %aith in the %airness and common sense o% these three *irls. ' Oh yes,' said Anna. ' ! #o&ldn't ha)e done it mysel% -!'m too la5y, !'m a%raid. B&t once the *irls #anted me to acce+t res+onsiility and carry on #itho&t Elsie, ! had to ta$e it.' ' O% co&rse,' said iss Theoald, sensin* in Anna somethin* etter and stron*er than she had $no#n e%ore in the la5y slo#-mo)in* *irl. ' ell-! #on't as$ any more 2&estions, Anna. ! thin$ +roaly the second %orm are ri*ht-all ! ho+e is that some *ood #ill come o&t o% this %or Elsie. ! can see an im+ro)ement in yo& already ' Anna l&shed. es+onsiility #as a n&isance-&t it did rin* de%inite re#ards, not the least o% #hich #as an added sel%-res+ect. > Anna, ! sent %or yo& eca&se ! #ant to as$ yo& ao&t irael
yo&r o+inion is o% irael-#hether it is ad or *ood-anythin* that can hel+ me in dealin* #ith her. /o& $no# all the details as to #hy she #as sent here eca&se she has told the #hole school' Anna seldom #asted #ords. She said shortly #hat iss Theoald #anted to $no#. ' irael has een a#%&lly tiresome, and the second %orm +&nished her %or it. She's ashamed o% hersel% no#and she #ants to sho# &s she's some *ood. Co&ld yo& let her send %or her )iolin ' ' Gery #ell,' said iss Theoald, smilin* at Anna's directness. ' ! re%&sed her +ermission a little #hile a*o. ill yo&, as head-*irl, tell her ! ha)e chan*ed my mind, and she can *o do#n and send o%% the tele*ram. Tell her too, that ! shall li$e to hear her +lay at the second %orm concert.' /es, iss Theoald,' said Anna. ' Than$ yo&.' The ! le%t the room, +leased. For the %irst time in her la5y li%e she %elt that she had some im+ortance. The Head had sent %or her and act&ally listened to her. !t #as #orth ma$in* an e%%ort, i% +eo+le li$e iss Theoald a++reciated it. She #ent to loo$ %or irael. She %o&nd her in the common room, readin* rather soerly, her eyes still red. ' irael Come on do#n to the +ost-o%%ice and send that tele*ram,' said Anna. ' iss Theoald says yo& may. And she says she #ill loo$ %or#ard to hearin* yo& +lay at the concert ne8t #ee$.' irael loo$ed &+, astonished and deli*hted. This #as a lo)ely s&r+rise a%ter ha)in* her ho+es dashed and her *ood resol&tions mis&nderstood. She stood &+, *lo#in*. ' Anna !t's eca&se o% yo& iss Theoald said ! co&ld send the tele*ram. Than$s a#%&lly. /o&'re a ric$.' ' !t #asn't alto*ether me,' said Anna. ' H&rry &+ and *et yo&r coat on. e ha)en't m&ch time.' They h&rried do#n to the +o st-o%%ice. The tele*ram #as sent o%%-and ca&sed m&ch s&r+rise in irael's home ' She #ants her )iolin' said her mother, in astonishment. ' hy, she m&st e settlin* do#n a it. ! am *lad' So the )iolin #as +ac$ed &+, re*istered and sent o%% at once. !t arri)ed on the onday o% the #ee$ %ollo#in*, and irael &n+ac$ed it 6oy%&lly. Her o#n )iolin "o# she #o&ld e ale to +lay ea&ti%&lly. She #o&ld sho# the second %orm #hat real m&sic #as ' And !'ll astonish iss Theoald a it too,' tho&*ht irael. ' She'll see ! ha)e a real *i%t-e)en i% ! ha)en't anythin* else !'d li$e her to thin$ ! #as #orth-#hile -! really #o&ld.' 1R LA3/S !S S<(!S!" THE second %orm #ere )ery &sy +re+arin* %or their concert. They #ere *oin* to char*e si8+ence %or the tic$ets, and all the %irst %orm, most o% the third %orm, and e)en a %e# o% the hi*her %orm *irls had +romised to come. All the mistresses had +romised too. !t #as to e 2&ite a i* a%%air. The *irls #ere to mana*e e)erythin* themsel)es. They +re+ared the +ro*rammes and the tic$ets. !sael dre# a %ine i* +oster and colo&red it. She +&t it &+ in the i* assemly room #here e)ery one co&ld see it. The concert #as to e held in the *ym, #here there #as a %ine +lat%orm. The second %orm *re# 2&ite e8cited ao&t it. Too e8cited %or am'5elle's li$in*. She co&ld not ear to %eel that the class #ere thin$in* ao&t somethin* else in her lessons. ' !sael (at 3id yo& not slee+ last ni*ht, that yo& dream so this mornin* hat #as the 2&estion ! ha)e 6&st as$ed the class ' The t#ins stared at am'5elle in alarm. "either o% them had heard the 2&estion. Carlotta #his+ered so%tly. ' She said, 7 Has anyone here seen my *lasses 7? #his+ered Carlotta, *rinnin*. This #as 2&ite &ntr&e, as e)eryone $ne# B&t the t#ins %ell into the tra+ at once. They stared innocently at am'5elle, seein* her *lasses +erched as &s&al on her i* nose. ' ell ' said am'5elle, shar+ly. ' hat did ! as$ the class' , ' /o& as$ed i% #e had seen yo&r *lasses any#here? said (at, ' &t they are on yo&r nose, am'5elle.' There #as a s2&eal o% la&*hter %rom the class. am'5elle an*ed on her des$ an*rily. ' Ah, 2&e )o&s ties aominale' she cried. ' !ns&++ortale ' The t#ins *lared at Carlotta, #ho #as holdin* her sides. She shoo$ her head at them, tears o% la&*hter in her eyes. ' ait till rea$, yo& #retch' said (at. ' Taise5-)o&s' said am'5elle. ' (at ! !sael O% #hat #ere yo& thin$in* 6&st no# #hen ! addressed the class Be tr&th%&l' ' ell, am'5elle-! #as thin$in* o% the concert o&r %orm is holdin* on Sat&rday,' said (at. ' !'m sorry. y tho&*hts 6&st #andered a#ay.' ' So did mine,' said !sael. ' !% they #ander a#ay a*ain ! shall not come to the concert? threatened am'5elle. There #as a lo&d and &ni)ersal *roan.
' e shan't hold the concert &nless yo& come' ' /o& m&st come, am'5elle ! /o& la&*h lo&der than any one' ' ! #ill come i% yo& #rite me a nice com+osition,' said am'5elle, s&ddenly eamin* a*ain. ' /o& shall #rite me a ea&ti%&l essay and tell me all that is to ha++en at this #onder%&l concert. ith no mista$es at all. That #ill +lease me *reatly. That shall e yo&r +re+, %or tomorro#.' The *irls *roaned a*ain. French e ssays #ere a#%&l to do-and this one #o&ld e di%%ic<. Any#ay, the idea had +&t am'5elle into a etter tem+er, so that #as somethin* T#o *irls #ere doin* nothin* in the concert at all. Elsie had re%&sed to do anythin*, and had anno&nced her intention o% not e)en comin*. And noody had as$ed the little isery-*irl to do anythin*. E)ery one %elt certain that ladys #o&ld not and co&ld not do a thin*. They tho&*ht it #o&ld e $inder to lea)e her o&t alto*ether. ladys #as h&rt eca&se she #as not as$ed, yet *lad !sael +ainted a i* +oster %or the concert that she #as not +ressed to do anythin*. She sh&t more and more &+ into hersel%, only s+o$e #hen she #as s+o$en to, a nd #as so 2&iet in e)ery lesson that the teachers hardly $ne# she #as there. Only in iss ;&entin's class did she sho# any real animation. "ot that iss ;&entin e)er as$ed her to act a +art, eca&se, li$e e)eryone else, iss ;&entin al#ays +assed o)er ladys, thin$in* that s&ch a little mo&se co&ld ne)er do anythin* B&t ladys #atched the others actin*, and %or once in a #ay %or*ot to rood o)er her tro&les #hen she sa# Boy str&ttin* across the room as a $in* or d&$e, and. Carlotta +layin* the +art o% a 6ester. Alison adored iss ;&entin's classes. She really did #or$ hard in those-harder than she #or$ed in any one else's. For one thin* she #as +retty and *race%&l, and +arts s&ch as +rincesses or %airies #ere *i)en nat&rally to her, and %or another thin*, she li)ed %or iss ;&entin's #ords o% +raise. She tho&*ht iss ;&entin #as ' 6&st #onder%&l' The +re+arations %or the concert #ent on #ell. 3oris #as to *i)e some o% her cle)er imitations. She meant to mimic am'5elle, #ho had all $inds o% mannerisms #hich #ere a 6oy to the class. She meant to imitate Clara, the coo$, a 6olly, ro&*h-and-ready +erson m&ch li$ed y the *irls. And she meant to dress &+ as atron, and imitate her dolin* o&t ad)ice and medicine to )ario&s *irls. ' 3oris, yo& really are a scream,' said Boy, en6oyin* the *irl's cle)er +er%ormance in rehearsal. ' /o& o&*ht to e on the sta*e.' ' !'m *oin* to e a doctor,' said 3oris. ' Oh-#ell, yo&'ll e a 6olly *ood one eca&se yo&'ll ma$e all yo&r +atients scream #ith la&*hter' said Boy. E)ery one #as doin* somethin*-either recitin*, +layin* the +iano or )iolin, sin*in* or dancin*e)ery one, that is e8ce+t Elsie and ladys. Carlotta #as *oin* to *i)e a dis+lay o% acroatics. She #as mar)ello&s at s&ch circ&s tric$s as t&rnin* cart-#heels, #al$in* on her hands and so on. ' /o& and 3oris, Carlotta, #ill e the hits o% the e)enin*,' said (at. She and !sael #ere *oin* to *i)e a dialo*&e, s&++osed to e %&nny, &t they oth %elt it #as not nearly so *ood as any one else's contri&tion. Boy #as to do con6&rin* tric$s She #as )ery *ood at these, and had a lot o% idiotic +atter that %ell %rom her li+s in a ne)er-endin* torrent. ' ! et irael #ill e a hit too,' said 0anet, a%ter the *irl had +layed her con cert +iece to them, d&rin* rehearsal. ' ood thin* #e %o&nd o&t she co&ld +lay ' ' By the #ay-ho# did yo& %ind o&t ' as$ed irael, +&ttin* her )iolin into its case. ' ! $e+t meanin* to as$ yo&. ! didn't thin$ anyody $ne#.' '/es-someody did,' said 0anet, loo$in* ro&nd to see i% ladys #as in the roomK &t she #as not. ' !t #as ladys #ho told &s.' ' ladys' said irael, s&ddenly rememerin* the ni*ht in the dar$ m&sic-room. ' /es-o% co&rse-she heard me that ni*ht.' ' She said yo& #ere in the dar$,' said (at. ' So that means she #as too. F&nny $id, isn't she, sittin* ao&t in dar$ rooms all y hersel%. She really is a little misery. ! can't thin$ #hat's the matter #ith her. She ne)er tells .,anyone. !% she did, #e mi*ht hel+ her a it-*et a smile o&t o% her occasionally, or somethin*.' ' Oh-she told me #hat's the matter,' said irael, rememerin* e)erythin* ladys had said. ' 3id she ' said Boy, in s&r+rise. ' ell, #hat is the matter #ith her ' ' !t's her mother,' said irael. ' She's in hos+ital- a#%&lly ill-+erha+s she's *oin* to die. ladys said she's only *ot her mother-no %ather or rothers or sisters- and they #ere sort o% all-in-all to one another. She'd ne)er een a#ay %rom her mother e)en %or a ni*ht till she #as sent here #hen her mother #ent to hos+ital. She said she #as a#%&lly homesic$, and missed her mother terrily. ! s&++ose she thin$s e)ery day she may hear ad ne#s or somethin*.' The *irls heard all this in silence. They %elt sorry and &ncom%ortale. The little isery-*irl really did ha)e somethin* to #orry ao&t. E)eryone there &t Carlotta had mothers they lo)ed-and %athers-and most o% them had rothers
and sisters. E)en slo#-minded Anna, #ho had little ima*ination, $ne# %or one short moment the sort o% heartache that ladys carried #ith her day and ni*ht. ' hy didn't yo& tell &s this ' as$ed Boy. ' ! didn't rememer it till no#,' said irael. ' ell, ! thin$ yo& sho&ld ha)e told &s at once,' said Hilary. ' e mi*ht ha)e een decenter to ladys. She's a +oor little thin*, #itho&t any co&ra*e or s+&n$-&t #e ha)en't e8actly made thin*s any easier %or her. /o& really are to lame %or not ha)in* told &s, irael.' irael #as really conscience-stric$en. She co&ldn't thin$ ho# she co&ld ha)e %or*otten ladys's tro&les. She had een so #ra++ed &+ in her o#n, and then, #hen the *irls had ecome %riendly and hel+ed her, she had een so ha++y that she had not *i)en a tho&*ht to the little isery-*irl. She stared &nha++ily at Hilary. ' !'m sorry,' she said. ' ! sho&ld ha)e told yo&. All the same, ! don't thin$ ladys #o&ld li$e it i% she $ne# that e)eryone $ne# ao&t her tro&les. So don't tell her yo& $no#. 0&st e nice to her and notice her a it.' The second %orm recei)ed this ad)ice in silence. irael sensed that they did not thin$ )ery m&ch o% her %or %or*ettin* another +erson's tro&les. She said no more, &t #ent o%% to +&t her )iolin a#ay. ' ! #onder #here ladys is,' she tho&*ht. ' !')e a *ood mind to h&nt %or her and as$ her i% she's heard any ne#s o% her mother lately. A%ter all, it mi*ht hel+ a it i% someone shares the ne#s #ith her.' irael #ent to loo$ %or ladys. She co&ld not seem to %ind the *irl any#here. !t #as +&55lin*. ' ell, she sim+ly m&st e some#here' said irael to hersel%. ' ! #onder i% she's &+ in the o8rooms. ! sa# her comin* do#n %rom there the other day and #ondered #hate)er had ta$en her there.' She #ent &+ the stairs to the to+ o% the school. Tr&n$s and a*s #ere $e+t in the attics, &t little else. There #as a li*ht sho#in* &nder the door o% one o% the attics- and %rom the room came a )oice. !t didn't so&nd li$e ladys's )oice. !t #as dee+ and stron*. irael listened in s&r+rise. The )oice #as declaimin* one o% the s+eeches in The Tem+est, #hich the second %orm #ere ta$in* that term #ith iss 0en$s. ' That's not ladys,' tho&*ht irael. ' ! #onder #ho it is. Ah-no# there's a di%%erent )oice. There m&st e t#o or three +eo+le there. B&t #ho can they e Only the second %orm are doin* The Tem+est this term-and ail &t ladys #ere at rehearsal this e)enin*.' A third )oice s+o$e, *entle and %eminine. irael co&ld ear it no lon*er. She really m&st see #ho the s+ea$ers #ere. They #ere declaimin* Sha$es+eare's #ords ea&ti%&lly. She o+ened the door. The )oice sto++ed at once. irael stared into the room, e8+ectin* to see three or %o&r +eo+le there, rehearsin* the +lay. B&t there #as only one +erson there-ladys 'olly !t's only yo& ' said irael, in astonishment. ! tho&*ht there m&st e lots here. ! heard all $inds o% di%%erent )oices. as it yo& ' ' /es,' said ladys. ' o a#ay. Can't ! e)en do this in +eace' ' hat are yo& doin* ' as$ed irael, *oin* into the room and sh&ttin* the door. ' 3o tell me. !t so&nded %ine. 3o yo& $no# it all y heart' ' /es, ! do,' said ladys. ' ! lo)e actin*. ! al#ays ha)e. B&t iss ;&entin ne)er *i)es me a chance in the 3rama class. ! co&ld act the +arts #ell. ! $no# ! co&ld. /o& see me act Boy's +art in that +lay #e're doin* #ith iss ;&entin' And e%ore irael's astonished eyes, the *irl e*an to act the +art that had een *i)en to Boy. B&t she acted it s&+erly. She #as the +art The little isery-*irl %aded, and another character came into the attic, someone #ith a resonant )oice, a stron* character, and a % ierce %ace. !t #as e8traordinary. irael stood and *a+ed. Her astonishment and admiration #ere so +lain that ladys #as im+elled to sho# her another +art in the +lay-arietta's +art. Here a*ain she #as t#ice as *ood as the %iery Carlotta, and h er )oice, #ild and stron*, 2&ite di%%erent %rom ladys's &s&al mee$, mil$-and-#ater )oice, ran* thro&*h the attic. ' ladys ! /o&'re sim+ly mar)ello&s ' said irael. ' /o&'re to come and sho# the *irls. Come on. Come on do#nstairs at once. ! ne)er sa# anythin* li$e it in my li%e /o& to act li$e that ! ho #o&ld ha)e tho&*ht it /o&'re s&ch a mo&se, and yo&r )oice is so 2&iet-and yet, #hen yo& act, yo&'re Someody, and yo& 2&ite %ri*hten me. /o& sim+ly m&st come do#n and sho# the *irls #hat yo& can do.' ' "o,' said ladys, ecomin* hersel% a*ain and loo$in* nai% the si5e she had seemed t#o min&tes e%ore. ' Oh, ladys,' said irael, s&ddenly rememerin* hy she had een loo$in* %or the *irl. '
ladys-ho#'s yo&r mother ! do ho+e yo&')e *ot *ood ne#s.' ' Than$ yo&-it's 6&st ao&t the same,' said ladys. ' other can't e)en #rite to me, she's so ill. !% ! co&ld 6&st *et a letter %rom her, it #o&ld e somethin*' ' 3oes she *et yo&r letters ' as$ed irael. ' O% co&rse,' said ladys. ' ! $ee+ tellin* her ho# m&ch ! miss her, and ho# lonely and &nha++y ! am #itho&t her.' ' B&t, ladys-ho# silly' said irael. ' hat do yo& mean ' as$ed ladys, hal% indi*nantly. ' other #ants to $no# that.' ' ! sho&ld ha)e tho&*ht she #o&ld ha)e een m&ch *ladder to thin$ yo& #ere tryin* to settle do#n and e ha++y,' said irael. ' !t m&st ma$e her )ery miserale indeed to %eel yo& are so lonely and sad. ! sho&ld thin$ it #o&ld ma$e her #orse.' ' !t #on't? said ladys, her eyes %illin* #ith tears. ' !% she tho&*ht ! #as ha++y here, and *ettin* other interests, she #o&ld thin$ ! #as %or*ettin* her.' ' ! do thin$ yo&'re silly, ladys? said irael, #ishin* she #as Hilary or Anna, so that she mi*ht $no# the est #ay o% tac$lin* some one li$e ladys. ' 3on't yo& #ant yo&r mother to e +ro&d o% yo& She'll thin$ yo& are an a#%&l co#ard-no s+&n$ at all-6&st *i)in* in li$e this, and #ee+in* and #ailin*.' ' Oh, yo& are hate%&l' cried ladys. ' As i% my mother #o&ld e)er thin$ thin*s li$e that o% me, e)er o a#ay. ! #on't come do#n #ith yo&. And don't yo& dare to tell any one #hat yo& sa# me doin*. !t's my secret. /o&'d no ri*ht to come s+yin* li$e that. o a#ay.' irael loo$ed at ladys's an*ry little %ace, and #ondered #hat to do or say. She hadn't done any *ood, that #as certain. ' ! s&++ose ! ha)en't *ot the character to hel+ +eo+le +ro+erly, li$e Hilary or Anna? tho&*ht irael, *oin* soerly do#nstairs. ' !')e *ot a lot to learn. hen ! *o home at hal%-term ne8t #ee$, !'ll really try and do etter.' She #ent do#n to the lirary to *et a oo$. B&t, as she h&nted thro&*h the shel)es, she $e+t thin$in* o% ladys. She co&ldn't 6&st do nothin*. !% she, irael, co&ldn't hel+ ladys, maye someody else co&ld. Hilary co&ld. She #as al#ays so sensile. So #as Boy-and the t#ins, too. She #o&ld *o and tell them #hat had ha++ened, and lea)e it to them to do #hat they co&ld. irael #as e*innin* to ha)e a )ery lo# o+inion o% hersel% and her +o#ers. She le%t the lirary and #ent to %ind Hilary. She #as l&c$y eno&*h to see her in a m&sic-room #ith Boy, 0anet and the t#ins, +ractisin* somethin* %or the concert. ood This #as 6&st the chance to tell them #hat had ha++ened ! 11 A 3!SA((O!"TE"T FO THE SECO"3 FO ' ! SA/' said irael, o+enin* the door. ' Can ! interr&+t a moment' ' ! s&++ose so,' said Boy. ' hat's &+' ' !t's ao&t ladys,' said irael, and she told them ho# she had %o&nd the *irl actin* all y hersel% in the o8-room. Then she #ent on to tell them #hat she had said to ladys, and ho# she had %ailed to hel+ her-only made her an*ry. 'ell,' said Hilary, listenin* intently. '! thin$, irael, yo& *a)e ladys some )ery so&nd ad)ice. eally ! do. O% co&rse ladys o&*ht to sto+ moanin* to her mother. She m&st %ind a little +l&c$ some#here, or she'll *o to +ieces. /o& did ri*ht to say that it #o&ld hel+ her mother i% she $ne# ladys #as settlin* do#n, and tryin* to do #ell.' ' Oh-!'m *lad yo& thin$ that,' said irael. ' !'m not so *ood as yo& are at $no#in* #hat to do %or the est %or +eo+le. By the #ay-ladys said she didn't #ant-me to tell e)eryody.' ' ell, yo& ha)en't,' said Hilary. ' /o&')e only told &s %i)e-and #e &nderstand +er%ectly. B&t, irael, as it seems that ladys has ta$en yo& into her con%idence and noody else, ! thin$ yo&'d etter *o on tac$lin* the matter' ' /es ' said all the others. ' Oh no' said irael, horri%ied. ' ! came to as$ yo& to hel+. !'m no *ood at this sort o% thin*.' ' ell, it's time yo& #ere,' said Hilary, %irmly. ' "o# come on, irael-#e all tried to hel+ yo& #hen yo& needed it-yo&')e *ot to do the same to ladys. Be %riends #ith her, and &c$ her &+-and i% yo& can +ers&ade her to sho# &s ho# she can act, #e'll all listen and a++la&d -and she m&st e in the concert' ' She can't e. !t's the day a%ter tomorro#, and all the +ro*rammes are #ritten o&t,' o6ected !sael. ' e really can't #rite them all o&t a*ain.' ' She #o&ldn't #ant to e in the concert, anyho#,' said irael. ' All ri*ht, Hilary-!'ll do #hat ! can. B&t ! really am )ery ad at this sort o% thin*.' !t #as distaste%&l to irael to mention the matter to ladys a*ain. She al#ays %elt a#$#ard at anythin* in)ol)in* tact or &nderstandin* in another's tro&les. She #o&ld )ery m&ch rather ha)e le%t it to the others. Still, once she said she #o&ld do a thin*, she did it. ladys #as s&r+rised, and not too +leased to %ind irael al#ays a t her elo# the ne8t day. ' ladys, ! didn't mean to ma$e yo& an*ry,' irael said, #hen they #ere alone %or a %e# min&tes. ' !'m cl&msy in #hat ! say. ! $no# ! am. B&t ! really and tr&ly am sym+athetic. ! don't e8+ect ! can hel+ at all-&t !'d li$e to.' ' ell,' said ladys, loo$in* at irael's earnest %ace, ' ! #as an*ry
yesterday. "oody li$es ein* told they're co#ardly. B&t ! tho&*ht it all o )er and in some #ays ! thin$ yo&'re ri*ht. ! sho&ldn't $ee+ #ritin* to my mother and tellin* her ho# miserale and lonely ! am. ! $no# it #o&ld #orry her-and that mi*ht $ee+ her %rom *ettin* #ell.' ' /es, it mi*ht,' said irael, +leased that #hat she had said had, a%ter all, had some e%%ect on ladys. ' ! say- loo$ here-#o&ldn't she e thrilled i% she $ne# yo& #ere in the concert-actin* li$e that-ein* cla++ed y e)eryody ! do #ish yo&'d let the *irls see yo& act.' ladys h esitated. She did $no#, 2&ite certainly, that her mother #o&ld e +leased to hear o% any s&ccess she made-&t she #as s&ch a mo&se, so a%raid o% e)erythin*- it #o&ld e a real ordeal to sho# o%% in %ront o% the *irls. And, o% co&rse, she co&ldn't +ossily e in the concert She #o&ld e scared o&t o% her li%e ! irael sa# her hesitate, and she #ent on +ressin* her. ' ladys Come on-e a s+ort. Loo$-i% yo&'ll sho# #hat yo& can do, and *et the *irls to +&t yo& into the concert, !'ll #rite to yo&r mother mysel% and tell her ho# #ell yo& did. See Beca&se ! $no# yo&'ll do #ell. And then thin$ ho# +leased she'll e' The tho&*ht o% irael act&ally #ritin* to her mother %or her to&ched ladys more than anythin* else co&ld ha)e done. She stared at irael's earnest %ace, and tried to lin$ ac$ the tears that came %ar too easily. ' /o& are a *ood sort,' she said, rather cho$ily. ' /o& really are. ! tho&*ht at %irst yo& #ere s&ch a sel%ish, cold-hearted sort o% *irl-&t yo&'re not. Be %riends #ith me, irael. /o& ha)en't any %riend here and neither ha)e !. !'ll do anythin* yo& as$ me, i% yo&'ll e %riends.' ' ell,' said irael, rememerin* that it #as the hal%-term the %ollo#in* #ee$, ' !'m lea)in* soon, yo& $no#- at hal%term. ! ne)er meant to stay lon*er than that. So it's not m&ch &se yo&r ein* % riends #ith me really- eca&se !'ll soon e *one.' ' Oh,' said ladys, t&rnin* a#ay. ' That's 6&st my l&c$. (eo+le ! li$e al#ays *o a#ay.' ' "o# don't start that sort o% thin* a*ain,' said irael, hal%-im+atiently. 'All ri*ht. !'ll e yo&r %riend till ! *o-&t mind, yo&')e *ot to e sensile and do #hat ! say. And the %irst thin* ! say is-yo&')e *ot to sho# the *irls ho# yo& can act' !t #as 2&ite +leasant to ha)e some one ta$in* s&ch an interest in her ladys %elt #armed, and loo$ed *rate%&lly at irael. She #as a #ea$, timid character- irael #as stron* and decided, e)en tho&*h she #as o%ten #ron*. ' /es-! #ill sho# the *irls i% yo& #ant me to,' ladys said. ' ell, a%ter tea, in the common room this e)enin*, yo& sho# them,' said irael. ' !'ll cla+ li$e anythin* at the end, so yo& needn't e a%raid. (erha+s the *irls #ill +&t yo& in the concert a%ter all, #hen they see ho# *ood yo& are. !sael said somethin* ao&t not ein* ale to alter the +ro*rammes-&t !'m s&re it co&ld e done. ! co&ld hel+.' irael %elt rather +ro&d o% ha)in* *ot her o#n #ay #ith ladys. She told Hilary and the others, and they loo$ed %or#ard #ith interest to seein* #hat ladys co&ld do that e)enin*. !t certainly #as a s&r+rise to e)ery one ladys loo$ed terrily ner)o&s at %irst, and her )oice shoo$. B&t in a min&te or t#o, as she %or*ot hersel%, and thre# hersel% heart and so&l into the +art she #as actin*, it seemed as i% the little isery-*irl #as no lon*er there- &t some one 2&ite di%%erent, that noody had seen e%ore ladys acted many +arts %rom di%%erent Sha$es+eare +lays-Lady aceth-iranda-al)olio-Hamlet. She $ne# them all y heart. Her mother had een )ery %ond o% Sha$es+eare's #or$s, and the t#o o% them had st&died them to*ether e)enin* a%ter e)enin*. ladys's dead %ather had een a %ine actor, and ladys had inherited the *i%t. ladys sto++ed at last, chan*in* % rom Bottom the ea)er to her o#n timid sel%. The *irls roared #ith deli*ht at her, and cla++ed lo&dly. ' /o& mon$ey Fancy not tellin* &s yo& co&ld do all that' said (at. ' /o&'ll rin* the ho&se do#n at the concert ! ! say-#e sim+ly
ne#s yo& *et. e're all interested.' ladys #ent to ed really ha++y that ni*ht. She had a %riend. She had een cla++ed and a++la&ded. She had thro#n o%% her reser)e, and let the other *irls s+ea$ to her o% her mother. Thin*s didn't seem so ad no#. For the %irst time she %ell aslee+ #itho&t lyin* and #orryin*. !n the middle o% the ni*ht, %i)e o% the *irls lay and tossed restlessly. (at and !sael, 3oris, Boy and Carlotta co&ld not slee+. Their throats h&rt them. They co&*hed and snee5ed. !t #as most annoyin*-eca&se the concert #as to e the ne8t e)enin* ! ' ! shan't e ale to s+ea$ a #ord,' tho&*ht 3oris, as she tried to ease her throat. ' This really is ad l&c$. ! can't +ossily e in the concert. Blo# ! #as so loo$in* %or#ard to it.' !n the mornin* all %i)e #ent alon* to atron, %eelin* )ery miserale and sorry %or themsel)es. She too$ their tem+erat&res. ' /o&')e *ot the horrid cold that has een r&nnin* ro&nd the school,' she said, ris$ly. '/o&')e all *ot tem+erat&res e8ce+t Carlotta-and it #o&ld ta$e a lot to *i)e her one B&t she can *o to ed 6&st the same. To the san, all o% yo&.' ' B&t atron-it's the concert toni*ht' said Boy, hoarsely. ' e can't +ossily *o to ed.' ' (&t yo&r coats on and yo&r hats and scar)es,' said atron, ta$in* no notice o% Boy at all. 'And *o across to the san, immediately. /o&')e all *ot the same %e)erish cold, that's +lain-ca&*ht the chill #atchin* lacrosse in that cold #ind the other day, ! s&++ose-so the *erm %o&nd yo& easy +rey. Boy, are yo& dea% o and *et yo&r coat and hat at once and don't stand ar*&in*.' !t ne)er #as any *ood tryin* to ar*&e #ith atron. She had dealt #ith *irls %or many, many years, and ed and #armth and the ri*ht medicine in her o+inion c&red most thin*s )ery 2&ic$ly. So, concert or no concert, the %i)e * irls #ere &ndled into ed in the san, and there they lay, moanin* ao&t the concert and #onderin* #hat #as *oin* to ha++en. !t didn't ta$e the rest o% the %orm lon* to decide #hat #as to ha++en. ' e can't +ossily hold the concert #itho&t those %i)e' said Hilary. ' 3oris #as one o% the stars,' said 0anet. 'And Boy,' said Hilary. 'And Carlotta too. !t #o&ld e a )ery #ea$ a%%air #itho&t those three. e'll ha)e to +ost+one it. e'll ha)e it ne8t #ee$.' ' e can't,' said Anna. ' The third %orm are ha)in* theirs.' ' ell, the #ee$ a%ter then,' said Hilary. ' That #ill *i)e the in)alids time to *et o)er their colds. ! ho+e noody else %eels li$e snee5in* or co&*hin* !% they do, %or *oodness' sa$e *o to the san, and *et it o)er, so that #e can ha)e the concert all ri*ht in a %ortni*ht's time ' ' ladys can e in it this time' said 9athleen. ' That ma$es another *ood +er%ormer.' ' Oh, *ood' said Anna, loo$in* at ladys. ' That #ill he %ine. /o&'ll ha)e loads o% time to +ractise and rehearse no#, ladys.' ladys co&ldn't hel+ %eelin* thrilled. She did lo)e actin*-and it #o&ld e %&n to rehearse #ith the others. !t hadn't een nice to e le%t o&t. "o# she #o&ld e ale to 6oin in, and #o&ld e cla++ed 6&st as the others #ere. There #o&ld e a lot to tell her mother #hen sh% #rote. She %elt a #a)e o% *ratit&de #ellin* &+ %m irael. !t #as irael #ho had made all this +ossilt %or her. She #ent &+ to irael and sli++ed her arm thro&*l hers. ' !t's a +ity ao&t the others, isn't it ' she said 'B&t they'll e etter in a %ortni*ht-and ! shall li$ ein* in the concert no#. ! shall cla+ li$e anythin* #hen yo&r t&rn comes, irael. ! thin$ yo&'ll e thi est o% &s all.' irael did not smile. She loo$ed rather cold an lan$. ladys #ondered #hat the matter #as. ' Ho# many +ieces are yo& *oin* to +lay ' she as$ed ' 3o yo& #ant me to t&rn o)er the +a*es %or yo& at th +iano ' ' ! shan't e in the concert,' said irael, in a %&nny e)en )oice. ' /o& $no# !'m *oin* home at hal%-term- and y the t&ne the concert comes, !'ll e *one. ! %ee disa++ointed, o% co&rse-so don't $ee+ on r&in* it in She too$ h er arm %rom ladys's and #al$ed o%%. HoN sic$enin* e)erythin* #as 1: LA3/S TAC9LES !ABEL THE second %orm seemed to ha)e d#indled considerale no# that %i)e o% them #ere a#ay. Hilary and Alison #ent do#n #ith the cold the ne8t day, so there #ere many em+ty des$s. The concert #as +&t o%% %or t#o #ee$s and the second %orm *irls %elt )ery %lat and *loomy. Elsie #as the only one #ho #as at all +leased. She had consistently re%&sed to ta$e any interest at all in the concert, and she %elt * lad that this disa++ointment had come &+on the others. As Anna had +redicted, Elsie had ado+ted a martyr-li$e attit&de, loo$in* le%t-o&t and miserale all day lon*. B&t no one too$ the sli*htest notice o% her. The *irl's +ride #as h&rt. She had not li$ed to as$ Anna #hat she had said to iss Theoald on the day #hen oth o% them had een sent %or. B&t it #as clear to her no#, that not only the *irls no
lon*er re*arded her as one o% their heads, &t iss 0en$s a lso a++eared to thin$ that only Anna #as head-*irl. !t #as most e8as+eratin*. Elsie sometimes #ished she #as li$e Carlotta and co&ld sla+ and o8 +eo+le's ears #hen she %elt li$e it ! She #o&ld o8 the ears o% e)ery one in the %orm The se)en *irls in the san had a ad time %or the %irst day or t#o, and then, #hen their tem+erat&res #ent do#n, they sat &+ and reco)ered their s+irits. !t #as %&n %or so many to e to*ether. They co&ld +lay *ames and tal$. ' !t's hal%-term ne8t #ee$,' said !sael. ' O&r mother's comin* o)er to ta$e &s o&t.' ' So's mine,' said 3oris. ' Carlotta, is yo&r %ather comin* to ta$e yo& o&t ' ' /es-and my *randmother too,' said Carlotta, *loomily. ' ! *et on #ith my %ather all ri*ht no#-&t ! 6&st seem to *o all common and admannered #ith my *randmother. ! rememer all my circ&s #ays, and she 6&st hates them. Oh dear-! meant to try and *et terrily *ood-mannered this term, and not o8 any one's ears or lose my tem+er or anythin*.' irael is s&++osed to e *oin* at hal%-term, isn't she ' said Boy, s&ddenly. ' She #on't e in the concert then-and she #on't $no# i% she's een chosen to +lay in any o% the lacrosse matches, either-and she'll miss the irthday %east that Carlotta's *oin* to *i)e.' ' She's an idiot,' said 3oris. ' She can't thin$ strai*ht. That's #hat's the matter #ith her.' ' She #o&ldn't e a ad sort i% she made &+ her mind to sha$e do#n and e sensile,' said (at. ' ! 2&ite li$e her no#. And ! m&st say she's *ood to that timid little ladys. hen 9athleen came in to see &s yesterday, she said that irael really does loo$ a%ter her and #al$ #ith her-and ladys is li$e a little do* #ith her-trots a%ter her and does e)erythin* she's told.' ' ell, #ho #o&ld ha)e tho&*ht that those t#o #o&ld +air &+' said !sael. ' And there's another astonishin* thin* too-#ho #o&ld ha)e tho&*ht that la5y old Anna #o&ld +&ll hersel% to*ether as she has done' By that #ee$-end the se)en in)alids #ere )ery m&ch etter. They co&ld not +ossily ha)e attended the concert, i% theirs had een +ost+oned only a #ee$, so it #as 6&st as #ell that it had een +&t o%% %or three #ee$s. They #o&ld e #ell eno&*h to *o to the third %orm's concert, #hich #as on the Th&rsday e%ore hal%-term. irael #as loo$in* )ery *l&m. Hal%-term seemed to e comin* 2&ic$ly. The +ost+onin* o% the concert had een a itter disa++ointment. !t #as d&ll #itho&t hal% the class at lessons. The only ri*ht s+ot #as her ne# %riendshi+ #ith ladys. The *irl #as sho#in* &ns&s+ected sides o% her character to irael. She co&ld ma$e e8cellent 6o$es, and had a %ine sense o% h&mo&r. She #as %&n to #al$ #ith eca&se she co&ld $ee+ &+ a merry chatter. She seemed to ha)e 2&ite thro#n o%% her +re-occ&+ation #ith her o#n tro&les. She really #as )ery %ond o% irael, and the *irl, altho&*h emarrassed at any sho# o% a%%ection in the ordinary #ay, li$ed to %eel ladys sli++in* her arm thro&*h hers. ' irael ! /o& #on't really *o home at hal%-term, #ill yo& ' ladys said that #ee$-end. ' There are only a %e# days more. !t's lo)ely ein* %riends #ith yo&. 3on't *o, #ill yo& ' ' O% co&rse !'m *oin*,' said irael, im+atiently. ' ! told yo& !'d made &+ my mind to *o at hal%-term, e)en e%ore ! arri)ed here ! And !'m not *oin* ac$ on that. ! ne)er *o ac$ on #hat !')e said.' ' "o. ! $no# yo& don't,' said ladys, #ith a si*h. ' !t's only +eo+le li$e me #ho chan*e their minds and alter #hat they meant to do. B&t ! do #ish yo& #eren't *oin*, irael.' ladys said the same thin* to Hilary that day, #hen she #ent to see her in the san. ' ! do so #ish irael #asn't *oin*? she said. ' ! %eel a di%%erent +erson since she #as nice to me, and all o% yo& cla++ed me that time ! acted %or yo&.' ' hat's she *ot to *o %or ' said Hilary. ' She has settled do#n all ri*ht. She's ha++y. She's one o% &s no#, and she en6oys li%e here. hate)er does she #ant to *o home at hal%-term %or, no# she's all ri*ht ' ' ell, yo& see? said ladys, earnestly, ' she can't *o ac$ on #hat she said. She said she #as *oin* home at hal%-term-she made &+ her mind ao&t that-so she she can't + ossily chan*e her mind, can she She's s&ch a stron* character, yo& see? ' ell, it's stron* characters #ho o&*ht to e ale to chan*e their minds at times,' said Hilary. ' ! call it #ea$ to stic$ to somethin* #hen yo& $no# it's silly. And it is silly %or irael to *o ac$ home no#. e #ant her %or the concert. She $no#s that She's 6&st ein* #ea$, not stron*' ladys #as astonished to hear this. !t seemed to ma$e thin*s 2&ite di%%erent. ea$ little ladys had tho&*ht that stron* characters m&st e ale to ma$e ri*ht deci- sions and carry them o&t-&t no# she sa# that a stron* character co&ld do somethin* #ron* or st&+id eca&se it #as too +ro&d to &nma$e a decision !t #as somethin* 2&ite ne# to her. She stared at Hilary. ' ! #ish yo&'d say that to irael,' she said. ' Say it yo&rsel%,' said Hilary. ' /o&'re her %riend, aren't yo& ell, yo& tell her' ' She #o&ldn't listen to me,' said ladys.
' hat yo& mean is-yo&'re a%raid to tac$le her' said Hilary, #ith a la&*h. ' o on, o&se-ta$e the &ll y the horns-and i% yo& really do care %or irael and #ant her %or yo&r %riend, don't e a%raid o% tellin* her #hat yo& thin$. et a little s+&n$' (oor ladys ! E)ery one al#ays seemed to e tellin* her to *et a little ' s+&n$.' !t #as somethin* she #as s&re she #o&ld ne)er +ossess. She had een s&ch a mother's *irl that no# it #as di%%ic< %or her to stand on her o#n %eet. ' All the same-it's no *ood ha )in* a %riend &nless yo&'ll do somethin* %or them,' tho&*ht ladys, tryin* to scre# &+ her co&ra*e. ' ! shall lose irael i% ! don't tac$le her-and i% ! lose her eca&se she's an*ry #ith me %or tac$lin* her, #ell, ! shan't e any #orse o%%. So !'ll do it.' !t #asn't easy. !t ne)er is easy %or a timid +erson to tac$le a stron* one, es+ecially i% it is to +oint o&t that the stron* one is #ron*. ladys #ent to irael and sli++ed her arm thro&*h hers. ' irael,' she said,' !')e een thin$in* o)er #hat yo& said ao&t *oin* home-and not chan*in* yo&r mind and all that-and ! really do thin$ yo&'re #ron*.' ' That's my o#n &siness,' said irael, rather ro&*hly. ' "o, it isn't. !t's mine too,' said ladys, ho+in* her )oice #o&ld not e*in to tremle. ' /o&'re my %riend, and ! don't #ant yo& to *o.' '!')e told yo& ! can't chan*e my mind. ! ne)er do,' said irael. ' 3on't other me.' ' !% yo& #ere really as stron* a character as yo& ma$e o&t, yo& #o&ld chan*e yo&r mind,' said ladys, oldly. ' /o& $no# yo& co&ld stay here ha++ily no#-&t yo&'re too +ro&d to o#n yo&')e een silly-and yo& call it ein* stron* eno&*h not to chan*e yo&r mind' ' ladys Ho# dare yo& tal$ to me li$e this' cried irael, astonished and an*ry. ' Anyody #o&ld thin$ yo& are iss Theoald-+ic$in* me to +ieces-tellin* me !'m no *ood-not #orth-#hile' ' !'m not tellin* yo& that,' said ladys, *ettin* distressed. ' !'m only sayin*-don't let yo&r +ride stand in the #ay o% yo&r ha++iness. That's all.' irael #renched her arm o&t o% ladys's and #al$ed o%%, red in the %ace. Ho# dare ladys say thin*s li$e that to her She +&t on her hat and coat and #ent o&t into the school *ro&nds, %&min*. ladys stared a%ter her, miserale. ' ! $ne# it #o&ldn't e any *ood,' she tho&*ht. ' O% co&rse irael #o&ldn't let me say thin*s li$e that. "o# she #on't e)en e %riends #ith me %or the last t#o or three days e%ore she *oes' irael #al$ed ro&nd the *ro&nds, hot and an*ry. B&t, as her an*er died, her mind e*an to #or$ more calmly. There #as a *reat deal in #hat ladys had said. ' Tho&*h ho# that timid little thin* e)er tho&*ht that all o&t eats me' said irael to hersel%. ' There m&st e more in her than ! tho&*ht. And the #ay she stood &+ to me too ! She has come on. She m&st li$e me a lot to ma$e &+ her mind to *o %or me li$e that, in order to try and ma$e me chan*e my mind, so that she can sti'll ha)e me %or a %riend? The #ind cooled her hot chee$s. She sat on the #all and loo$ed do#n o)er the )alley. !t #as )ery +leasant 'Ho# dare ladys say anythin* li$e that to me,7 tho&*ht irael there. !t #o&ld e mar)ello&s in the s&mmer. St. Clare's #as %&n-there #as no do&t ao&t that. ' "o#, let's thin$ thin*s o&t calmly,' said irael to hersel%. ' ! #as an *ry eca&se my %amily sent me a#ay eca&se ! didn't %it in at home-and ! )o#ed to *et ac$ as soon as ! co&ld 6&st to sho# them they co&ldn't send me a#ay "o# ! li$e ein* here-and ! see that ! am etter a#ay %rom home, and shall *o ac$ really thrilled to see e)ery one. ! dare say !'ll learn lots o% thin*s here ! o&*ht to ha)e learnt e%ore-thin$in* o% other +eo+le, not al#ays ha)in* my o#n #ay and thin*s li$e that. ell then-#hat is sto++in* me %rom stayin* here ' She *a5ed do#n on the )alley, and did not li$e to thin$ o&t the ans#er. B&t she had to. ' All that is sto++in* me is, a s ladys +ointed o&t, my +ride. !'m too +ro&d to tell 3addy that !'ll stay. ! #as so an*ry at ein* sent a #ay that ! #anted to +ay them o&t y comin* ac$ as soon as +ossile and ein* eastly. And ! thin$ !'m a stron* character olly, all this ma$es me so&nd as hate%&l as catty Elsie' She stayed %or a %e# min&tes lon*er and then she s+ran* do#n %rom the #all. She #ent into the school &ildin* and too$ o%% her o&t-door thin*s. She #ent strai*ht to iss Theoald's room and $noc$ed at the door. ' Come in' said iss Theoald. She #as tal$in* to iss 0en$s and am'5elle. irael #as a little ta$en aac$ #hen she sa# all three teachers there-&t #hat she had come to say had to e said, no matter ho# many +eo+le #ere in the room. ' iss Theoald? she said, rather lo&dly. ' ay ! stay on, +lease, and not *o home at the hal%term o&ld yo& let me ! li$e ein* here, and !'m sorry ! #as so silly at %irst.' iss Theoald loo$ed at the *irl, and smiled her nicest smile, #arm and %riendly. ' /es-#e shall e )ery *lad to ha)e yo&,' she said. ' !sn't that so, iss 0en$s-am'5elle ' ' !t is,' said iss 0en$s and nodded $indly at irael.
' Ha' said am'5elle, ' c'est ien, cal ! too am +leased.' ' ! #ill tele+hone to yo&r +arents,' said iss Theoald. ' ! am *lad, irael, that yo& ha)e somethin* 7 #orth#hile 7 in yo&-no, ! don't mean yo&r m&sic ! Somethin* etter than that. ell done' (raise li$e this #as )ery s#eet. irael #al$ed o&t o% the room, #arm and ha++y. She $ne# she had a *reat deal to learn-thin*s #o&ld *o #ron*, and she #o&ld ma$e mista$es-&t nothin* co&ld ta$e that moment %rom her. She #ent to %ind ladys. She %o&nd her c&rled &+ in a corner o% the common room, loo$in* rather small and #oe-e*one. She #ent o)er to her and *a)e her an &ne8+ected h&*. ' ell, old thin* !'m stayin* on !')e 6&st een to tell iss Theoald. And all eca&se yo& tic$ed me o%% li$e that, and set me thin$in*' Hal% in tears ladys ret&rned the h&*. !t #as mar)ello&s. She, a #ea$ +erson, had s&mmoned &+ eno&*h stren*th to tac$le a stron* one-and had act&ally *ot #hat she #anted. !t #as too *ood to e tr&e. ' /o&'ll e in the concert' she said. ' And yo&'ll come to Carlotta's %east. nat %&n #e'll ha)e ! Oh irael !'m so +ro&d o% yo&' ' !'m rather +ro&d o% yo& too,' said irael, a#$#ardly. ' /o& *a)e me a s&r+rise, tellin* me home-tr&ths li$e that. /o&'re a *ood sort o% %riend to ha)e.' ' hat a lot ! shall ha)e to #rite and tell my mother ' said ladys. ' And ! say-#on't e)ery one e +leased yo&')e chan*ed yo&r mind and are stayin* on' The *irls #ere +leased. They had e*&n to li$e irael no#, and they admired her %or ein* ale to alter her mind and o#n that she had een #ron*. Soon they #o&ld %or*et irael's e8traordinary eha)io&r the %irst %e# #ee$s o% the term. Only one *irl #as dis+leased. That #as Elsie. hy sho&ld s&ch a %&ss e made o% that ridic&lo&s irael #ho had eha)ed so adly, and #ho had een +artly the ca&se o% Elsie's dis*race Elsie rooded o)er this and cast many s+ite%&l *lances at irael, #onderin* #hat she co&ld do to +ay her o&t %or ein* +o+&lar, #hen she, Elsie, #as ne)er ta$en any notice o% at all B&t irael #as thic$-s$inned. She neither sa# nor %elt Elsie's hostility, &t loo$ed %or#ard ha++ily to the remainder o% the term at St. Clare's.
1= HALF-TE HOL!3A/ HALF-TE came and #ent. !t #as a +leasant rea$ %or e)ery one. ost +arents came to ta$e o&t the *irls %or some $ind o% treat, and those that li)ed near eno&*h #ent home %or a day or t#o. Alison's +arents #ere a#ay so she #ent o&t #ith the t#ins and their mother. ' ell, ho# are yo& all *ettin* on this term ' as$ed rs. O'S& !')e made her +romise to #rite to me e)ery #ee$ in the holidays. She's loyal, ! $no#. ! thin$ she's mar)ello&s.' ' She's ea&ti%&l, she's #onder%&l, she's mar)ello&s, she's ma*ni%icent,' said !sael, #ith a *rin. ' B&t the thin* is-#hat does she thin$ o% yo&, Alison "ot m&ch, ! et /o&'re al#ays *oin* ao&t thin$in* someody is #onder%&l-yo& ne)er seem to ima*ine they mi*ht e ored #ith yo&.' The idea o% her elo)ed iss ;&entin ein* ored #ith her made Alison hot and an*ry. She *lared at the t#ins. rs. O'S&lli)an sa# the loo$. ' "o#, no#,' she said, ' don't let's #aste o&r +recio&s time in 2&arrellin*, +lease. !')e no do&t iss ;&entin is a )ery admirale +erson and !'m s&re Alison #or$s hard in her class, at least, i% she doesn't in anyone else's.' irael's %ather and mother came o)er to see her at hal%-term, and too$ her o&t to l&nch, a theatre, and tea a%ter#ards. irael #as intensely e8cited at the tho&*ht o% seein* them. She %or*ot all ao&t the tem+er in #hich she had een #hen she had +arted %rom them. She %or*ot the horrid thin*s she had said, and the threats she had made. She stood a t the %ront door, ea*erly #aitin* %or them.
hen they arri)ed, they #ere startled y some one #ho h&rled hersel% at them, %l&n* her arms ro&nd them, and e8claimed in a cho$y )oice, ' &mmy 3addy ! !t's lo)ely to see yo& a*ain' Her mother and %ather loo$ed at the e8cited *irl, #hose eyes shone #ith #elcome. This #as a di%%erent irael alto*ether They h&**ed the *irl, and loo$ed #ith interest at the school. "either o% them had seen it. !t had een a )ery s&dden decision on irael's %ather's +art to send irael a#ay, and he had chosen a school recommended to him )ery hi*hly y a %riend. !t had all een done in s&ch a h&rry that the +arents had not had time to see the school itsel%. ' hat a lo)ely +lace' said rs.
#ith astonishment. hy-that's 2&ite near #here my sister li)es. ! o%ten *o o)er to see my sister-and +erha+s ! co&ld *o to the hos+ital and %ind o&t ho# yo&r mother is. ! mi*ht e)en see her, i% she is allo#ed )isitors.' ladys stared at rs.
*irls, they thin$ o% anythin* &t their #or$. "o#, #hen ! #as a school*irl . . .' ' /o& #or$ed all day. and yo& #or$ed all ni*ht, yo& had no *ames, yo& +re+ared no concerts. . . .' chanted iss 0en$s, #ith her #ide smile. The teachers had heard a tho&sand times o% am'5elle's hard-#or$ed yo&th. ' There are other thin*s as im+ortant as lessons,' said iss oerts. ' e are not o&t to cram %acts and $no#led*e into the *irls' heads all day lon*, &t to hel+ them to %orm stron* and $indly characters too. This concert no#, that yo& *r&mle at-it is ma$in* the second %orm #or$ to*ether in a #onder%&l #ay, it is rin*in* o&t all $inds o% &ne8+ected talent-loo$ at irael and ladys, %or instance-and it #ill hel+ a *reat ca&se. !t ma$es the *irls reso&rce%&l and in*enio&s too-yo& sho&ld see the cost&me 3oris has made %or hersel% as atron and as coo$.' am'5elle did not $no# that 3oris #as *oin* to imitate her as #ell. The other mistresses *&essed it and they #ere loo$in* %or#ard to it. They all li$ed am'5elle, and admired her sense o% h&mo&r. She co&ld ta$e a 6o$e a*ainst hersel% )ery #ell. ' The third %orm concert #as 2&ite *ood,' said iss Le#is, the history teacher. ' B&t ! thin$ the second %orm #ill e more entertainin*. The third %orm #ere rather hi*h-ro#, and didn't +ro)ide a sin*le la&*h %or any one. ! %ancy #e shall %ind +lenty to la&*h at this Sat&rday ' The second %orm #ere *ettin* )ery e8cited. Only Elsie #as a+art %rom all the thrills and en6oyment. The *irl still ostinately re%&sed to ta$e +art in anythin*, and #o&ld not e)en e +rom+ter. ' B&t Elsie, e)ery one #ill thin$ it )ery %&nny that yo& are the only second-%ormer o&t o% thin*s,' said (at, im+atiently. ' e $ee+ on o%%erin* yo& thin*s to do, and yo& $ee+ t&rnin* them do#n. ! thin$ it's )ery decent o% &s to e so +atient #ith yo&.' ' !'ll ta$e +art on one condition,' said Elsie, s&llenly. ' hat ' as$ed Boy, comin* &+. ' That yo& let me e head-*irl a*ain #ith Anna,' said Elsie. ' /o&')e +&nished me %or #ee$s no#, y ta$in* a#ay my a&thority as head-*irl. !sn't it ao&t time yo& let me ha)e it ac$ a*ain ' ' ell#e'll as$ the rest o% the %orm,' said (at. So that ni*ht in the common room, e%ore a rehearsal #as held, Anna +&t the 2&estion to the meetin*. ' Elsie says she #ill ta$e +art in the concert i% #e let her e 6oint head-*irl a*ain. hat does e)ery one thin$ ao&t it' 4 hy sho&ld she ar*ain #ith &s ' cried Carlotta. ' !t is #e #ho sho&ld ar*ain #ith her e sho&ld say 7 /o& can e head-*irl a*ain i% yo& sho# that yo& a re #orthy o% it !7' ' ;&ite ri*ht,' called 3oris. ' Loo$ ho# she has eha)ed all these #ee$s,' said 0anet. ' Has she tried to *i)e &s a etter o+inion o% her Has she sho#n &s she co&ld e tr&sted to lead &s a*ain "o -all she has done is to loo$ s+ite%&l, e catty #hen she has a chance, +ose as a martyr and ho+e she'll *et o&r sym+athy. ell, she hasn't. e')e 6&st ta$en no notice at all, and she hasn't li$ed it.' ' ! don't see #hy #e sho&ld other #ith her? said !sael. ' ! really don't.' ' ill yo& sho# in the &s&al #ay #hether yo& #o&ld li$e her a*ain or not ' as$ed Anna. ' Hands &+ those #ho #ill *i)e Elsie another chance as head-*irl.' "ot a sin*le hand #ent &+. Anna *rinned. ' ell,' she said, ' that's that. Elsie #ill ha)e to +&t &+ #ith it. She hasn't come at all #ell o&t o% this, ! m&st say. ! #o&ld ha)e een #illin* to #or$ #ith her a*ain, i% yo&'d said so-&t !'m *lad ! ha)en't *ot to.' Elsie #as not there, and noody othered to %etch her to tell her #hat had ha++ened. They e*an their rehearsal and #ere soon &sy critici5in* and a++la&din* as one a%ter another +er%ormed. ladys #as y no# &sed to an a&dience and she acted as nat&rally as e)ery one else. She and 3oris #ere oth nat&ral actresses, tho&*h in a di%%erent #ay. 3oris co&ld imitate any one she had seen, &t not act a +art-and ladys, 2&ite &nale to imitate any one aro&nd her, #as e8cellent at inter+retin* any +art in a +lay. The t#o admired each other and ladys #as %ast ma$in* another %riend. ' ell-! really thin$ #e')e *ot e)erythin* all ri*ht no#,' said Boy at last. ' !t #ill e %&n ! 3oris, yo&'ll rin* the ho&se do#n #ith yo&r imitation o% am'5elle. ! only ho+e am'5elle #on't mind. B&t ! don't thin$ she #ill.' The door o+ened and Elsie came in. ' /o& held the rehearsal #itho&t me,' she said. ' hat do yo& #ant me to do at the concert' ' ell, Elsie-yo& said yo& #o&ld only e in it i% #e reco*ni5ed yo& as head-*irl a*ain,' said Anna, rather a#$#ardly. ' e +&t the 2&estion to the second %orm, and !'m a%raid they decided not to *i)e yo& the chance. So #e didn't thin$ yo&'d #ant to hel+ #ith the concert, in that case.' ' Co&ldn't yo& ha)e told me yo& #o&ldn't ha)e me as head-*irl, and still let me e in the concert ' said Elsie. The others stared at her. ' 3on't e silly,' said Boy, at last. ' That's not the +oint. The +oint is, yo& al#ays re%&sed, and then #anted to ma$e a ar*ain #ith &s- and #e #o&ldn't ma$e it. !
s&++ose yo&'re e*innin* to %eel )ery a#$#ard ao&t ein* le%t o&t o% the concert in %ront o% the #hole school, so yo&'re climin* do#n a it, and #ant to hel+ e)en i% #e #on't acce+t yo& as head-*irl a*ain. ell-hel+ i% yo& li$e-&t don't e8+ect &s to %all on yo&r nec$ and *i)e yo& a #arm #elcome, eca&se #e shan't.' This #as a lon* s+eech and Elsie listened to it in *ro#in* an*er. All that Boy said #as tr&e. Elsie #as no# e*innin* to %eel horri%ied at ein* le%t o&t. E)ery one in the school #o&ld notice it. They #o&ld #his+er ao&t her. They #o&ld n&d*e one another as she +assed. Elsie co&ldn't ear it. B&t neither had she the stren*th to o)er-r&le her ra*e and acce+t Boy's l&$e-#arm o%%er to let her hel+. She made a c&rio&s e8+losi)e noise o% ra*e and #al$ed o&t o% the room. 3oris immediately imitated the e8+losi)e noise, and the #hole %orm &rst into la&*hter. Elsie heard the s2&eals, and sto++ed. She %elt inclined to *o ac$ and hit o&t at e)ery one. Then a #a)e o% sel% +ity o)ercame her and she &rst into tears. The concert #as an enormo&s s&ccess. Hal% the school #as there and all the mistresses. The c&rtain #as dra#n at e8actly ei*ht o'cloc$, and e)erythin* #ent li$e cloc$#or$. The third %orm had een late in startin*, and there had een lon* inter)als et#een the )ario&s t&rns, #hich had ored the a&dience. B&t the second %orm #ere most e%%icient. T&rn a%ter t&rn #as +&t on and lo&dly a++la&ded. irael's +layin* #as encored t#ice. The *irl #as so thrilled at her s&ccess that she co&ld hardly s+ea$ %or 6oy. Her +iano-+layin* #as really e8cellent, and as %or her )iolin solo, it ama5ed e)ery one, e)en the %o&r m&sic-teachers, #ho #ere y no# &sed to *i%ted children s+rin*in* &+ in their classes at times. Carlotta's acroatics #ere hailed #ith deli*ht y the #hole school. E)ery one $ne#@hat Carlotta had once een a circ&s-*irl, and they cla++ed till their hands smarted #hen she did some o% her *race%&l circ&s-tric$s. The %irst-%ormers *a+ed in admiration and secretly determined to try o&t all the acroatics themsel)es. ladys *ot an encore too. hen the ner)o&s, #hite-%aced *irl ste++ed on to the sta*e, the a&dience #aited, rather critical, e8+ectin* to e ored. B&t e%ore their e)es the *irl chan*ed into the characters she acted, and held the #hole school s+ell-o&nd. She #as really *i%ted, there #as no do&t ao&t it. The most s&r+rised +erson in the #hole o% the a&dience #as iss ;&entin. She too$ the 3rama class hersel%, and +rided hersel% on $no#in* the ca+acities o% e)eryone in the second %orm. (ri)ately she had tho&*ht that 3oris and Carlotta #ere the only ones #orth teachin*-and no# here #as the 2&iet little mo&se, ladys, rin*in* do#n the ho&se #ith her +olished and ea&ti%&l inter+retations o% many o% the most di%%ic< +arts in Sha$es+eare's +lays ! iss Theoald leaned across to iss ;&entin. ' ! m&st con*rat&late yo& on one o% yo&r +&+il's +er%ormances' she said, in her 2&iet )oice. ' ! can see that yo& m&st ha)e hel+ed the child a *reat deal. She co&ld ne)er ha)e done all this y hersel%. !t is ama5in*.' iss ;&entin #as not honest eno&*h to say that she #as as astonished as iss Theoald. She lo)ed +raise as m&ch a s Alison did, and she nodded her head, +retendin* that she had ta&*ht ladys all that she $ne#. Secretly she made &+ her mind to c<i)ate ladys Hillman and *i)e her the most im+ortant +art in the +lay the second %orm #ere doin* #ith her. She $ne# Alison had ho+ed %or it-&t she co&ldn't hel+ that. ladys m&st certainly ha)e it. Then iss ;&entin co&ld ta$e all the credit to hersel% %or the e8cellent +er%ormance she #as s&re ladys #o&ld *i)e The concert #ent on. The t#ins #ere a++la&ded and so #as 0anet. The %irst-%ormers lo)ed Boy's con6&rin* tric$s, and her ceaseless, ridic&lo&s +atter, and *a)e her an encore B&t it #as 3oris #ho #as the real star o% the e)enin* hen she ste++ed on to the sta*e, dressed &+ as the 6olly, %at old coo$, there #as a roar o% deli*hted la&*hter. 3oris +retended to ma$e a +&ddin*, $ee+in* &+ a mono- 1R1 lo*&e in the coo$'s !rish accent, rin*in* in all the +hrases that the *irls $ne# so #ell. They s2&ealed #ith la&*hter. Then she altered her coo$'s &ni%orm de%tly-and lo and ehold, there #as atron Boy ran on #ith some i* ottles o% medicine and a thermometer, and 3oris +roceeded to imitate atron inter)ie#in* )ario&s *irls sent to her %or treatment or ins+ection. atron #as in the a&dience, sha$in* #ith la&*hter The *irls roared #ith deli*ht, missin* many o% 3oris's 6o$es eca&se they co&ld not sto+ la&*hin*. She #as e 8tremely cle)er and e8tremely %&nny. ' She sho&ld e on the sta*e,' said atron, #i+in* her streamin* eyes. ' Oh, am ! really as %&nny as that !t's time ! retired i% !'m s&ch a 6o$e. This *irl #ill e the death o% me ait till she comes %or medicine !'ll *et my o #n ac$ then ' 3oris #ent o%% the sta*e, *rinnin*. The a&dience loo$ed
at the ne8t item she #as to do-another im+ersonation. ho They $ne# as soon as she a++eared a*ain. She had made hersel% +l&m+ #ith +addin*. She had scra+ed ac$ her hair into a &n, +&t on enormo&s %lat-heeled shoes, secretly orro#ed %rom am'5elle's room, and #ore *lasses croo$edly on her nose. ' am'5elle' shrie$ed the *irls, in deli*ht. ' ar)ello&s ' 3oris a++roached the ed*e o% the sta*e and addressed the *irls in am'5elle's identical )oice, ta$in* o%% her En*lish accent to +er%ection. The a&dience roared #ith la&*hter as 3oris scolded them %or miseha)io&r. 'C'est aominale' she %inished. Then she t&rned a#ay, re-arran*ed some thin*s on a des$ ehind, and +roceeded to ta$e a lesson in the #ay that am'5elle too$ it, #ith hands #a**in* to#ards the ceilin*, and her *lasses sli++in* do#n o)er her nose. E)ery one loo$ed at am'5elle hersel% to see ho# she #as ta$in* it. am'5elle #as lyin* ac$ in her chair, hel+less #ith la&*hter, tears +o&rin* do#n her chee$s. The *irls %elt a #arm #a)e o% li$in* %or her-ho# nice she #as to la&*h at some one ta$in* o%% her little %oiles and mannerisms The *irls had to la&*h at am'5elle's s2&eals as m&ch as at 3oris's actin*. !t #as a mar)ello&s sho# and a *reat s&ccess. E)ery one had lo)ed it, and cro#ded ro&nd at the end to cla+ the +er%ormers on the ac$, and con*rat&late them. !t #as +leasant %or oth irael and ladys to %eel these +ats and hear the *enero&s #ords o% +raise. ' other #ill hardly elie)e it all,' said ladys to hersel%, her %ace shinin* #ith deli*ht. ' ! m&st tell her e)ery sin*le thin*. And #asn't irael's +layin* *ood ! cla++ed till my hands #ere sore.' ' e')e made %o&r +o&nds, three shillin*s and si8+ence y sellin* tic$ets, +ro*rammes and *ettin* in e8tra s&scri+tions,' anno&nced Anna. ' !sn't that *ood ! et no %orm #ill do as #ell as that.' The second %orm en6oyed co%%ee and isc&its %or a treat a%ter the sho#, *enero&sly +ro)ided y atron and am'5elle. ' Tho&*h #hy #e sho&ld do this %or a %orm #hose chie% s&ccess is +&ttin* &+ am'5elle and mysel% to e la&*hed at, ! really don't $no#' said atron, eamin* ro&nd. ' By the #ay-#here's Elsie She #asn't in the concert, and ! don't see her no#.' The second %orm #ere so elated y their s&ccess that they #anted Elsie to 6oin in the co%%ee and isc&its. B&t she #as no#here to e %o&nd. She #as in ed, alone-&t not aslee+K the only *irl #ho had not shared in or a++la&ded her %orm's s&ccess ! (oor Elsie-her tho&*hts #ere )ery itter that ni*ht, as she heard the echoes o% la&*hter %rom the concert-room 1 ELS!E !S FOOL!SH THE ne8t i* e)ent #as Carlotta's irthday. She #as %i%teen, and +lanned a really *ood %east. She had o+ened the o8 o% *oodies *i)en to her y her *randmother, and it had +ro)ed to e e)en etter than the second %orm had ho+ed. ' Sardines' said Boy, ta$in* o&t three or %o&r o% the olon* tins. ' And #hat's this-an E"OO
the %east at ni*ht' as$ed irael, thrilled. ' !')e o%ten read o% midni*ht %easts in school-stories, &t ! didn't really thin$ they ha++ened.' ' O% co&rse they ha++en' said Boy. ' /o& #ait and see #hat #e'll do.' ' ! m&st order hea+s and hea+s o% *in*er-+o+,' said Carlotta. ' ! al#ays %eel ! can drin$ a lot at ni*ht. And !'ll *et lemonade too. And &ns #e can &tter and +&t 6am on. ! li$e those. !t's a +ity #e can't coo$ $i++ers too. ! do li$e $i++ers.' E)ery one la&*hed. Carlotta lo)ed $i++ers and +inea++le, t#o thin*s she had had a *ood deal o% in her circ&s days. She had o%ten descried to the *irls ho# lo)ely %ryin* $i++ers smelt, ein* coo$ed on a sto)e in the o+en-air, in the dar$ o% the ni*ht a%ter a sho#. ' "o, Carlotta-#e m&st dra# the line at $i++ers? said Anna. ' The smell #o&ld #a$e the #hole school. /o& $no# ho# #e smell $i++ers %ryin* e)en #hen Coo$ has the $itchen and the sc&llery door sh&t.' Elsie heard all the tal$ ao&t Carlotta's irthday. She $ne# there #as to e a %east or a +arty o% some sort. She sa# the amo&nt o% *oodies ta$en o&t o% Carlotta's o8, and she #ondered i% she #as *oin* to e as$ed or not. The others deated the +oint #hen Elsie #as not in the room. ' Are #e *oin* to as$ Catty Elsie, or not ' said (at. ' "ot,' said almost e)ery one. ' Oh, yes, let's,' said easy-*oin* Anna. ' She li$es *ood thin*s as m&ch as any one.' ' ! daresay&t #e don't #ant her s+ite%&l %ace *lo#erin* at &s all the time,' said !sael. At this moment Elsie came to the door o% the common room. She stood o&tside, listenin*. She #as al#ays #onderin* i% the others #ere disc&ssin* her. This time they #ere ' ell, as it's my irthday ! can choose my o#n *&ests,' said Carlotta. ' !t's %or me to say #hether !'ll as$ Catty Elsie or not.' ' /es-all ri*ht-yo& say, Carlotta' cried hal% a do5en )oices at once. ' ell-! say this-!'ll as$ her, &t at the same time !'ll tell her she's *ot to dro+ this a#%&l +ose o% ein* a miserale martyr and act sensily,' said Carlotta. ' She *oes ao&t loo$in* li$e a #et dishcloth. !'m s&re e)ery one in the school m&st la&*h at her. She's a dis*race to o&r %orm. Any#ay, !'ll as$ her to the %east, and see i% she's +ro+erly *rate%&l, and #ill eha)e hersel%.' ' /es, do that,' said Anna, #ho #as as tired as any one else o% seein* Elsie #al$in* ao&t loo$in* as i% she #as *oin* to #ee+ at any moment. ' aye she learnt her lesson #hen she #as le%t o&t o% the concert. (erha+s she #ill 6&m+ at the chance o% ein* %riends a*ain.' ' (oor Catty Elsie,' said 3oris, and she e*an to imitate Elsie's rather hi*h, silly )oice, tear%&l and e8cited. E)ery one roared #ith la&*hter. They had no idea at all that Elsie #as o&tside the door, listenin*. They #o&ld ha)e een )ery scorn%&l o% her i% they had $no#n that, %or ea)es-dro++in* #as not loo$ed on %a)o&raly y any memer o% the second %orm. They had )ery strict ideas o% hono&r and li$ed to $ee+ to them. Elsie %or*ot that those #ho listen ehind doors seldom hear any *ood o% themsel)es. She stood there, tremlin* #ith an*er and sel%-+ity, hatin* all the *irls #ho tossed her name ao&t so scorn%&lly, and la&*hed at her so &n$indly. A mo)ement to#ards the door made her h&rry a#ay 2&ic$ly. She t&rned a corner and #ent into a cloa$room, +retendin* to %etch a +a ir o% shoes. The second-%ormers, +o&rin* o&t o% their common room to *o to a "at&re meetin*, did not *&ess that she had o)erheard nearly all they had said. There #as no time then to as$ Elsie to the +arty, %or the *irls #ere already late %or the meetin*. Elsie 6oined them, and sat s&l$ily silent #hilst the second- and third-%ormers decided )ario&s matters concernin* the "at&re-Cl&. She didn't hear a #ord that #as said. She rememered instead #hat she had 6&st o)erheard, and loo$ed #ith ra*e at Carlotta and the others. Ho# she #ished she co&ld +&nish them in some #ay That ni*ht Carlotta #ent &+ to #here Elsie #as se#in* in the common room. ' Elsie ! ! e8+ect yo& $no# !'m ha)in* a irthday soon, don't yo& ' ' ! sho&ld thin$ the #hole school $no#s,' said Elsie, s+ite%&lly. ' ell-!'m ha)in* a +arty o r a %east o%- some $ind,' said Carlotta. ' And e)ery one is comin*. The thin* is- !'d li$e yo& to come too-&t only i% yo&'ll +&ll yo&rsel% to*ether and act sensily. e're all tired o% the #ay yo&'re eha)in*. Come on, Elsie, no#-can't yo& ha)e a it o% common sense and e one o% &s e don't li$e yo& a it as yo& are no#, &t #e are 2&ite #illin* to chan*e o&r ideas o% yo&, i% yo&'ll e sensile.' ' Gery $ind o% yo&, )ery $ind o% yo& indeed,' said Elsie, in a tremlin*, sarcastic )oice. ' The *reat Carlotta is most o&nti%&l and condescendin* ! And ! $no# ! sho&ld e )ery *rate%&l and o# e%ore her, than$in* her %or her *reat $indness' ' 3on't e an idiot,' said Carlotta, &ncom%ortaly. ' !'m not,' said Elsie, chan*in* her tone o% )oice and almost snarlin* at the s&r+rised Carlotta. ' !'m
6&st sayin*-7 "o, than$s ! !'m not comin* to yo&r eastly %east.7 Ho-e a *ood little *irl and yo& can come to the +arty ! That's #hat yo&')e said to me-me, #ho o&*ht to e yo&r head-*irl ! ! #o&ld hate to come And #hat is more, i% yo&'re *oin* to hold it at ni*ht, Anna had etter loo$ o&t. /o&'re second-%ormers no#, not %irst-%ormers, and i% yo&'re ca&*ht, Anna #ill soon %ind she isn't head-*irl any more, either.' ' /o&'re im+ossile, Elsie,' said Carlotta, in dis*&st at Elsie's tone o% )oice. ' ell, i% yo& don't #ant to come, don't. ! %or one am +leased.' ' So are #e all' cried (at, !sael and a %e# others, #ho had listened in indi*nation to Elsie's stin*in* s+eech. ' 9ee+ a#ay, Elsie. The +arty #ill e etter #itho&t yo&' Elsie #ent on #ith her se#in*, +&rsin* &+ her thin li+s scorn%&lly. She adly #anted to *o to the +arty, %or she lo)ed *ood thin*s a s m&ch as anyone else. B&t her s+ite-%&lness and ostinacy made it im+ossile %or her to clim do#n and acce+t. She sat se#in*, thin$in* that i% she co&ld +ossily +re)ent the +arty %rom ein* held, she #o&ld. ' !% ! co&ld %ind o&t #hen and #here Carlotta is *oin* to hold it, ! co&ld dro+ a hint to iss 0en$s,' she tho&*ht. ' iss 0en$s doesn't loo$ $indly on thin*s li$e that. !')e only *ot to say a #ord-or #rite an anonymo&s note- and the %east #o&ld e sto++ed e%ore it had e*&n. That #o&ld e %ine' B&t the others did not mean to let Elsie $no# #hen the %east #as to e held They %elt certain she #o&ld try to s+oil it in some #ay. They had decided to hold it on the ni*ht o% Carlotta's irthday, in the common room itsel%. !% they dre# the linds, and sh&t the door, they #ere reasonaly sa%e. The common room #as a *ood #ay a#ay %rom any istresses' room, and yet %airly near their o#n dormitories. They tal$ed ao&t it #ith e 8citement #hene)er Elsie #as not in the room. As soon as she a++eared they dro++ed the s&6ect at once. "ot one *irl, not e)en silly little Alison, mentioned the s&6ect #hen Elsie #as there, m&ch as they sometimes #anted to. Carlotta had een do#n to the sho+ in the to#n and ordered #hat she #anted. The ca$e #as to e a ma*ni%icent a%%air, #ith %i%teen colo&red candles. !t #as to ha)e +in$ icin*, #ith roses ro&nd the ed*e, and sil)er alls and s&*ared )iolets %or decoration. The candles #ere to e %i8ed in roses made o% s&*ar. E)ery one #as )ery e8cited ao&t it. ' The *in*er-+o+ has come,' anno&nced Carlotta, *lee%&lly. ' ! *ot the oy #ho ro&*ht it, to +&t it at the ac$ o% the icycle shed. ! #as a%raid iss 0en$s #o&ld ha)e a %it i% she sa# all those ottles o% *in*er-eer and lemonade arri)in* %or me. e'll each ha)e to rin* in a ottle or t#o #hen it's sa%e.' ' !t #ill e %&n,' said irael. She loo$ed at ladys, #ho #as eamin* too. ' !'m *lad ! stayed on. Fancy missin* Carlotta's %east ! #o&ld ha)e een an idiot.' ' /o& #o&ld,' said ladys. The mo&se-li$e *irl #as no lon*er the isery-*irl. She la&*hed and smiled #ith the rest, and %ollo#ed irael ao&t li$e a shado#. The i**er *irl #as )ery %ond o% her, and the t#o #ere 2&ite inse+arale. St. lare's had already done a *ood deal %or oth o% them ! > e'd etter not coo$ anythin* at all,' said (at. ' ! rememer #hen #e %ried sa&sa*es once in the middle o% the ni*ht, they made a terri%ic smell. e'd etter 6&st e content #ith cold thin*s. e'll orro# some +lates %rom the dinin*-room c&+oard. There are hea+s o% old ones on the to+ shel)es that #on't e missed %or a day or t#o.' !t #as %&n to +lan e)erythin*-%&n to sm&**le *lasses and m&*s, +lates and dishes and s+oons and %or$s into the common room. Carlotta's irthday #as comin* nearer and nearer. The irthday ca$e #as made and the *irls #ent do#n to the sho+ to ins+ect it. !t #as mar)ello&s. ' ! #ish yo&r irthday ni*ht #o&ld come, Carlotta > said (at. ' hat s+ort #e'll ha )e And #hat a %east' 1 CALOTTA'S B!TH3A/ (AT/ THE *irls #ere *athered in their common room, the day e%ore Carlotta's irthday. Alison too$ a 2&ic$ loo$ ro&nd the room. Elsie #as not there. ' hat time's the %east tomorro# ni*ht ' she as$ed. ' E8actly at midni*ht Let's ma$e it e8actly !t's m&ch more thrillin*. iss ;&entin calls it the 7 #itchin* midni*ht ho&r 7, and someho# . . .' ' ! s&++ose yo&'d li$e to as$ yo&r elo)ed iss ;&entin ' said !sael, +&llin* Alison's c&rly hair. ' Can yo& see her sittin* here in o&r common room, her hair done &+ in c&rl-+a+ers, her %ace shinin* #ith *rease, eatin* +ine-a++le ch&n$s and sardines ! can't.' ' She doesn't do her hair in c&rl-+a+ers? said Aliso, indi*nantly. ' She's *ot ea&ti%&l, nat&rally #a)y hair. hy are yo& al#ays so &n$ind ao&t her ! #ish she co&ld come to the %east. !'m s&re she'd lo)e it.' ' ell, #e sho&ldn't,' said (at, #ho had no *reat li$in* %or the rather a%%ected teacher o% 3rama. ' /o& ma$e
me sic$ the #ay yo& *o moonin* ro&nd a%ter iss ;&entin. She's not so mar)ello&s as yo& thin$ she is. ! thin$ it #as +retty mean o% her to ta$e the credit to hersel% %or ladys's actin* at o&r concert the other ni*ht.' ' hate)er do yo& mean ' cried Alison, indi*nantly. ' ell, Alison, yo& $no# #hen ladys +&t &+ that *rand +er%ormance o% Sha$es+eare's characters the other ni*ht,' said (at, #ho tho&*ht it #as ao&t time that Alison #as c&red o% her senseless admiration %or iss ;&entin. ' /es,' said Alison. ' ell, at the end o% it, iss Theoald leaned across to iss ;&entin and con*rat&lated her on ladys's +er%ormance and said she #as s&re she hersel% had coached her %or it,' said (at, mercilessly. ' And yo&r #onder%&l iss ;&entin 6&st nodded and smiled and loo$ed +leased- and didn't say that she $ne# nothin* ao&t ladys Hillman's actin* +o#ers at all ! e all thin$ that #as +retty mean.' ' ! don't elie)e it N' cried Alison, 2&ic$ to de%end the mistress she so m&ch admired. ' ell, (am Boardman #as sittin* near, and she heard it all,' said (at. ' She told &s. So no# 6&st sto+ thin$in* iss ;&entin is the #orld's *reatest #onder.' Alison chan*ed the s&6ect 2&ic$ly. !t really h&rt her to hear s&ch thin*s o% iss ;&entin. She #as al#ays one to sh&t her ears to +ossily &n+leasant thin*s. ' To come ac$ to #hat ! #as sayin*,' she said, ' #hat time's the %east tomorro# ni*ht ' ' ell, as yo& so adly #ant it at e8actly midni*ht, #e'll ha)e it then,' said Carlotta. ' !')e *ot a dear little alarm cloc$ !'ll set %or the time-and one o% yo& in the other dormitory can stic$ it &nder yo&r +illo# so that it'll #a$e yo& #itho&t ro&sin* e)ery one in the &ildin*. ! daren't +&t it &nder my +illo# eca&se iss Catty Elsie slee+s near me and #o&ld #a$e too. e #ant to e s&re she doesn't $no# the time.' ' All ri*ht then-midni*ht e8actly, tomorro# ni*ht,' said 3oris, in her clear )oice. At that moment the door o+ened, and Hilary came in. She had een to the school lirary to choose a oo$. She loo$ed ro&nd at the others. ' ! ho+e yo& ha)en't een tal$in* ao&t anythin* that matters,' she said, ' eca&se dear s#eetnat&red, honest-so&led Elsie #as o&tside the door, listenin* %or all she #as #orth ! ' The others stared at her in dismay. ' Blo#' said Carlotta. ' e ha)e een tal$in*- ao&t the %east-and #e said a *ood many times it #as to e midni*ht tomorro#. Blo#, lo#, lo#' ' ell, Elsie #ill certainly do her est to s+oil it %or &s tomorro# ni*ht,' said (at. ' She's s&re to s+lit on &s someho#-asol&tely s&re to.' ' !'m not *oin* to ha)e o&r %east s+oilt.' said Carlotta, in a determined )oice. ' (at, *o to the door and see i% Elsie's any#here ao&t no#. Stay y the door and #ani &s i% she comes.' (at loo$ed o&tside the door. There #as no one there. Elsie had *ot the in%ormation she #anted, and #as content ! ' "o# listen,' said Carlotta,' the %east is o%% %or tomorro# ni*ht-&t it's O" %or toni*ht instead ' ' oody, *oody ' said e)ery one, +leased. ' e m&st ma$e s&re Elsie doesn't hear &s cree+in* o&t o% the room,' said Boy. ' She slee+s )ery so&ndly? said Carlotta. ' ! thin$ #e can mana*e it all ri*ht. "o#, not a #ord, any one e'll hold the %east toni*ht-and Elsie #ill *et a %ri*ht%&l shoc$ tomorro# #hen she % inds it's all o)er, and she hasn't een ale to s+oil it' Elsie had no idea that the time o% the %east #as altered. She h&**ed her secret all day lon*, +onderin* ho# she co&ld s+oil the %east #itho&t any one *&essin* it #as she #ho had done so. Sho&ld she tell iss 0en$s That #o&ld certainly sto+ the %east, &t iss 0en$s did not li$e taleearers. Sho&ld she #rite a note to iss 0en$s, in%ormin* her o% the %east, &t not si*n her name This seemed 2&ite a *ood idea-&t then iss 0en$s mi*ht thro# the note into the %ire and ta$e no notice o% it. Elsie had once heard her say that no one sho&ld e)er ta$e notice o% anonymo&s letters-they #ere too des+icale e)en to read. ' !t's no *ood #ritin* a note that iss 0en$s #on't read or ta$e notice o%,' tho&*ht the *irl. ' ! #ish ! $ne# the est #ay to s+oil the %east.' She tho&*ht ao&t it earnestly-so earnestly that am'5elle nearly ' #ent &+ in smo$e', as Boy +&t it, eca&se Elsie +aid so little attention in the French class. ' Elsie This is the third time ! ha)e as$ed yo& to come o&t and #rite on the lac$oard,' said am'5elle, e8as+erated. ' Ah, ! ha)e the +atience o% a don$ey or ! #o&ld not +&t &+ #ith yo&.' ' /o& mean, the 7 +atience o% an o8,7 am'5elle,' ch&c$led Boy. ' A don$ey is +atient too,' said am'5elle. ' ! need the +atience o% co#s, don$eys, shee+ and o 8en too, #hen ! deal #ith s&ch a +erson as this Elsie. /o& #ill either de+art %rom this room, Elsie, or
+ay attention to #hat ! say. ! #ill not ha)e inattention in my class.' Elsie had to *i)e her tho&*hts to the French lesson a%ter that-&t d&rin* +re+, time that e)enin* she s&ddenly made &+ her mind #hat she #o&ld do. ' !'ll #ait till they're all o&t o% the room tomorro# ni*ht-then !'ll sli+ alon* to iss 0en$s's room and say !'m )ery #orried eca&se all the others ha)e )anished? tho&*ht Elsie. ' She'll come ac$ to see-and #ill then *o and h&nt aro&nd, and %ind e)ery one %eastin* in the common room. ! can say ! am a%raid they')e een $idna++ed or somethin*. A%ter all, that American *irl, Sadie, #as nearly $idna++ed last term-so ! can +retend to e a%raid it's ha++ened a*ain' This seemed to Elsie a *ood idea. !% she really +retended to e %ri*htened that the others had een $idna++ed, iss 0en$s #o&ld not thin$ she #as tellin* tales-and the others #o&ld not $no# she had *i)en them a#ay, eca&se it #o&ld e iss 0en$s #ho s&ddenly came alon* and %o&nd them ! Elsie had no idea that the %east #as %or that ni*ht not the ne8t. The second-%ormers $e+t their secret #ell. !n %act, Carlotta and Boy #ent a it %&rther, and #his+ered lo&dly to*ether, in Elsie's hearin*, ao&t all that #as to ha++en the ni*ht %ollo#in* Elsie too$ it all in, and *rinned to hersel%. 0&st #ait, yo& second-%ormers, and see #hat ha++ens to yo&r #onder%&l %east tomorro# ni*ht That ni*ht Carlotta #o&nd &+ and set her tiny alarm cloc$. She *a)e it to 9athleen, #ho sle+t in the ne8t room #ith the others. ' (&t it &nder yo&r +illo#,' she said. ' hen it *oes o%%, #a$e the others 2&ietly. Then come and #a$e me in the ne8t dormitory. !'ll #a$e o&r lot and #e'll all *o to the common room as 2&iet as mice.' 9athleen +&t the cloc$ &nder her +illo#. She %elt s&re she #o&ld not need it, eca&se she #as too e8cited to slee+. B&t slee+ o)ertoo$ one tired *irl a%ter another, and soon oth dormitories #ere +eace%&lly dreamin*. Elsie #as %ast aslee+ too. She #as a hea)y slee+er, and sometimes snored. Toni*ht she #as h&ddled &+ eneath her lan$ets, eca&se it #as cold. She meant to slee+ #ell that ni*ht so that she #o&ld e #ell-rested, and ale to $ee+ a#a$e the %ollo#in* ni*ht. E)ery one #as aslee+ at midni*ht. The alarm cloc$ &nder 9athleen's +illo# s&ddenly #ent o%% #ith a tiny rin*in* noise. 9athleen #o$e #ith a 6&m+. She +&t her hand &nder the +illo# and sto++ed the alarm %rom rin*in*. "o one else had #a$ed &+. 9athleen sat &+ in ed, h&**in* hersel% in 6oy. The midni*ht %east #as ao&t to e*in ! She s+ran* o&t o% ed and +&t on her sli++ers and dressin*-*o#n. Then she #ent so%tly %rom one ed to another, sha$in* the slee+ers, and #his+erin* the ma*ic #ords into their earsK ' idni*ht %east idni*ht %east' E)ery one sat &+ at once. 3ressin*-*o#ns and sli++ers #ere *ro+ed %or in the dar$. E8cited #his+erin* rose. ' ! can't %ind my sli++ers' ' Blo# this dressin*-*o#n The *irdle's all tied in a $not' ' Sh ' #arned 9athleen. ' e')e *ot to e care%&l not to #a$e dear Elsie, yo& $no#.' She sli++ed into the ne8t dormitory and made her #ay 2&ietly to Carlotta's ed. Carlotta #as &nder sheets and lan$ets, c&rled &+ li$e a little animal. 9athleen shoo$ her *ently. Carlotta shot &+ri*ht in ed and 9athleen +ressed her sho&lder #arnin*ly. ' idni*ht,' she #his+ered in Carlotta's ear. Carlotta's heart 6&m+ed %or 6oy, Her irthday %east, o% co&rse She +added ro&nd the dormitory as 2&ietly as a cat, #a$in* e)ery one &t Elsie. There #as no #his+erin* in that room, and not a sin*le *i**le Each *irl too$ sli++ers and dressin*-*o#n and cre+t 2&ietly to the door.- Elsie snored a little, m&ch to e)ery one's relie%. Carlotta sh&t the door 2&ietly- and loc$ed it She too$ o&t the $ey, and +&t it into her d ressin**o#n +oc$et. "o#, i% Elsie did #a$e &+, she co&ldn't *et o&t and s+oil the %east E)eryone #ent to the common room. "ot &ntil the door #as %ast-sh&t and c&shions +&t alon* the ottom to hide the crac$ o% li*ht, #as the li*ht s#itched on. Then #hat a #his+erin* and *i**lin* there #as ' Elsie snored as #e #ent o&t' *i**led Carlotta. ' S&ch a nice, *entle little snore "o#-come on-set o&t the +lates and thin*s > E)erythin* #as ta$en %rom the hidin*-+laces-%rom the ottom o% c&+oards, and the ac$ o% shel)es, %rom t&c$-o8es and this, and %rom ehind oo$s in oo$cases. Soon the common room tales #ere set #ith the em+ty +lates and dishes. The lar*est +late o% all #as +&t in the middle. That #as %or the lo)ely irthday ca$e. ' "o# %or a real, +ro+er Feast' said Carlotta, ha++ily. She and the others set o&t the *oodies they had-the ca$es and the &ns, the isc&its and the s#eets. They o+ened the tins and em+tied the contents on to dishes- sardines, %r&it salad, +ine-a++le, +ra#ns-the most #onder%&l selection o% thin*s ima*inale Carlotta o+ened a do5en *in*er-eer ottles. At each +o+ there #as a *i**le. ' Here's to o&r dear, slee+in*-ea&ty, Elsie' said Boy, #ith a la&*h, and dran$ the %i55y *in*ereer. ' Come on, e)ery one-let's really en6oy o&rsel)es'
1M THE SECO"3 FO (LA/ A T!C9 THE second-%ormers certainly did en6oy themsel)es. A%ter a it they %or*ot to #his+er, and e*an to s+ea$ in their normal )oices. !t didn't matter, really. They #ere too %ar %rom any slee+in* mistress to e heard. They *i**led at e)erythin*, and la&*hed till the tears came at 3oris and her idiotic antics #ith em+ty *in*er-eer ottles. They ate e)erythin*. Carlotta e)en ate sardines and +ine-a++le to*ether. Alison tried +ra#ns di++ed in *in*er-eer, #hich (at and !sael said #ere ' sim+ly s&+er', &t they made her %eel sic$ ta$en that #ay. Ho#e)er, the others didn't mind, and mi8ed all the %ood to*ether #ith s&r+risin* res<s. '"oody #o&ld dream that sardines +ressed into *in*erread ca$e #o&ld taste so nice,' said 0anet. ' y rother told me that and ! didn't elie)e him. B&t it's tr&e.' The irthday ca$e #as mar)ello&s. !t melted in the mo&th ! The candles #ere li*hted )ery soon and the li*ht t&rned o%%. All the *irls sat m&nchin* ha++ily, #atchin* the %i%teen candles %lic$er and *lo#. !t #as lo)ely. ' A ha++y year to yo&, Carlotta' said (at, holdin* &+ her m&* o% *in*er-eer. ' !t's yo&r irthday no#, eca&se it's +ast midni*ht. any ha++y ret&rns o% the day' ' Than$s,' said Carlotta, her )i)id little %ace radiant. Her dar$ eyes s+ar$led as she loo$ed ro&nd at her %riends. !t #as lo)ely to *i)e +eo+le +leas&re. She #o&ld tell her *randmother all ao&t it. ' Ha++y ret&rns' said one )oice a%ter another. > Ha++y irthday ood old Carlotta' Carlotta c&t second slices o% her i* irthday ca$e %or e)ery one. There #as a %airly i* +iece le%t, eno&*h %or t#o e8tra slices. ' T#o more its,' said Carlotta, slicin* the +iece in hal%. ' ho shall #e *i)e them to' ' One to iss 0en$s' said (at. ' /o& needn't say #e had 8the ca$e at midni*ht' ' And one to iss ;&entin,' said Alison ea*erly. ' 3on't e silly,' said Carlotta. ' 3o yo& thin$ !'m *oin* to #aste my irthday ca$e on iss ;&entin ! !'d rather *i)e a slice to Elsie' ' ell, let's,' said Anna, &ne8+ectedly. ' !t's s&++osed to e *ood %or +eo+le to hea+ coals o% %ire on their head- yo& $no#, ret&rn *ood %or e)il-and any#ay, #hat a shoc$ %or Elsie #hen #e *i)e her a it-and she reali5es #e')e had the +arty' ' e'll *i)e it to her a%ter the ne8t ni*ht then,' said Carlotta, *rinnin*. ' Let her try and s+oil the %east this comin* ni*htand then the ne8t day #e'll +resent her #ith a it o% ca$e. That really #o&ld e %&nny.' E)eryone a*reed to that-not that they #anted to ma$e Elsie a +resent at all-they 6&st #anted to see her %ace #hen she sa# the +iece o% ca$e, and reali5ed that the %east had een held in +eace #itho&t her, and hadn't een s+oilt. ' ell, one it %or iss 0en$s, and the other %or darlin* Elsie,' said Carlotta, and +&t them a#ay in a tin. ' "o#, *irls, is there anythin* else le%t to eat ' There #asn't-and )ery little to drin$ either. ' !t's a *ood thin*,' said Anna. ' ! sim+ly co&ldn't eat another cr&m' ' Fancy yo& sayin* that, Anna' said (at, #ith a la&*h, loo$in* at the +l&m+, ro&nd-%aced *irl. ' ! sho&ld ha)e tho&*ht yo& co&ld ha)e *one on eatin* till rea$%ast-time' ' 3on't e r&de to yo&r head-*irl,' said Anna, la5ily. "othin* e)er r&%%led her *ood tem+er. ' Carlotta, #e'd etter clear &+ and *et ac$. e')e een here a*es' ' hat a +ity' said Alison, #ith a si*h. She ne)er li$ed clearin* &+. The *irls set to #or$ and stac$ed the dishes ad +lates neatly at the ac$ o% a c&+oard, ho+in* they #o&ld e ale to #ash them and +&t them ac$ into their +ro+er +laces in the mornin*. They s#e+t &+ the cr&ms and thre# them o&t o% the #indo#. They +&t the *in*er-eer and lemonade ottles into a c&+oard o&tside in the +assa*e. Then they loo$ed ro&nd the common room. There #as not a sin*le si*n o% the lo)ely %east they had had. ' ood *irls,' said Anna. ' "o# come alon*-as 2&ietly as yo& can, so as not to #a$e Elsie.' The second-%ormers cre+t 2&ietly ac$ to their rooms. Carlotta &nloc$ed her dormitory door. The %irst so&nd that *reeted her #as the li*ht snorin* o% the slee+in* Elsie She had not e)en stirred. ' ood? tho&*ht Carlotta, c&ddlin* into ed. ' E)erythin* #ent o%% mar)ello&sly. Oh, ! #ish #e co&ld ha)e it all o)er a*ain tomorro# ni*ht' The second-%ormers #ere )ery slee+y the ne8t mornin*. They %o&nd it di%%ic< to *et &+. Alison said she %elt sic$, and so did 9athleen. ' ell, ne)er mind, it #as #orth it, #asn't it ' said (at. ' 3o yo& #ant to *o to atron ' ' "o,' said Alison and 9athleen to*ether. atron #o&ld only *i)e them a lar*e dose o% nasty-tastin* medicine. She had an &n%ailin* #ay o% $no#in* #hen a midni*ht %east had een held, and $e+t s+ecial medicine %or *irls #ho com+lained o% %eelin* sic$ the ne8t day ! Elsie did not %or one moment s&s+ect that the %east had een held. "oody said a #ord ao&t it in %ront o% her. The
common room had een so #ell-cleared &+ that there #as not a cr&m le%t to *i)e the secret a#ay. Elsie loo$ed at the second-%ormers as they #or$ed in iss 0en$s's *eo*ra+hy class. ' /o& may thin$ yo& are *oin* to ha)e a lo)ely time toni*ht' she tho&*ht, ' &t yo& #on't ! iss 0en$s #ill come and s+oil it all-and that #ill ser)e yo& ri*ht %or ein* so mean to me' "either Alison nor 9athleen #ere sic$ a%ter all, &t eca&se they #o&ld eat no rea$%ast and no dinner, iss 0en$s sent them to atron. atron too$ their tem+erat&res, and %o&nd they had none. ' H'mmmm' she said, tho&*ht%&lly. ' Any one had a irthday in the second %orm ' ' !t's Carlotta's today,' said 9athleen. ' ! tho&*ht so,' said atron. ' /o& are oth s&%%erin* %rom Too-&ch-To-Eat. A dose o% medicine #ill soon +&t yo& ri*ht' That ni*ht the second %orm #ent to ed #ith *i**les and n&d*es. They %elt 2&ite certain Elsie #as *oin* to *i)e them a#ay-or #as ho+in* to. They had made a lo)ely +lan. ' e'll all #a$e &+ at midni*ht and cree+ o&t o% the room,' +lanned Boy. ' Then, as soon as #e're *one, ! et Elsie #ill *o o%% to tell iss 0en$s, or e)en i7s Theoald /o& ne)er $no# ! hen #e see her *o, #e'll all cree+ ac$ into ed and e there, +retendin* t@ e so&nd aslee+, #hen iss 0en$s comes. hat a sell %or dear Elsie' E)ery one a++ro)ed o% this +lan. Elsie sa# them #his+erin* and *i**lin*, and %elt certain it #as ao&t the %east that ni*ht ! She made &+ her mind to $ee+ a#a$e, #hate)er ha++ened. Carlotta set her alarm cloc$ %or midni*ht once more- this time &nder h er o#n +illo#,,as she #anted to ma$e s&re o% #a$in* Elsie &+ that ni*ht !t #ent o%% at t#el)e o'cloc$, and Carlotta sat &+. She *rinned to hersel% in the dar$ness. She #ent %rom ed to ed, #a$in* e)ery one &+, ma$in* rather a noise. Elsie #o$e &+ too, %or she had %allen aslee+ a%ter all. She +retended to lie %ast aslee+, and did not stir &ntil all the *irls had cre+t o&t o% the dormitory. Then she sat &+ and +&lled on her o#n dressin*-*o#n. ' The easts En6oyin* themsel)es #itho&t me' she tho&*ht malicio&sly, %or*ettin* that she co&ld ha)e 6oined in the +arty i% she had said she #o&ld eha)e sensily. ' ell, no# !'ll *o and #a$e iss 0en$s-and +retend !'m %ri*htened eca&se the others ha)e all disa++eared' She sli++ed o&t o% the dormitory. Carlotta, #ho #as hidin* ro&nd a corner, sa# her *oin* do#n the +assa*e in the o++osite direction, on her #ay to iss 0en$s's room. ' Come alon*,' she #his+ered to the second-%ormers, #ho #ere *i**lin* neary. ' She's *one ! et iss 0en$s #ill e alon* in hal% a min&te ! hat #ill she say to Elsie #hen she sees &s all sa%e and so&nd in o&r #arm eds' The *irls too$ o%% dressin*-*o#ns and sli++ers, and h&rried ac$ into their eds, #hich #ere still nice and #arm. They c&ddled do#n and #aited, *i**lin* e)ery no# and a*ain #hen someone made a silly remar$. ean#hile Elsie #as $noc$in* on iss 0en$s's door. There #as no ans#er. She $noc$ed more lo&dly. There #as a crea$ %rom the ed and then iss 0en$s's )oice. ' ho's there hat's the matter ' Elsie o+ened the door. iss 0en$s s#itched on the li*ht eside he r ed. She sa# Elsie, #ho had +&t on a )ery %ri*htened e8+ression indeed. ' !s someody ill ' as$ed iss 0en$s, s+rin*in* o&t o% ed and dra**in* her dressin*-*o#n on. ' ;&ic$, tell me' ' Oh, iss 0en$s-!'m so %ri*htened,' stammered Elsie, %illin* iss 0en$s #ith %oreodin*, she loo$ed so scared. ' All the *irls o&t o% my dormitory ha)e disa++eared- e)ery one o% them. Oh iss 0en$s-do yo& thin$ they can ha)e een $idna++ed ! %eel so scared.' iss 0en$s snorted. She had a #onder%&l snort #hich #as o%ten %aith%&lly co+ied y 3oris. ' y dear Elsie, don't e a ninny As i% se)en or ei*ht *irls co&ld e $idna++ed in yo&r room and yo& hear nothin*
ha)e *one to slee+ iss 0en$s heard the snores. She s#itched on the d ormitory li*ht. She stared in silence at the eds, all e8ce+t Elsie's occ&+ied y a++arently slee+in* *irls. 3oris *a)e another mar)ello&s little snore, and then, #ith a realistic *r&nt, t&rned o)er in ed and settled do#n a*ain. iss 0en$s #atched her. She %elt certain 3oris #as a#a$e. Elsie stared in the &tmost astonishment and horror at the occ&+ied eds. She sim+ly co&ld not &nderstand it. She had not een more than three min&tes a#ay, s&rely- and yet here #ere all the *irls aslee+ in ed. Co&ld she ha)e dreamt it all Had the *irls not stirred %rom their eds at all hat had ha++ened ' ell, Elsie? said iss 0en$s, not tro&lin* to lo#er her )oice, %or she %elt certain e)ery *irl #as a#a$e, ' yo& a++ear to ha)e ro&*ht me o&t on a #ild-*oose chase. e shall ha)e to ha)e a tal$ ao&t this tomorro#, ! thin$. ! don't %eel at all +leased to e #a$ed &+ #ith a story o% #holesale $idna++in*s, and then to %ind that the only *irl o&t o% ed is yo&rsel%. "ot a )ery creditale +er%ormance on yo&r +art, ! %eel.' Elsie *ot into ed #itho&t a #ord. iss 0en$s sna++ed o%% the li*ht and #ent ac$ to ed, sh&ttin* her ears to the *i**lin* and #his+erin* that immediately ro$e o&t. "o one said a #ord to the co#erin* Elsie. Let her try to +&55le o&t #hat had ha++ened ! A%ter ten min&tes *i**lin* the room #ent to slee+ a*ain-all &t Elsie, #ho lay a#a$e #orryin* ao&t #hat #as to ha++en to her the ne8t day The %irst thin* that ha++ened had its %&nny side. Carlotta solemnly a++roached her and o%%ered her a +iece o% the irthday ca$e. ' /o& #eren't there, so #e sa)ed it %or yo&,' she said, a )ery *ood y-*oody e8+ression on her *lo#in* little %ace. Elsie #as startled o&t o% her silence. She stared at the ca$e and said, 'So yo& did ha )e the %east a%ter all hen did yo& ' ' e had it #hen #e #ere $idna++ed,' said Carlotta, solemnly. ' Oooh Elsie-it #as thrillin* Someody came in the middle o% the ni*ht-and $idna++ed &s all- and too$ &s a#ay-&t #e o%%ered them a it o% the irthday ca$e and they #ere so +leased #ith it that they set &s %ree' ' 3on't tell s&ch &ntr&ths ' said Elsie, an*rily. There #ere s2&eals o% la&*hter at this. '
mistress there e%ore them. ' ! #ant to say a #ord to yo& this mornin*,' said iss 0en$s. ' Ao&t Elsie. She has a*reed to try and ha)e a little co&ra*e and do etter %rom no# on-rather &n#illin*ly, ! m&st admit. She tells me she cannot +ossily say she is sorry to yo& %or her st&+id cond&ct- and in any case, ! don't thin$ she is sorry-&t try to act to#ards her in a #ay to hel+ her e%%orts, not hinder them, #ill yo& A%ter ail-yo& +layed a #onder%&l tric$ on her last ni*ht, didn't yo&' This & ne8+ected endin* made all the *irls smile deli*htedly. So iss 0en$s *&essed e)erythin*-and there #as the irthday ca$e, sittin* #aitin* to e eaten ! ood old iss 0en$s ! The *irls #ere ready to do anythin* she as$ed them. ' All ri*ht, iss 0en$s-#e'll +&t &+ #ith Elsie as *racio&sly as #e can? said Hilary, smilin*. ' e *ot o&r o#n ac$ last ni*ht-so #e can a%%ord to e *enero&s' Elsie came ac$ into the room. She had tried to ma$e her %ace +leasanter. She +laced the oo$s on the des$. ' Than$ yo&, Elsie,' said iss 0en$s, in a +leasant tone, and *a)e her a smile. The *irls sa# it and a++ro)ed. hat iss 0en$s co&ld do, they co&ld do also. Thin*s #o&ld e easier %or Elsie than she deser)ed 1P A" EJC!T!" ATCH THE term #ent on its #ay, ha++y and &sy #ith lessons, *ames and %&n. Lacrosse matches #ere +layed, and the #hole school t&rned o&t to #atch and cheer at the home matches. The second %orm #ere )ery +ro&d o% ladys. Anna had told iss ilton, the *ames-mistress, that she tho&*ht ladys #o&ld e #orth tryin* in some other +osition than *oal-$ee+er, and iss ilton rather do&t%&lly a*reed to try her. ' She has ne)er sho#n any a+tit&de %or r&nnin*, catchin* or tac$lin*,' she said. ' Ho#e)er-#e #ill see.' So ladys, to her deli*ht, #as +&t in a +osition #here r&nnin* and catchin* #o&ld co&nt, and a%ter once or t#ice the *irl +ro)ed hersel% to e )ery *ood. She #as small, &t )ery #iry and a*ile, and she #as ama5in*ly *ood at dod*in* the enemy and +assin* the all 2&ic$ly to some one else. ' ood, ladys, *ood' iss ilton said, time a%ter time, one onday a%ternoon. ' /o& art comin* on' ladys %l&shed #ith +leas&re. She loo$ed )ery ha++y these days. iss ;&entin #as ta$in* a *ood deal o% notice o% her in the 3rama class, and no# iss ilton #as +raisin* her at lacrossethe t#o thin*s she li$ed most. She #as #ritin* )ery ha++y letters to her mother no#, and altho&*h she still had no re+ly, she had had a letter %rom irael's mother that had deli*hted her. 3EA LA3/S Ithe letter had saidU, ! tho&*ht yo& mi*ht li$e to $no# that ! #as ale to *o today to the hos+ital yo&r mother is in. The n&rse act&ally allo#ed me to see her %or t#o min&tes, as it #as one o% her *ood days. ! told her ao&t yo&, and ho# yo& and my irael #ere %riends. She co&ld not say m&ch, &t she did say h o# deli*hted she #as to hear #hat a s&ccess yo& #ere at the concert. (erha+s yo& #ill e ale to see her in the holidays. !t is early days to say yet #hether she is really ma$in* +ro*ress, &t ! thin$ yo& may e ho+e%&l. ! #ill *o to see her a*ain i% ! can. i)e my lo)e to irael, and say ! ho+e she is treatin* yo& +ro+erly /o& are s&ch a little mo&se and irael is 6&st the o++osite Lo)e %rom EL!SE <"!" This letter ladys treas&red *reatly. She tho&*ht #ith intense *ratit&de o% rs. said ladys. ' B&t ! $no# #ho #ill e-Hilary She's terrily *ood, ! thin$.' Hilary certainly #as )ery *ood-)ery s&re and )ery s#i%t. Her catchin* #as *race%&l to #atch, and it seemed certain she #o&ld e chosen %or the match. B&t t#o days e%ore the match Hilary #ent do#n #ith a cold a*ain. atron +o++ed her into ed, in s+ite o% .her #ails ao&t lacrosse. ' Belinda said ! co&ld +lay in the match' she said. ' Can't ! *et &+ tomorro# %or certain ' > "othin*
is certain #ith ad colds? said atron. > So don't co&nt on anythin*.' Th&s it came ao&t that Hilary, altho&*h chosen y Belinda, co&ld not +lay-and Belinda, r&nnin* her +encil do#n the list o% names in the second %orm, s&ddenly came to a sto+ y ladys Hillman's name. She sat and tho&*ht. ' That $id's *ood,' tho&*ht the head-*irl. ' ! #atched h er yesterday. She's %ast-and 6olly *ood at tac$lin*, altho&*h she is small. !')e a *ood mind to try her.' So, #hen the list o% names #as +&t &+ on the i* notice-oard, sho#in* the *irls chosen %or the ne8t match. ladys Hillman's a++eared at the ottom-the only one chosen %rom the second %orm ! irael sa# it and #ent h&rriedly in search o% ladys. ' ladys ! hat do yo& thin$ /o&'re do#n %or the match' ' eally ' said ladys, her %ace %l&shin* ri*htly. ' Oh-ho# mar)ello&s olly, ! shall e ner)o&s, tho&*h' ' "o, yo& #on't. /o&'ll 6&st rememer that yo&r mother is lon*in* to hear that yo&')e shot t#el)e *oals %or St. Clare's, and that yo&')e #on the match %or the school' said irael, la&*hin*. ' Oh, ! say-! am +leased. ood %or yo&' ladys #as ha++y to see irael's real +leas&re. That #as the est o% %riends-they shared yo&r tro&les #ith yo&, and they do&led yo&r 6oys. !t #as *ood to ha)e a %riend. The school t&rned o&t as &s&al to #atch the match. The St. Christo+her *irls came in a i* coach, their lacrosse stic$s eside them. The St. Clare's *irls *a)e them a cheer. The *ame e*an. Belinda #as re%eree, and le# her #histle shar+ly. There #as the clic$ o% lacrosse stic$s as the t#o *irls in the centre o% the %ield e*an the *ame. Then the all #as %lic$ed 2&ic$ly a#ay, and ar*ery Fen#orthy, o% the third %orm, +ic$ed it &+ in her lacrosse net and %le# do#n the %ield #ith it. She +assed to L&cy Oriell, her %riend, and then #hen L&cy #as tac$led, cle)erly ca&*ht the all once more and +assed to ladys, #ho #as ho++in* ao&t in e 8citement, ready %or any chance. Clic$ ladys ca&*ht the all, dod*ed a tac$lin* enemy, and thre# to L&cy. From one to another #ent the all, and L&cy tried to thro# a *oal, #hich #as de%tly sto++ed y the St. Christo+her's *oal-$ee+er. The *ame #as )ery e)en. The St. Clare *irls #ere etter r&nners and catchers, &t the St. Christo+her *oal$ee+er #as mar)ello&s. She had a 2&ic$ eye, a %irm #rist, and a real talent %or sto++in* the all e)ery time the St. Clare *irls thre# at the *oal. St. Christo+her's thre# a *oal %irst, and the St. Clare *irls cla++ed, tho&*h their %aces #ere rather an8io&s. This #as *oin* to e a sti%%er match than they tho&*ht. Than$ *oodness oth ar*ery Fen#orthy and L&cy Oriell #ere +layin* today-they #ere al#ays % irst-class. Some o% the St. Clare *irls loo$ed do&t%&lly at ladys Hillman. She seemed )ery small in com+arison #ith the others. ar*ery Fen#orthy, %or instance, #as a i* stra++in* *irl #ho o)er-to++ed ladys y a head and a hal% ' (lay &+, ladys' yelled irael, e)ery time her %riend came near her. ' o on-+lay &+ ' And the #hole second %orm #o&ld yell in chor&s. ' (lay <(, ladys ! hat ao&t a *oal %rom yo& ' Hal%-time-and no *oals %or the St. Clare *irls One-lo)e The St. Clare *irls #ho #ere #atchin* cro#ded ro&nd their team, tryin* to &c$ them &+ and s+&r them on. ' /o& are doin* #ell, ar*ery and L&cy,' said Belinda To#ers, a++ro)in*ly. Her eye ca&*ht the %l&shed %ace o% ladys Hillman, and she *a)e her one o% her s&dden #ide smiles. ' /o&'re not doin* too adly either, $id ! B&t $ee+ a it closer to ar*ery, #ill yo& /o& mi*ht e ale to score a *oal o%% one o% her +asses to yo&.' ' /es, Belinda? said ladys, ha++ily. ' !'ll try.' She $e+t her #ord. She ho)ered closer to ar*ery, and ca&*ht the all slic$ly each time. T#ice she #as tac$led and had to +ass e%ore she co&ld shoot at the *oal- &t the third time she thre# the all #ith all her mi*ht at the net in the distance. ' oal, *oal' yelled the St. Clare *irls. B&t no, the St. Christo+her *oal-$ee+er de%tly %lic$ed the all a#ay. "o *oal-&t a 6olly *ood try ' o it, ladys, *o it' yelled the second %orm, dancin* ao&t in e8citement. ' Try a*ain' ladys did her est. She #as e)ery#here, in and o&t, r&nnin*, tac$lin*, +assin*. Time sli++ed on, and still no *oals #ere scored y St. Clare's. On the other hand no more #ere scored y St. Christo+her's, either. !t #as the closest match the schools had e)er +layed. ' Oh *olly, it's almost time' *roaned irael, *lancin* at her #atch. ' ladys (lay &+. There's only %o&r min&tes more' ladys heard, and ran to tac$le an enormo&s St. Christo+her *irl. The *irl dod*ed, and ladys tri++ed. She #renched her an$le, and *a)e a *roan. !t #as *oin* to e +ain%&l to r&n no#. B&t she co&ldn't +ossily *i)e &+ The all rolled near her. She ni++ed it &+ into her lacrosse net, and ran, lim+in*, do#n the %ield. She +assed to ar*ery, #ho at once
+assed ac$ a*ain #hen she #as tac$led. ladys didn't catch the all. !t #as neatly ca&*ht y a m&ch taller *irl, #ho lea+t into the air. The all %ell into her net, and she t&rned to r&n ladys raced a%ter the all do#n the %ield. B&t 2&ic$ as tho&*ht ladys hit her lacrosse stic$ &+#ards, and the all % le# into the air. ladys ca&*ht it, and ran a*ain. She shot %or the *oal. !t #as not s&ch a *ood shot as e%ore-&t the all o&nced o)er a t&%t as it rolled to#ards the *oal, and a)oided the #aitin* lacrosse net o% the *oal-$ee+er. !n the *reatest dismay she sa# it roll into the *oal The St. Clare *irls nearly #ent mad #ith 6oy. The second %orm th&m+ed each other on the ac$ and yelled 7 ood old ladys 7 at the to+s o% their )oices. !t #as all )ery thrillin*. The match #as a dra#-one all. The St, Christo+her *irls #ent ac$ to tea #ith St. Clare's, and disc&ssed the match at the to+s o% their )oices. The second %orm treated ladys to a s+ecial ca$e %or ma$in* the score e)en. > ood %or yo&, $id' said Belinda, as she +assed. That #as ladys's i**est re#ard ords o% +raise %rom the *reat head-*irl #ere #ords o% +raise indeed 1Q AL!SO" A"3 !SS ; atron #ill still e here, yo& $no#, and t#o *irls %rom the third and %o&rth %orm, #hose +arents are in !ndia. B&t ! shall e )ery lonely #itho&t yo&, irael.' ' (oor ladys ' said irael in dismay. ' ! sho&ld hate to stay at school %or the hols. ! m&st say. A%ter all, most o% the %&n o% ein* at oardin*-school is ein* #ith cro#ds o% others, day and ni*ht-it #on't e any %&n %or yo& ein* #ith one or t#o on't yo&r mother really e etter' ' She's *oin* to ha)e a serio&s o+eration soon? said ladys. ' So ! $no# 2&ite #ell she #on't e ale to lea)e the hos+ital, irael. B&t the o+eration may ma$e her #ell a*ain, so !'m 6&st ho+in* %or the est- and !'m 2&ite #illin* to stay on at school %or the hols, i% only ! hear that other is *ettin* etter a%ter the o+eration.' rs.
ta$e the +art. They %o&nd it 2&ite nat&ral too, %or they $ne# ho# hard the *irl had #or$ed at learnin* the #ords, a tas$ al#ays di%%ic< %or her. Alison #as really silly ao&t iss ;&entin. She #aited ro&nd corners %or her, ho+in* %or a smile. She h&n* on e)ery #ord the teacher said. She #as #orse than she had een #ith Sadie reene the term e%ore-%or one thin* Sadie had had a little common sense and o%ten la&*hed at Alison, &t iss ;&entin had no common sense at all So Alison ecame #orse instead o% etter, and the second-%ormers ecame 2&ite e8as+erated #ith her. Then Alison heard some ne#s that *a)e her a *reat lo#-iss ;&entin #as not comin* ac$ the ne8t term ' Are yo& s&re ' as$ed Alison, loo$in* #ith #ide eyes at Hilary, #ho had come in #ith the ne#s. ' ell, ! heard am'5elle say to iss ;&entin, 7 ell, #ell-so yo& #ill e on the sta*e ne8t term, #hilst #e are all str&**lin* #ith o&r tiresome *irls ! 7 A++arently iss ;&entm had only 6&st heard the ne#s hersel%-she had a letter in her hand. ! thin$ she m&st only ha)e een en*a*ed %or a term-it's the %irst time #e')e had a +ro+er 3rama class. (erha+s iss Theoald #as tryin* o&t the idea.' Hilary loo$ed at Alison, #ho had tears in her eyes. ' Cheer &+, Alison-the #orld #on't come to an end eca&se yo&r elo)ed iss ;&entin isn't here ne8t term ! /o&'ll %ind some one else to moon ro&nd, don't %ret' !t #as a *reat shoc$ to Alison. She had dreamed o% term a%ter term in iss ;&entin's 3rama dasses, #ith hersel% ta$in* all the chie% +arts hi e)ery +lay, hearin* honeyed #ords o% +raise dro++in* daily %rom the teacher's li+s. She #ent a#ay y hersel% and cried )ery itterly. The silly *irl *a)e her heart %ar too easily to anyone #ho attracted her, or made a %&ss o% her. ' hat's come o)er Alison ' as$ed (at, in s&r+rise, #hen her co&sin a++eared #ith s#ollen eyes. ' Been in a ro#, Alison' ' She's only sorro#in* eca&se her elo)ed iss ;&entin #on't e here ne8t term to +at her on her ac$ and tell her she is )ery )ery *ood' said 0anet. ' Alison, don't e an idiot' said !sael. ' /o& $no# +er%ectly #ell iss ;&entin #on't e m&ch loss. e all thin$ she's too so%t %or #ords And thin$ ho# mean she #as in ta$in* the credit %or ladys's +er%ormance at the concert.' ' ! ha)e ne)er elie)ed that,' said Alison, tears comin* into her eyes a*ain. ' /o& don't $no# iss ;&entin as ! do-she's the tr&est, honestest, most loyal +erson !')e ne)er met any one li$e her.' ' "or ha)e1' said (at. ' And than$ *oodness ! ha)en't. Alison, #hy m&st yo& *o and choose the #ron* +eo+le to moon ro&nd Sadie reene #as am&sin* &t she hadn't anythin* in her at all-and neither has iss ;&entin. "o#, ta$e iss 0en$s %or instance . . .' ' iss 0en$s ' said Alison, #ith an an*ry sni%%. ' ho #o&ld #ant to moon ro&nd iss 0en$s, #ith her sna++y ton*&e and cold eyes' ' e<, ! thin$ she's +retty decent,' said (at. ' "ot that ! sho&ld #ant to moon ro&nd her or any one, %or that matter. !'m only 6&st sayin* yo& #ill $ee+ on choosin* the #ron* +eo+le to la)ish yo&r a%%ections on Sadie has ne)er e)en #ritten to yo&-and ! et iss ;&entin #on't, either' ' She #ill She's )ery %ond o% me,' said Alison. The others *a)e it &+. Alison #o&ld ne)er learn sense ' !t's a +ity she can't %ind o&t ho# silly her iss ;&entin really is-ho# &nde+endale,' said Hilary. ' /o&r %eather-headed co&sin, (at, #ants to lean common sense-it's a +ity she can't %ind o&t that all her ideas ao&t iss ;&entin are only dreams-the real iss ;&entin isn't a it as Alison +ict&res her' ' ell, #e can't teach her,' said (at. ' She'll ma$e hersel% miserale %or the rest o% the term no#, and %or all the hols, too, ! e8+ect' Alison #as really &nha++y to hear that her %a)o&rite teacher #as lea)in*. She tho&*ht she #o&ld han* ao&t near the common room o% the 0&nior mistresses, and #atch %or iss ;&entin to come o&t. Then she #o&ld tell her ho# &+set she #as. So she #ent to a little loy near the common room, and +retended to e h&ntin* %or somethin* there. She co&ld hear iss ;&entin's )oice tal$in* to am'5elle, ehind the closed door o% the common room, &t she co&ld not hear anythin* that #as said. Then some one o+ened the door and came o&t. !t #as iss Le#is, the history teacher. ' Lea)e the door o+en' cried am'5elle, ' it is st&%%y in here ' So iss Le#is le%t the door o+en, and #ent o%% to#ards the school lirary. Alison stood in the little loy, her heart eatin* %ast, #aitin* %or iss ;&entin to come o&t. S&rely she #o&ld come soon The mistresses #ent on tal$in*. Some o% them had clear, distinct )oices, and some s+o$e too lo# %or Alison to hear anythin*. She did not mean to listen, she #as only #aitin* %or iss ;&entin-&t s&ddenly she heard her o#n name, s+o$en y iss ;&entin hersel%. Alison sti%%ened, and her heart th&m+ed. as iss ;&entin *oin* to +raise her to the others !t #o&ld e 6&st li$e her to say somethin* nice ' Alison O'S&lli)an is *oin* to *et a shoc$,' said iss ;&entin, in the lo#, clear )oice that Alison tho&*ht
so ea&ti%&l. ' The silly *irl thin$s she's *ood eno&*h to +lay the lead in the second-%orm +lay She's een #earin* hersel% o&t rehearsin*-it #ill do her *ood to %ind she's not *oin* to ha)e the +art' ' ho's *oin* to ha)e it, then ' as$ed iss 0en$s. ' ladys Hillman? ans#ered iss ;&entin, +rom+tly. ' !')e had my eye on that child e)er since the e*innin* o% the term. She's three times as *ood as any one else. She #ill e mar)ello&s as the Co&ntess 0eannette.' ' ! #ish Alison #or$ed as hard in my classes as she does in yo&rs,' remar$ed am'5elle, in her rather harsh, lo&d )oice. ' Ah, her French e8ercises ! B&t ! thin$, iss ;&entin, she really does #or$ at 3rama.' 'Oh #ell, she sim+ly adores me,' said iss ;&entin, easily. ' ! can al#ays ma$e her ty+e #or$. She'll do anythin* %or a smile or a $ind #ord %rom meli$e a dear little +et-do*. B&t *i)e me someody li$e that #ild Carlotta-someody #ith somethin* in them Alison ores me to tears #ith her reathless' /es, iss ;&entin "o, iss ;&entin Oh, can !, iss ;&entin' !t #ill e *ood %or her to ha)e a shoc$ and %ind she has to ta$e ac$ +lace to ladys Hillman.' ' !'m not so s&re,' said iss 0en$s, in her cool )oice. ' Shoc$s are not al#ays *ood %or rather #ea$ characters, iss ;&entin. ! ho+e yo& #ill rea$ yo&r ne#s $indly to +oor Alison-other#ise she #ill #ee+ all day, and as e8ams, are comin* on tomorro#, ! don't #ant ad #or$ %rom her eca&se o% yo& ' ' Oh don't #orry !'ll 6&st +at her c&rly head and say a %e# $ind #ords,' said iss ;&entin. ' She'll eat o&t o% my hand. She al#ays does.' iss Le#is came ac$ and sh&t the door. "ot a #ord more co&ld e heard. Alison sat on a ench in the loy, sic$ at heart, shoc$ed and h&rt eyond meas&re. Her mind #as in a #hirl. She had not een a le to hel+ hearin*-and once she had *ras+ed that her idol, iss ;&entin, #as +o$in* %&n at her, she had not e)en een ale to *et &+ and *o. She had had to sit there, hearin* e)ery cr&el #ord. She #as not to ha)e the leadin* +art in the +lay. iss ;&entin #asn't %ond o% her-only am&sed #ith her, thin$in* her a little +et-do*, some one to +at and la&*h at i iss ;&entin had told a lieshe had not noticed ladys H%%lman at all &ntil the ni*ht o% the concert ! iss ;&entin #as ored #ith her ! Alison #as too shoc$ed e)en to cry. She sat in the loy 2&ietly, loo$in* strai*ht in %ront o% her. hat #as it that iss 0en$s had said ' Shoc$s are not al#ays *ood %or #ea$ characters' as she, Alison, s&ch a #ea$ character then The *irl r&ed h er hand across her %orehead, #hich #as #et and clammy. ' ! ha)e to thin$ all this o&t,' said Alison to hersel%. ' ! can't tell any one. !'m too ashamed. B&t ! m&st thin$ thin*s o&t. Oh, iss ;&entin, ho# co&ld yo& say all that ' (oor Alison ! This #as the *reatest shoc$ she had e)er had in her easy-*oin* li%e ! All her admiration and lo)e %or iss ;&entin )anished at once-+assed li$e a dream in the ni*ht. There #as nothin* o% it le%t, e8ce+t an ache. She sa# the 3rama teacher as the others sa# her-someone +leasant and amiale, &t &nde+endale, disloyal, shallo#. Alison #as a silly *irl, as chan*eale as a #eather-)ane, s#in*in* no# this #ay and no# that, easily &+set and easily +leased. As the others o%ten said,' she hadn't m&ch in her' B&t in this ho&r o% horror-%or it #as horror to her-she %o&nd somethin* in hersel% that she hardly $ne# she +ossessed. And that somethin* #as a sense o% di*nity ! She #asn't *oin* to *o &nder eca&se o% some one li$e iss ;&entin ! She #asn't *oin* to e a +et-do*, eatin* o&t o% her hand ! She had too m&ch di*nity %or that. She #o&ld sho# iss ;&entin that she #as #ron*. H&rt and shoc$ed tho&*h she #as, Alison had a *limmerin* o% common sense all at once, and she held &+ her head, lin$ed a#ay the tears, and made &+ her mind #hat she #as *oin* to do. So it came ao&t that #hen iss ;&entin ro$e the ne#s to the 3rama class that ladys #as to ha)e the leadin* +art, and not Alison, the *irl *a)e no si*n at all o% ein* disa++ointed. Her %ace #as +ale, %or she had sle+t adly that ni*ht, &t it had a calmness and di*nity that astonished the #atchin* *irls. ' So ladys is to ha)e the +art, yo& see,' %inished iss ;&entin. She li*htly to&ched Alison's c&rly head. ' !'m a%raid my Alison #ill e disa++ointed ' ' O% co&rse not, iss ;&entin,' said Alison, mo)in* a#ay %rom the teacher's hand. ' ! thin$ ladys sho&ld ha)e the +art She is the est o% &s all-and ! am )ery *lad.' The *irls stared at Alison in the *reatest ama5ement. They had e8+ected tears-e)en s&l$s-&t not this cool acce+tance o% an &n+leasant %act. ' ho #o&ld ha)e tho&*ht Alison #o&ld ta$e it li$e that ' said 0anet. ' ell-*ood %or her All the same, ! thin$ it's a shame. iss ;&entin made &s all thin$ Alison #o&ld ha)e the +art.' Alison #o&ld not meet iss ;&entin's eye. She +layed the +art she #as *i)en )ery #ell, &t seemed 2&ite &nmo)ed #hen iss ;&entin +raised her. iss ;&entin #as +&55led and a little h&rt. ' irls, ! ha)e somethin* to tell yo&,' she said at the end o% the lesson. ' ! shall not e here ne8t
term. ! shall miss yo& all )ery m&ch-es+ecially one or t#o o% yo& #ho ha)e #or$ed e8tremely hard' She loo$ed hard at Alison, e8+ectin* to see tears, and to hear cries o% ' Oh, iss ;&entin ! e shall miss yo&' B&t Alison did not loo$ at the teacher. She *a5ed o&t o% the #indo# as i% she had not heard. Hilary cleared her throat and s+o$e +olitely. ' ! am s&re #e are all sorry to hear that, iss ;&entin. e ho+e yo& #ill e ha++y #here)er yo& *o.' iss ;&entin #as h&rt and disa++ointed. She s+o$e directly to Alison. ' Alison, ! $no# yo& #or$ed s+ecially hard %or me? she said. ' ! #or$ed hard eca&se ! li$e 3rama,' said Alison, in a cool )oice, loo$in* iss ;&entin in the eyes %or the %irst time. This #as a direct sn& and the *irls *as+ed in s&r+rise. hate)er made Alison eha)e li$e that They *a5ed at her in admiration. So Alison had seen thro&*h her elo)ed iss ;&entin at last-and instead o% moanin* and #ailin*, had +&t on a cloa$ o% di*nity and coolness. One &+ to Alison iss ;&entin retired *race%&lly to her ne8t class, )ery m&ch +&55led. The *irls cro#ded ro&nd Alison. ' Alison hat's ha++ened Has yo&r elo)ed iss ;&entin o%%ended yo& ' ' Sh&t &+,' said Alison, +&shin* her #ay et#een the *irls. ' ! can't tell yo& anythin*. ! don't #ant to disc&ss it. Let me alone.' They let her *o, +&55led, &t res+ectin* her re2&est. ' Somethin*'s ha++ened,' said Hilary, #atchin* the #hite-%aced *irl *oin* o&t o% the room. ' B&t #hate)er it is, is %or the est. Alison seems s&ddenly more *ro#n-&+.' ' Time she #as,' said (at. ' Any#ay-i% she sto+s moonin* ro&nd someody di%%erent each term-or at any rate chooses someody #orth-#hile-it #ill e a lessin*' "oody e)er $ne# #hat had made Alison ' *ro# &+ ' so s&ddenly Only Alison hersel% $ne#, and o&t o% her h&rt came somethin* #orth-#hile, that #as to hel+ her in many years to come. :R A" EJC!T!" E"3 OF TE EJAS, #ere ein* held, and *irls #ere *roanin* daily o)er them. am'5elle #as in a state o% tre+idation in case any o% the *irls %ell short o% +ass-mar$s. The *irls #ere in a %ar *reater state, %eelin* 2&ite certain that noody at all #o&ld +ass in French am'5elle al#ays threatened to *i)e them s&ch di%%ic< +a+ers-&t #hen the time came, they #ere not so ad a%ter all ladys %o&nd the e8ams, di%%ic< eca&se her mother #as to ha)e her o+eration that #ee$. She #as )ery an8io&s indeed. irael did all she co&ld to hel+ her to +re+are each e)enin*. !t #as *ood to see the +atience and $indliness o% the i**er *irl. The others #aned *reatly to irael eca&se o% it. E)en Elsie %elt sorry %or the an8io&s *irl. ' ! ho+e yo&'ll hear *ood ne#s soon,' she said. ladys loo$ed at her in s&r+rised *ratit&de. Fancy Elsie sayin* anythin* $ind The others heard the lo# #ords, and loo$ed at one another #ith raised eyero#s. They had $e+t their +romise to iss 0en$s, and had not hindered Elsie in any #ay, in her e%%orts to eha)e more reasonaly. B&t, on the other hand, no *irl had een ale to sho# any li$in* %or Elsie. !t #as im+ossile. The *irl had een too s+ite%&l, too e8as+eratin* alto*ether to e li$ed no#. She #o&ld e tolerated, &t nothin* else. iss 0en$s #atched e)ery one's eha)io&r, and came to the con cl&sion that it #as ho+eless to e8+ect any ha++iness or real hel+ %or Elsie %rom the second-%ormers. On the other hand, the la5y Anna had een a *reat s&ccess as head-*irl o% the %orm. She had thro#n aside her la5iness, and had come to the %ore, ta$in* res+onsiility and ma$in* decisions ca+aly and 2&ic$ly. iss 0en$s #as +leased #ith her. She #as no# ready to *o &+ into the third %orm, and ta$e her +art #ith the older *irls there. Hilary ent#orth co&ld e head-*irl ne8t term. iss 0en$s s+o$e to iss Theoald ao&t it and the Head a*reed. ' B&t #hat are #e to do #ith Elsie ' she said. ' ! #ill ha)e a tal$ #ith her.' So Elsie #as sent %or, and sat rather s&llenly in iss Theoald's dra#in*-room, e8+ectin* to e scolded, or somethin* e)en #orse-she mi*ht e told that St. Clare's didn't #ant her any more ' Elsie,> said iss Theoald, ' ! $no# yo& ha)e %o&nd thin*s di%%ic< this term-mostly yo&r o#n %a<, as ! thin$ yo& #ill admit? Elsie loo$ed at iss Theoald's solemn %ace. ' /es,' she said at last. ' ! s&++ose thin*s #ere mostly my o#n %a<. The second %orm don't li$e me at all. They #ill ne)er ha)e me as head-*irl. They 6&st tolerate me, that's all. !t ma$es thin*s hard %or me. ! %eel ! can ne)er do anythin* to alter their o+inion, and so ! can't )ery #ell ta$e any +leas&re in ein* there.' ' /o& see, Elsie, one o% the h ardest thin*s in the #orld to %or*et and %or*i)e is s+ite%&lness,' said iss Theoald. ' alice and s+ite ro&se s&ch itter %eelin*s in others. Other %a<s, s&ch as *reed, irres+onsiility, silliness- these aro&se dis*&st, &t are %or*otten and %or*i)en. S+ite al#ays ran$les, and is ne)er %or*otten. ! can see
yo& #ill ne)er do any *ood either to yo&rsel% or to others in the second %orm.' Elsie #aited, her heart sin$in*. This meant that she #as to e as$ed to lea)e. She didn't #ant to do that. She did li$e St. Clare's. She stared at iss Theoald miseraly. The Head *&essed #hat the *irl #as thin$in*. ' !'m not *oin* to say yo& m&st lea)e St. Clare's? she said 2&ic$ly. ' ! thin$ the school can do a lot %or yo&, Elsie, and yo& may e ale to do somethin* %or St. Clare's too. "o-yo& shan't lea)e ! ! thin$ yo& m&st *o &+ into the third %orm instead-lea)e ehind the second-%ormers #ho ha)e seen s&ch a ad side o% yo&r character- and *o into the third %orm, #hich, ne8t term, #ill ha)e %i)e or si8 ne# *irls. /o& #ill ha)e a chance then to sho# a di%%erent side o% yo&r character /o& are not really ready to *o &+, either in yo&r #or$, or in yo&r eha)io&r-&t ! #ill send yo& &+ i% yo& #ill tell me that yo& #ill ta$e this chance, and #or$ hard, and, more im+ortant still, try to *et the 7cattiness7 o&t o% yo&r nat&re that e)ery school*irl detests' Elsie's heart li%ted in relie%. o &+ into the third %orm-and lea)e ehind the *irls #ho #o&ld al#ays disli$e her o&ldn't she #or$ hard o&ldn't she e $ind and %riendly and hel+%&l to the ne# *irls #ho didn't $no# anythin* ao&t her She smiled *ladly. ' hat ao&t Anna ' she as$ed. ' !s she *oin* &+ too' 7 /es-&t yo& can tr&st Anna not to *i)e yo& a#ay at all,' said iss Theoald. ' She's a *ood *irl-she really has t&rned o&t #ell as head*irl. "o#, Elsie-ta$e this chance and ma$e *ood ' ' ! #ill,' said Elsie. ' Than$ yo&, iss Theoald. ! ne)er tho&*ht o% *oin* &+ into the third %orm !t ma$es all the di%%erence in the #orld' The *irl #ent o&t, +leased and ho+e%&l. She sa# ladys Hillman in the +assa*e and #ent &+ to her #ith a #arm *est&re o% %riendliness. ' Any ne#s o% yo&r mother, old thin*' she as$ed. ' "ot yet,' said ladys, #onderin* #hate)er co&ld ha)e made Elsie loo$ so %riendly and *lad. Elsie #ent on her #ay and met Boy. ' ! say? she said, ' ! sa# +oor old ladys 6&st no#. Can't #e do somethin* to ta$e her o&t o% hersel% a it She's mo+in* a*ain.' ' ood idea' said Boy at once. ' !'ll +lay that tric$ on am'5elle-yo& $no#, the tric$ that ma$es +lates 6&m+ ao&t am'5elle is ta$in* l&nch today at o&r tale, eca&se iss 0en$s is *oin* o&t. !t #ill e s+ort' So the second-%ormers #ere told that a tric$ #as ao&t to e +layed, and they all cheered &+, %or*ot ao&t e8ams., and loo$ed at Boy #ith ri*ht eyes. The %irst tric$ that term ! !t #as time one #as +layed ! am'5elle #as in a *ood tem+er. The %irst %orm had done &ne8+ectedly #ell in their French e8am. She eamed at e)eryody. The second-%ormers eamed ac$, and 3oris *a)e a dee+ ch&c$le, e8actly li$e am'5elle's. ' Ah, this ad 3oris ' said am'5elle, cla++in* 3oris on the sho&lder. ' She can imitate me +err-rr%ectly- &t she cannot roll her r's yet in the tr&e French #ay "o#-let &s *o to the dinin*-room. The ell %or l&ncheon has *one. Today ! ta$e yo& %or the meal, eca&se the *ood iss 0en$s is o&t' The second %orm seated themsel)es at their tale. am'5elle #as at the head. Boy #as three +laces a#ay %rom her. The others loo$ed at her, *rinnin*. They ho+ed she had een ale to sli+ into the dinin*-room and lay her +lans ! Boy had +re+ared e)erythin* care%&lly. There #as a +ile o% +lates at am'5elle's +lace, ready %or her to ser)e the ste# %or each *irl. Boy had remo)ed the +lates, and had de%tly +laced the lon* r&er t&in* &nder the tale-cloth, so that it ran %rom #here the +lates #ere to Boy's o#n seat, and h&n* do#n &nder the cloth. The ladder-end #as #here the +$tes #ere, and the &l to +ress #as y Boy's +lace. Boy re+laced the +ile o% +lates o)er the ladder-end. The +lates #ere too hea)y to mo)e #hen the &l #as +ressed-&t #hen all the *irls #ere ser)ed and only am'5elle's +late #as there, it #o&ld ti+ &+ ea&ti%&lly as soon as Boy +ressed the &l #hich %illed the ladder-end #ith air ! am'5elle ser)ed o&t the ste# ra+idly. The *irls e*an their meal h&n*rily, one eye on am'5ello's +late. !t #as the only one le%t no#. am'5elle %illed it #ith ste# and *ra)y. She #as )ery %ond o% *ra)y. ' At %irst,' said am'5elle con)ersationally, ta$in* &+ her $ni%e and %or$, ' at %irst #hen ! came to En*land ! did not li$e this ste# o% yo&rs ! B&t no#-ah, it is #onder%&l' Boy +ressed the r&er &l she #as holdin* &nder the cloth. The ladder-end &nder am'5elle's +late %illed #ith air and ecame %at and i*. am'5elle's +late tilted &+ on one side, *a)e a little #ole and s&sided a*ain as Boy let *o the &l she #as +ressin*. am'5elle #as o)ercome #ith astonishment. She %elt her nose to see i% her *lasses #ere there. /es, they #ere. B&t co&ld she ha)e seen ri*ht Her +late had mo)ed She too$ a 2&ic$ loo$
ro&nd at the *irls. They seemed to ha)e noticed nothin*-tho&*h act&ally all the *irls had seen the +late li%t and #ole, and #ere %i*htin* hard to $ee+ %rom *i**lin*. am'5elle dismissed the matter %rom her mind. She had ima*ined it ! She e*an to ma$e con)ersation a*ain. ' Tomorro# yo& second-%ormers #ill ha)e yo&r French tests,' she said, smilin* ro&nd. Then she tried to c&t a +iece o% meat #ith her $ni%e-#hilst Boy at the same moment +ressed the r&er &l. Air ran thro&*h to the ladder, and am'5elle's +late li%ted itsel% &+ )ery s&ddenly, and s+ilt some *ra)y o)er one side. am'5elle loo$ed at her +late in alarm. !t had done it a*ain. !t #as ali)e !t had s+ilt its *ra)y on the doth. ' Tiens ' said am'5elle, )ery m&ch startled. ' hat is this' ' hat is #hat, am'5elle ' as$ed 0anet, #ith a solemn %ace. ' "othin*, nothin*' said am'5elle, hastily, not li$in* to say that she %eared her +late #as ali)e. B&t somethin* certainly #as the matter #ith it. She loo$ed do#n at it, hardly darin* to eat her meal. Boy *a)e the +late a rest. am'5elle loo$ed at it #arily %or a little #hile, and then +l&c$ed &+ her co&ra*e to eat her meal once more. The +late seemed to e eha)in* itsel%. Then it s&ddenly #ent mad a*ain !t ti++ed &+ and do#n slo#ly and solemnly three times, then 6er$ed %rom side to side s+illin* some more *ra)y. am'5elle *re# really alarmed. She *lanced at the *irls. Ho# stran*e that they did not seem to see #hat #as ha++enin* ! She m&st e *oin* mad ! ' 3on't yo& li$e yo&r ste#, am'5elle ' as$ed (at, solemnly. ' ! tho&*ht yo& said it #as #onder%&l.' am'5elle loo$ed s&s+icio&sly at her +late #hich #as no# 2&iet. 3oris made a silly 6o$e in order to let the *irls la&*h lo&dly, %or t#o or three o% them #ere almost hysterical y no#, and #o&ld certainly ha)e *i)en the *ame a#ay i% they had not een ale to la&*h lo&dly. The rest o% the school loo$ed in ama5ement at the ello#in* *irls. iss Theoald, #ho sat at the head o% the si8th-%orm tale, #as dis+leased. ' ;&iet, +lease,' she called to the second-%ormers. They cho$ed and ecame 2&iet. 3oris #as +&r+le in the %ace #ith tryin* not to la&*h a*ain. am'5elle loo$ed ro&nd #ith a %ro#n. 'S&ch a noise' she said, re+ro)in*ly. B&t her attention #as soon dra#n to her +late a*ain #hen it solemnly rose &+ and do#n t#ice, and then ecame 2&ite still. am'5elle %ro#ned. This co&ld not really e ha++en- in* (lates co&ld not eha)e li$e that. !t #as nonsense. She #o&ld eat her dinner and not thin$ ao&t it. ' 3on't do it a*ain till the +&ddin* comes,' #his+ered Carlotta to Boy. ' e can't hel+ s2&ealin* #ith la&*hter no#. e shall *et into a ro#. i)e &sVa rest' So %or the rest o% the %irst co&rse the +late eha)ed itsel%, and am'5elle #as m&ch relie)ed. B&t #hen the +&ddin* arri)ed, and she had ser)ed it o&t, lea)in* only her o#n +late in its +lace, the %&n e*an a*ain. The +&ddin*-+late lea+t 2&ite #ildly, and am'5elle +&shed her chair ac$ #ith a scream. The *irls cho$ed and the tears ran do#n their chee$s. ' Ah This +late ' cried am'5elle. ' !t is as ad as the other one. See ho# it 6&m+s ' Boy $e+t the +late 2&ite still. 3oris e8+loded into la&*hter and t#o or three 6oined her hel+lessly. iss Theoald e*an to loo$ really )e8ed. The rest o% the school craned their nec$s to see #hate)er co&ld e ha++enin* at the second-%orm tale. The +late mo)ed a*ain, and am'5elle ac$ed a#ay still %arther. iss Theoald, ama5ed and +&55led, le%t her +lace and #al$ed o)er to the second-%orm tale. E)ery *irl #as roc$in* in hel+less la&*hter.. "ot e)en the +resence o% the Head istress co&ld sto+ them. This #as the %&nniest thin* they had e)er seen. ' am'5elle hat is the matter' as$ed iss Theoald, really annoyed. am'5elle t&rned to her #ildly. ' y +late ' she said. ' y +late ' ' ell, #hat is #ron* #ith it ' as$ed iss Theoald, im+atiently, thin$in* that am'5elle m&st really ha)e *one mad. ' !t seems all ri*ht to me.' ' iss Theoald, it 6&m+s, it dances> it lea+s aro&nd the tale,' said am'5elle, earnestly, e8a**eratin* in the ho+e that iss Theoald #o&ld e im+ressed. ' !t is a mad +late. ! cannot ear it.' The Head istress loo$ed at the +late o% +&ddin*. !t lay 2&ite still on the tale, +er%ectly ordinary. She *lanced ro&nd at the *i**lin* *irls. She s&++osed they #ere la&*hin* at am'5elle's eha)io&r. ell, it certainly #as e8traordinary. ' /o& had etter *o and lie do#n, am'5elle,' she said at last. ' ! thin$ yo& can't e #ell.' ' ! am
#ell,' said +oor am'5elle. ' !t is the +late that is mad. /o& sho&ld see it 6&m+, iss Theoald.' iss Theoald loo$ed do&t%&lly at the +late-and Boy had a tremendo&s &r*e to ma$e it 6&m+ a*ain. She +ressed the &l hard, and the +late 6&m+ed &+ at once, #oled and %ell ac$ a*ain. iss Theoald loo$ed astonished and am'5elle *a)e another s2&eal. The *irls screamed #ith la&*hter. iss Theoald li%ted &+ the +late, and +&shed ac$ the tale-cloth. There, &nderneath, #as the little r&er ladder attached to the t&in* that led to Boy's +lace. am'5elle's eyes nearly %ell o&t o% her head #hen she sa# it. ' ! thin$, am'5elle, one o% the *irls is +layin* a tric$ on yo&,' said iss Theoald. ' ! #ill lea)e yo& to deal #ith it. ! daresay oerta can e8+lain ho# it #as done.' The *irls sto++ed la&*hin*. They stared at iss Theoald #al$in* ac$ to her seat. They loo$ed at am'5elle, #ho *lared at +oor Boy. ' hat is this horrile tric$ ' she in2&ired in a lo&d )oice. Boy e8+lained, and am'5elle listened care%&lly. She remo)ed the #hole thin* and loo$ed at it. Then she +&t ac$ the tale-cloth and her +late and e*an to eat her +&ddin*, loo$in* strai*ht in %ront o% her #ith her sloe-lac$ eyes. The *irls %elt &ncom%ortale. as am'5elle really o%%ended, really an*ry The tric$ #as 2&ite a harmless one. They %inished their +&ddin* and sat still. S&ddenly there came a snort %rom am'5elle and all the second-%ormers loo$ed &+ in s&r+rise. am'5elle thre# ac$ her head. She roared, she ello#ed She la&*hed so m&ch that the relie)ed second-%ormers co&ldn't hel+ la&*hin* a*ain too. ' !t #as a *ood tric$,' said am'5elle at last, #i+in* her eyes. ' /es, a *ood tric$. ! shall ma$e my sister la&*h till she cries #hen ! tell her. hen ! thin$ o% that +late 6&m+in* at me li$e that-ah, ma*ni%i2&e ' ' !'ll lend yo& the #hole tric$, i% yo& li$e,' said 0anet. ' !t elon*s to my rother. /o& can +lay the tric$ on yo&r sister.' am'5elle stared at her in deli*ht. ' hat a *ood idea ' she e8claimed, eamin*. ' This #ill cheer my *ood sister immensely. /o& shall sho# me ho# it #or$s.' iss Theoald smiled as she le%t the room. !t really had een %&nny. hat a *ood thin* am'5elle had seen the %&nny side-&t she co&ld *enerally e tr&sted to. (oor am'5elle-the h&ndreds o% tric$s that had een +layed on her d&rin* her years a t St. Clare's She #o&ld ne)er learn to e s&s+icio&s o% the *irls ' ar)ello&s ' said 0anet, #hen the second-%ormers #ere in their common room a*ain, disc&ssin* the a%%air. ' Sim+ly s&+er. Boy, yo& did it a#%&lly #ell. ! tho&*ht ! sho&ld ha)e died, tryin* to $ee+ in my la&*hter. Oh, dear-#hen ! thin$ o% that +late 6&m+in* ao&t- and am'5elle's horri%ied %ace-! #ant to scream all o)er a*ain ' E)ery one #as am&sed, and ladys, #ho had seen %e# tric$s +layed in her li%e, la&*hed as m&ch as any one. She %or*ot her #orry %or a #hile, and irael #as *lad to see her smilin* %ace as she listened to the tal$. The ne8t day am'5elle *a)e o&t the French +a+ers. They #ere m&ch easier than the class e8+ected and e)ery one *a)e a si*h o% relie%. E)en 3oris ho+ed she mi*ht *et eno&*h mar$s %or a +ass !n the middle o% the e8am., #hen e)erythin* #as +er%ectly 2&iet, some one %lashed y the #indo# on a icycle. irael *lanced &+. !t #as a tele*ra+h oy ! She loo$ed across at ladys. ladys had seen him too and had *one #hite. She #ondered i% the tele*ram held any ne#s %or her. A%ter a %e# min&tes the door o+ened and a maid loo$ed in. '(lease co&ld iss ladys Hillman *o to iss Theoald,' she said. ladys stood &+, her $nees sha$in*. She #as s&re the tele*ram said that her mother #as dead. She #ent o&t o% the room as i% she #as #al$in* in a dream. irael stared a%ter her, miserale. She %eared the #orst too. B&t in t#o min&tes ladys #as ac$ ! The door #as %l&n* o+en, and she &rst into the room, her %ace eamin*, and her eyes shinin*. She r&shed to irael. ' irael other's had the o+eration, and she's come thro&*h it #onder%&lly She's *oin* to *et etter !'m to see her soon, 6&st %or an ho&r (erha+s ne8t #ee$, irael !sn't it mar)ello&s ' irael #as as *lad as i% it had een her o#n mother. She %or*ot ao&t the class, and +&t her arm ro&nd the ha++y *irl. ' Oh, ladys' she said. ' !t's mar)ello&s ! am *lad' ' H&rrah' yelled Boy, as deli*hted as any one. ' ood old ladys' ' ! too am *lad,' eamed am'5elle, %or*ettin* all ao&t the French e8am., %or a #onder. ' S&ch a s&r+rise %or yo& "o# yo& #ill e ale to smile a*ain' ladys *lanced ro&nd the room, s&ddenly rememerin* #here she #as. She had %or*otten e)erythin* %or the moment e8ce+t that she m&st tell irael, her %riend, the *reat ne#s. She #ent ac$ to her
