The Naughtiest Girl Again Read online

  «Well, I'll certainly never come and help in the garden again!» shouted Elizabeth, and off she marched in a great rage.

  But half an hour later a little voice spoke inside her head. “You said you weren't going to quarrel with anyone any more, and you have already! After all, John was right to be cross. You might have burnt down the shed and all his precious tools and everything – and you've spoilt the lovely bonfire he wanted to light.”

  And a voice was speaking inside John's head too. “Elizabeth didn't mean it. She was just silly, not bad. She's as disappointed as you are about the bonfire. And you know you do want her help in the garden. Suppose she takes you at your word and doesn't come any more? That wouldn't be very nice!”

  “I'll go and find her” thought John. And the same thought came to Elizabeth, “I'll go and find John.” So they met round the corner of the garden path, each looking rather ashamed. They held out their hands.

  «Sorry I was piggy to you», said John.

  «And I'm sorry I was too», said Elizabeth. «Oh, John, I said to myself today that I'd never quarrel with anyone any more – and I've gone and done it again!»

  «You always will!» said John, with a laugh. «But it won't matter if only you will make it up quickly. Come on and do some digging. It will do us both good.»

  Off they went together, the best of friends. It takes more than a quarrel to break up a real friendship, doesn't it!

  Chapter 23: A Thrill for Joan

  Two months of the Christmas term had already gone by. Seven School Meetings had been held, and the eighth was to be held on the next Friday night. A new monitor had to be chosen, because one of the old ones, a boy called George, had the flu, and was in the San for a week or two.

  «How are new monitors chosen?» asked Robert. «Nobody new has been chosen since I came at the beginning of the term. I thought monitors were only chosen for a month – but we've had the same ones for two months.»

  «Yes, because they're so good we don't want to change them», said Joan. «We can change them at the end of each month if we want to – but there's no point in changing them if we are satisfied. I think all our monitors are awfully good.»

  «So do I», said Elizabeth. «I once thought it must be awful to be a monitor and have to keep all the rules and see that the others did too – but now I've changed my mind. I think it's rather nice to be trusted so much, and to have people coming to you for help and advice.»

  «Well, the people who matter in this world are the ones who can be really trusted and who are willing to help anyone in trouble», said Jenny. «We get good training for that at Whyteleafe! One day I'd like to be a monitor – but like you, Elizabeth, I know I never shall be!»

  «Well, nobody's answered my question yet», said Robert patiently.

  «What was it?» asked Elizabeth.

  «I asked how new monitors are chosen», said Robert. «Do we choose them – or do the Jury – or the Judges – or who?»

  «Well, the whole School chooses them first», said Joan. «We each write down the name of one we think we would like as monitor, and then the slips of paper are folded and passed up to the Jury.»

  «What next?» asked Robert.

  «The Jury undo them and see which three children have the most votes», said Joan. «They vote for whichever of those three they think would be best. Then their votes are passed up to William and Rita – and the two Judges decide which child is to be made a new monitor.»

  «I see», said Robert. «It seems very fair. Everyone has a say in the matter. That's what I like so much about Whyteleafe – we all have a say in things.»

  «I can't quite think who to vote for», said Jenny. «I'll have to think hard.»

  «So will I», said Joan thoughtfully. «It is such an honour to be chosen. The one we choose must really be worthy of it.»

  «Can I walk with you when we go for our Nature Ramble this afternoon?» asked Kathleen. «Elizabeth can't go – she's got an extra music practice with Richard.»

  «All right», said Joan. «But don't be late. I'm leading the ramble, you know, and you must be on time if you want to start off with me.»

  Kathleen was very punctual, and the two set off together with their notebooks, followed by the rest of the children who were interested in Nature work. They were to find blossoming ivy, the last insect feast of the season, and to list and draw all the insects feasting on the nectar in the green blossoms .It was fun to wander down the lanes together and over the fields. The pale winter sun shone down and the sky was the faint blue of a harebell. The trees were all bare except the firs and the pines, and the frost still glittered under the hedges.

  Kathleen hummed a little song to herself as she looked about for the blossoms of the ivy. Joan looked at her. «It's funny how people change», she said. «Last term I saw Elizabeth change from a horrid, naughty girl to a kind and good one. I felt myself change from somebody lonely and shy to somebody quite different. I've seen Robert change – and now you're changing too under my very eyes!»

  «Yes, I know», said Kathleen. «But there's one way I haven't changed, Joan, I'm still a coward!»

  «How do you mean?» asked Joan, surprised. «Are you frightened of cows, or something?»

  «No, of course not», said Kathleen. «I'm frightened of what people think! That's much worse than cows! Nobody but you and Jenny and Nora and Elizabeth know that it was I who played those horrid tricks – oh, and Rita and William, of course. And I know quite well that if it had been you or Jenny or Elizabeth you would all have been brave enough to get up in front of the whole School at a Meeting and say it was you!»

  «Well, of course», said Joan. «Why not? You know quite well that the School would think well of you for owning up, and not so badly of you for doing the tricks. But if it leaks out that you did do them and didn't own up, why then, we should think much worse of you, and you'd think worse of yourself too! It's just a question of making up your mind to do it. Everybody has plenty of courage – only they don't always use it.»

  «Have they really!» said Kathleen. «I mean, have I got plenty of courage if I like to use it? I don't have to be a coward then?»

  «You are an idiot!» said Joan, taking Kathleen's arm. «I mean what I say. No one has to be a coward – anyone can draw on their courage the moment they make up their mind to! Try it at the next Meeting, old thing – you'll see what I mean then.»

  They found a great stretch of blossoming ivy just then, so they said no more, but busied themselves in writing down the large list of insects hovering over the nectar. But Kathleen was thinking over Joan's words. It would be too marvellous if they were true. If everybody had courage deep down inside them, why then, nobody need be a coward – they only had to take hold of their courage and use it! “I'll see if I can use mine at the next Meeting” thought Kathleen, though her heart sank at the thought. “It's tiresome to see all the other children standing up and saying things, and I hardly dare to open my mouth!” So at the next Meeting, unknown to any of her friends, Kathleen sat with shaking knees, trying to take hold of her courage. The usual business was gone through – money put into the box – money given out – money granted or refused for several things. And then came the complaints and grumbles.

  There was only one complaint and only one grumble, and they were quickly dealt with. Then, before the other business of choosing a monitor was put before the Meeting, William said a few words.

  «I think the School would like to know that Fred is back in his dormitory, and doesn't snore any more.» There was laughter at this, and a few cheers. Fred laughed too. William knocked on the table. «I also want to say this – that the whole School has noticed and approved of the way that Robert has behaved for the last few weeks. Rita and I have had excellent reports from all the monitors. Also the stableman says that he really couldn't do without Robert now to help him with the horses.»

  Robert flushed with pleasure. The School was pleased too – it was always good to hear that they had been right in their t
reatment of anyone.

  And then Kathleen found her courage, took hold of it with two hands and stood up. Her knees no longer shook. Her voice was steady. She looked straight at the Judges and the Jury.

  «I want to say something I should have said before», she said. «I want to say that I was the person who did all the things that Robert was accused of. I was afraid to own up before.»

  There was a complete silence. Everyone was most astonished. Those who hadn't known were surprised to hear the news – and those who had known were even more surprised to hear Kathleen owning up! Whatever bad made her do it so suddenly?

  Then Rita spoke. «And what has made you able to own up now?» she asked.

  «Well, it was really something Joan said», explained Kathleen. «She told me there was no need for anyone to be a coward. She said we all had courage in us, only we had to take hold of it. So I took hold of mine this evening – and Joan was right, I wasn't afraid any more.»

  «Thank you, Kathleen», said Rita.

  Kathleen sat down. Her heart was light. She had got rid of a heavy load. She had found her courage – and she wasn't going to lose it again!

  «We won't say any more about what Kathleen has confessed to us», said Rita. «We are all glad she has been brave enough to own up. William and I knew it was she, of course – and we hoped that one day she would be able to tell you herself. Now she has – and we are pleased.»

  «We had better get on with the business of choosing a new monitor», said William. «Give out slips of paper, please, Eileen.»

  The slips were given out. Everyone wrote down the name of a girl or boy they thought fit to be a monitor. The papers were given to the Jury and opened. The Jury then chose out the three names that had most votes and voted on them themselves. Their papers were given to the two Judges.

  William and Rita opened the twelve slips of paper from the Jury. They talked to one another in low voices whilst everyone waited eagerly to know who had been chosen. Then William knocked on the table with his hammer, and everyone was perfectly quiet.

  «There isn't much doubt as to who you want for a new monitor», he said. «Her name appears on almost everyone's paper. It is Joan Townsend!»

  There were cheers and clappings, and Joan went as red as a beetroot. She had had no idea at all that the School would choose her! But everyone had heard with interest what Kathleen had said about Joan's wise word on courage – and now Joan's reward had come! She was to be the new monitor.

  «We have had excellent reports of you from all the other monitors», said Rita. «We know that you are to be trusted, that you are kind and wise for your age, and that you will do your best for the whole School. Please come up and sit at the Monitors' table, Joan – we are glad to welcome you on our Jury!»

  Joan went up to the platform, proud and happy. Elizabeth clapped madly – she was so proud of Joan, so pleased that she was honoured in this way. “Joan deserves it!” she thought. “She really does! My goodness, if only I could be a monitor too! But I'm not the right sort of girl, and never will be!”

  Chapter 24: A Horrid Adventure

  The term slipped into December. The School was very busy planning and preparing plays and songs of all kinds. The weather was unkind, and many afternoons there were no games to be played out-of-doors.

  «It's even too bad to garden», groaned John, looking out of the window. «The ground is so sticky that I can't dig.»

  «Anyway, you'd get soaked through», said Joan. «It's a good chance for you to take an interest in something else! But I expect you'll get down one of your gardening books and pore over that.»

  Joan was very happy to be a monitor. She took a great pride in her new honour, and did her duties well. She had to see that the children in her care did not break the rules of the school. She had to advise them when they came to her for help. She had to act wisely and kindly always – and this was not difficult for her because she was naturally a sensible and kindly child.

  Elizabeth was very pleased that Joan was a monitor. She did not feel jealous, of course, but she longed to be one too. Still, Joan had been at Whyteleafe for far longer than Elizabeth – so she must wait her turn in patience.

  Though patience was not a thing that Elizabeth possessed very much of at present! Elizabeth practised her music pieces hard and played the duets over and over again with Richard, for she was very anxious to do her best at the concert.

  Mr. Lewis praised her. «Elizabeth, you are working very hard. You are playing extremely well this term.»

  Elizabeth felt proud. My goodness, she would show everyone at the concert how well she played! If her father and mother came to the concert they would be surprised to see Elizabeth playing such difficult duets with a big boy like Richard!

  «You're getting conceited about your playing, Elizabeth», said Richard one afternoon. Richard never thought twice about what he said, and he could be very hurtful. «It's a pity. I like your playing – but I shan't like you if you get conceited.»

  «Don't be so horrid, Richard», said Elizabeth indignantly. «I don't tell you you're conceited, do I!»

  «No, because I'm not», said Richard. «I know quite well that my gift for music has nothing to do with me really – it's something that has been given to me – a real gift. I'm thankful for it and grateful for it and I'm going to use it for all I'm worth – but I'm not conceited about it and never shall be.»

  Elizabeth was annoyed with Richard – especially as she knew that what he said was just a little bit true. She was getting conceited about her playing! “But why shouldn't I be proud of it?” she thought. “I haven't got a wonderful gift for it like Richard – so my playing is my own hard work, and I've every right to be proud of that!” So she went on planning to show off at the school concert, and make everyone think what a wonderful pianist she was.

  But pride always comes before a fall – and poor Elizabeth was going to have a dreadful shock. She and Robert, John and Kathleen, had arranged to go out riding one afternoon before games. Peter came running up and begged Robert to let him go too.

  «No, you can't, Peter», said Robert. «The horse you usually ride is limping – and I don't want you to have the other. It's a restive horse. Wait till your horse is all right.»

  «Oh, please, do let me ride the other horse», begged Peter. «You know I'm a good rider!»

  «Let him come, Robert», said Elizabeth. «You know he can ride Tinker.»

  «Well, but Tinker really is a bit funny today», said Robert. «I'll see what he's like when two o'clock comes, Peter.»

  When two o'clock came, Robert was not in the stables. The others were there. Elizabeth saddled the horses and hooked for Robert. Still he didn't come.

  «Oh bother!» said Elizabeth. «It's ten past two already. Wherever has Robert got to? We are wasting all our time.»

  Peter sped off to look for Robert – but he came back in a few minutes to say that he couldn't find him.

  «Well, if we're going for a ride we'd better go!» said Elizabeth. She called to the stableman.

  «Hi, Tucker! Can I saddle Tinker? Is he all right?»

  «Well, he's a bit upset about something», said Tucker. «You have a look at him, Miss.»

  Elizabeth went to Tinker's stall. The horse, which was a small one, nuzzled into her hand. She stroked his long nose.

  «He seems all right», she said. «I'll saddle him for you, Peter. I'm sure Robert would say you could ride him.»

  She saddled him quickly. Peter leapt up on to his back, and the four children cantered out into the paddock. Then away they went down the grassy field-path, the girls' hair streaming out in the wind.

  «We shan't have time to go very far», shouted Elizabeth. «We've only got about twenty minutes. We'll go as far as Windy Hill and back!»

  They cantered out into a lane heading to the hill. And then something happened! As they trotted round a corner, a steam-roller started rumbling down the lane, which had just been mended. Tinker reared up in fright, and Peter hel
d on with all his might.

  Elizabeth cantered up beside him and put out her hand to hold the reins tightly – but the horse tossed its head, gave a loud whinny, and darted into an open gateway that led to a field. And then it ran away! The three children stared in fright. Poor Peter! There he was on Tinker, holding on for dear life, whilst the horse galloped like mad across the stony field towards Windy Hill.

  «I'm going after him!» cried Elizabeth. She swung her horse round and galloped through the gateway. She shouted to him, and smacked him on his broad back.

  He set off swiftly, knowing that he had to overtake the runaway horse. Over the stony field went Elizabeth, whilst John and Kathleen watched in fright. Far away galloped Tinker, Peter still clinging fast.

  Elizabeth's horse was bigger and faster than Peter's. He galloped eagerly, his heels kicking up the stones. Elizabeth urged him on, shouting loudly. It was a good thing that she was such a good rider and that she trusted her horse. On and on they went, gaining little by little on Tinker.

  Peter's horse was panting painfully. He began to climb the steep Windy Hill and dropped to a trot. Peter tugged at the reins and tried to bring him to a stop, but the horse was still terribly frightened. Elizabeth galloped her horse up Windy Hill and at last overtook Tinker. But Tinker started in fright as soon as the other horse came up beside him. He stretched out his neck and began to gallop off again.

  But Elizabeth had managed to get the reins, and when Tinker felt her strong little hand on them, he quietened down, and listened to her voice. Elizabeth was good with horses and knew how to speak to them. After the first tug to get rid of Elizabeth's hand, Tinker slowed down and then, trembling from head to foot, stopped still.

  Peter was trembling too. He climbed down at once. Elizabeth leapt down and went round to Tinker's head. In a few minutes she had quieted the horse, but she did not dare to ride him.

  «Peter, ride my horse and go back and join the others», she said. «I shall have to walk Tinker home. Tell the stableman what has happened, and take a message to Mr. Warlow for me to tell him I shan't be back in time for games. Go on, now!»