The Naughtiest Girl Again Read online

  There was nothing for it but to sit down. Elizabeth was very angry. She glared at Robert, who didn't look at her at all, but stood patiently waiting to speak.

  «Well, Robert, what have you to say?» asked William.

  «I hope this isn't telling tales» began Robert in a rather apologetic voice, «but I really must complain about Elizabeth Allen's behaviour to me. I have always tried to be fair to her.»

  «Oooooh!» cried Elizabeth indignantly. «You know you haven't! You've...»

  «Silence, Elizabeth!» ordered William sharply. «You can say all you want to say in a minute. Don't interrupt. Go on, Robert.»

  Elizabeth was boiling with rage. Joan put her hand on her friend's arm to try and calm her, but Elizabeth shook it off. Just wait till she had her turn to speak!

  «I've always tried to be fair to her» went on Robert in a very polite voice. «But really, I can't let her pull my hair out and slap me in the face.» There was an astonished silence. Everyone looked at Elizabeth. Robert went on, pleased at the surprise he had caused.

  «I've got some of the hairs she pulled out in this envelope to show you, William, in case you don't believe me. And there are two or three children who will tell you it really happened. Of course, as she's a girl, I couldn't hit her back. I know she was supposed to be the naughtiest girl in the school last term, and...»

  «You can leave that out, Robert. It has nothing to do with this», said William at once. «We have always found Elizabeth to be just and fair and kind so far, no matter how naughty she once was. Will you please tell us why Elizabeth did these extraordinary things?»

  «She didn't want me to swing somebody», said Robert. «She's always interfering with me, whatever I do. She laughs if I make a mistake in class. Well, never mind about that. I was just swinging Peter, and he was squealing with excitement, and she came and pulled out my hair, slapped me and punched me.»

  «Thank you», said William. «Sit down, Elizabeth, perhaps you would like to tell us if these complaints are true. Did you pull out Robert's hair and slap him?»

  Elizabeth stood up, her cheeks as red as fire and her eyes flashing. «Yes, I did!», she said. «And he deserved it! I wish I'd pulled out more of his hair. I wish...»

  «That's enough, Elizabeth», said Rita, at once. «II you can't control yourself enough to tell us properly what happened, there's no use in your saying anything.» Elizabeth knew she was being silly. She tried her hardest to be sensible.

  «Please, Rita, I'll tell my story properly», she said. «Then you'll see why If got so angry, and perhaps you'll say I was right to lose my temper with Robert. I was going to see my rabbits, when I heard somebody squealing out. It was Peter on the swing, and he was shouting to Robert not to swing him so high, because he was frightened.»

  «Go on», said William gravely.

  «Well, I rushed to stop the swing, and Robert sent me right over», said Elizabeth, feeling her temper rise again as she told what had happened. «I got up and flew at Robert to stop him swinging Peter again, because he was quite green and I thought he would fall off. And oh, William and Rita, that's not the only time that Robert has bullied the younger ones. He's a real bully, unkind and mean.»

  There was a silence again. Everyone in the school knew quite well that a very serious thing had happened. Which of the two children was right? Bullying was hateful. Bad temper and fighting were wrong.

  Joan was very upset. She knew quite well that Elizabeth had made up her mind to be good and do as well as she could this term, and now here was the hot-tempered girl flying into trouble almost at once! It was just no good trying to stop her. If Elizabeth saw something unfair she would rush at it in a temper and try to put it right that way. Joan couldn't see how this matter could be put right.

  William and Rita spoke together in low voices. The Jury discussed the matter, too. Robert sat on his form, not even red in the face. He did not look at Elizabeth.

  William knocked for silence. «We would like to ask the boys and girls who saw the affair to report on it», he said. «Who saw it?»

  Three children stood up. They said shortly that they had seen the hairs that Elizabeth had pulled out and had seen how red Robert's face was where it had been slapped.

  «Did Robert hit back at all?» asked Rita.

  «Not that we saw», said Kenneth, and sat down, feeling sorry for Elizabeth.

  «And now we will ask Peter to tell us what happened», said William in a kindly tone. «Stand up, Peter, and answer my questions.»

  The small nine-year-old Peter stood up. His knees shook beneath him, and he felt dreadful to have the eyes of the whole School on him.

  «Was Robert swinging you high?» asked William Peter looked across at Robert. Robert gave him a queer look. Peter spoke in a trembling voice. «Yes – he was swinging me quite high.»

  «Were you frightened?» asked William «N – no – no», said Peter.

  «Did you squeal for help?» asked Rita.

  «No», said Peter, with a look at Robert. «I was just – just squealing for fun, you know.»

  «Thank you», said William. «Sit down.»

  Elizabeth leapt up. «Robert must have made Peter promise to say all that!» she cried. «Ask if there are any other young ones who would like to complain about Robert, Rita.»

  Rita looked round to where the younger children sat. «Is there anyone who has a complaint to make about Robert?» she asked. «If he has been unkind to you, or ill-treated you in any way, speak now.»

  Elizabeth waited for half a dozen children to stand up and speak. But there was a complete silence! Nobody spoke, nobody complained. What a very strange thing! Now what was going to happen?

  Chapter 5: Elizabeth Is Very Cross

  The complaints to the School Meeting were so serious that the two Judges and the Jury took a long time to discuss them. In the meantime the rest of the children also discussed the matter among themselves. Not many of them were for Robert, for he was not liked, but on the other hand most of the boys and girls felt that Elizabeth had no right to lose her temper so fiercely.

  «And after all», whispered one child to another, «she was the naughtiest girl in the school last term, you know.»

  «Yes. We used to call her the Bold Bad Girl», said another child. «But she was quite all right after the half-term. She really did turn over a new leaf»

  «And I know quite well that she meant to do her very best this term», said Harry. «I've heard her say so heaps of times. She lost her temper with me last term, but she said she was sorry and has been absolutely decent to me ever since.»

  So the talk went on, whilst Elizabeth and Robert sat up straight, hating one another, each longing to hear that the other was to be punished. Meanwhile, the Judges and Jury were finding things very difficult. Some of the Jury felt quite certain that Robert was a real bully – and yet not even Peter would complain, so maybe there was not much truth in what they thought. All the monitors on the Jury were fair-minded and just, and they knew quite well that they must never judge anyone unless they had real, clear proof of wrong-doing.

  Again, all the Jury knew quite well how bad Elizabeth had been the term before, and yet how marvellously she had managed to conquer herself and turn over a new leaf. They could not believe that she would fight Robert just for nothing. It was all very difficult. They did not feel that they wanted to punish Elizabeth in case by any chance Robert did turn out to be a bully.

  At last William knocked with his wooden mallet for silence. The whole School sat up, eager to know what had been decided. Elizabeth was still fiery red in the face, but Robert looked quite pale and cool.

  «We find this matter very difficult to decide», said William in his pleasant voice. «It is quite clear that Elizabeth did lose her temper badly, and flew at Robert, but it isn't quite as clear that Robert was bullying Peter. After all, we must take Peter's word for that. He should know! But we know enough of Elizabeth to realise that she is a very just person, and it is quite plain that she thought Ro
bert was doing something very unkind.»

  There was a pause. The School listened hard. William thought for a moment and then went on: «Very well, Elizabeth may have been mistaken, but she really believed that Robert was being unkind. So she lost her temper and flew at him to stop him. That is where you were wrong, Elizabeth. Hot temper makes you see things all muddled instead of clearly, so when you see something you disapprove of, you must try to keep your temper, so that you can judge things properly and not get them all exaggerated and twisted. You spoke as if you hated Robert just now, and that does you as much harm as it does Robert.»

  «I do hate him!» burst out Elizabeth angrily.

  «Well, to go on with this» went on William, «we have decided that unless we get much plainer proof that Robert is a bully, we can't very well either judge him or punish him. And as we are sure you really did think he was doing something mean, we shan't punish you either, Elizabeth, but you must say you are sorry to Robert for behaving so badly to him.»

  The whole School thought this was a good decision. Nobody wanted Elizabeth badly punished, for they really did like the hot-headed girl. The School came to the conclusion that she must have been mistaken about Robert and therefore she really should apologise, and let the matter end there.

  Elizabeth said nothing. She sat on the form, looking sulky. Robert looked pleased. This was grand! William and Rita spoke together for a moment or two, and then said a few more words to close the matter.

  «Well, that is our decision, Elizabeth and Robert. You will apologise, Elizabeth, and you will accept the apology graciously, Robert. Elizabeth, guard your temper – and, Robert, see that no charge of bullying is ever made against you. If it should be, you would not be judged lightly.»

  Then William spoke of other things for a few moments and broke up the meeting, for the time was getting late. The children were dismissed and filed out of the gym, all looking rather solemn. Bad temper and bullying! These were things not often dealt with at the Meeting.

  Robert swaggered out, hands in pocket. He felt important and pleased. He had won that battle. Now Elizabeth had got to say she was sorry. Serve her right! But Elizabeth had no intention of saying she was sorry. Joan looked in dismay at the angry face of her friend as she marched into the common- room.

  «Elizabeth! There's Robert over there. For goodness' sake go and apologise now, and get it over» she begged the angry girl.

  «But I'm not sorry!» said Elizabeth in a loud voice, tossing back her dark curls. «Not a bit! I'm glad I flew at Robert. How can I say I'm sorry if it's an untruth?»

  «Well, you can apologise», said Joan. «That's only good manners. Just go up and say, “I apologise, Robert.” You don't need to say anything more.»

  «Well, I'm not going to», said Elizabeth. «The Judges and the Jury were wrong for once! Nobody can make me apologise.»

  «Elizabeth, no matter what you feel, you should be loyal to William and Rita», said Joan, troubled. «It isn't what you feel yourself that matters – it's what all the others feel to be right. You're one against a whole lot.»

  «Well, I may be, but I'm the one who happens to be right», said Elizabeth in a trembling voice. «I know Robert is a bully.»

  «Elizabeth, do what the Meeting says, and then we'll watch and see if we can't catch Robert at his horrid tricks» begged Joan. «Do it to please me. You'll make me so unhappy if you don't – and the whole School will think badly of you if you're afraid to apologise.»

  «I'm not afraid!» said Elizabeth, with her eyes flashing angrily.

  Joan smiled a little smile to herself. She turned away from Elizabeth. «You are afraid», she said. «You're afraid of hurting your own silly pride.»

  Elizabeth marched straight up to Robert. «I apologise», she said stiffly.

  Robert gave a polite bow. «I accept your apology!», he said.

  Elizabeth stalked off by herself. Joan ran after her.

  «Leave me alone», said Elizabeth crossly. She went into a music practice-room and sat down at the piano. She played a piece she knew, very loudly and fiercely. Mr. Lewis, the music-master, looked into the room in surprise.

  «Good gracious, Elizabeth!», he said. «I've never heard that piece sound so angry before. Get up, and let me play you something really fierce – something with a thunderstorm or two in it.»

  Elizabeth got up. Mr. Lewis took her seat and played a stormy piece of music, with the wind and the sea, streaming clouds, roaring trees in it – and then the storm died down, the rain sprinkled softly, the wind ceased, the sun shone, and the music became calm and smooth.

  And as she listened, the little girl felt soothed and softened too. She loved music so much. Mr. Lewis glanced at her and saw that she looked peaceful instead of troubled. He played a little longer and then the bell went for Elizabeth's bedtime.

  «There you are», said Mr. Lewis, shutting the piano. «After the storm, the calm. Now go off to bed, sleep well, and don't worry your head too much about anything.»

  «Thank you, Mr Lewis», said Elizabeth gratefully. «I do feel better now. I was all hot and bothered about something, but now I feel happier.»

  «Good-night!»

  Chapter 6: Jenny's White Mice

  Elizabeth did not sleep very well that night. She tossed and turned, thinking of the Meeting, of “that hateful Robert” as she called him to herself, of the apology she had had to make – and she made plans to catch Robert when he was being unkind to any of the younger ones. «Yes – I'll watch and wait and catch him properly», said Elizabeth to herself. «He is a bully, I know he is – and sooner or later I'll catch him!»

  Elizabeth was heavy-eyed and tired the next day. She did her lessons badly, especially French, and Mam'zelle was cross with her.

  «Elizabeth! How is it that you did not learn your French verbs yesterday?» scolded Mam'zelle. «That is not good. You sit there, half asleep, and you pay no attention at all. I am not pleased with you.» Robert grinned to himself, and Elizabeth saw him. She bit her lip to stop herself from being rude to both Robert and Mam'zelle. «Well, have you no tongue?» asked Mam'zelle impatiently. «Why did you not learn your verbs, I said?»

  «I did learn them», said Elizabeth truthfully. «But somehow I've forgotten them this morning.»

  «Then you will please learn them sometime today and remember them!» said Mam'zelle, her dark eyes flashing. «You will come and say them to me when you know them.»

  «All right», said Elizabeth sulkily. But Mam'zelle would not let that pass. She rapped on the desk and spoke sharply.

  «You will not say “All right” to me in that rude way! You will say “Very good, Mam'zelle”.»

  «Very good, Mam'zelle», said Elizabeth, knowing quite well that Robert was enjoying her scolding immensely, and wishing that she could pull some more hairs out of his dark head.

  After that the lesson went on smoothly, for Elizabeth was determined not to give Robert any more chances to crow over her. But she did not do so well as usual in anything, for as soon as she had a moment to think, she began to plan how she might catch Robert being unkind to someone. Belinda and Joan and Nora had a little talk together, whilst Elizabeth was having her music lesson that day.

  «We'll have to keep Elizabeth away from Robert for a few days if we can», said Joan. «She just hates him, and, you know, she has such a quick temper that she's quite likely to fly at him again if he makes a rude face at her.»

  «After a few days she won't feel so badly about it all», said Nora. «We'll try and get her to come down into the town with us, or to garden with John, or something like that – the less she sees of Robert the better. I can't say I want to see very much of him myself!» So for the next few days Elizabeth found that she was always being rushed off somewhere.

  «Come and help me to choose a new ribbon, Elizabeth!» Joan would beg. «I really must get one.» And down to the town the two would go.

  «Elizabeth, come and practise catching the ball at lacrosse with me» Nora would say. «You're g
etting quite good. A little more practice and you'll be first-rate.» Then Elizabeth would beam with pride and go to fetch her lacrosse stick.

  «Elizabeth, John wants you and me to go and help him to pile up rubbish for a bonfire!» Belinda would call. «Coming?» And off Elizabeth would go again, so that she hardly saw Robert at all, except in class. But she did not forget what she had planned to do, and when she had a chance she watched to see if any of the smaller children were being bullied.

  But she saw nothing of the sort. Robert went about his own business and seemed to keep right away from the younger ones. He knew quite well that Elizabeth was watching for him to do something bad again, and he wasn't going to give her the chance to catch him. She would soon get tired of that. Robert was immensely fond of horses, and rode as often as he could. He was not allowed to look after them, because only the bigger boys and girls were allowed to do that, but he spent as much time as he could hanging round the stables, and talking to the brown-eyed horses, who put their heads out over the stable doors when they saw him. Robert took no interest in the other pets at all, much to the annoyance of the other children, who always loved to show off their pets to anyone.

  So, with Robert going out riding and the other girls taking Elizabeth off with them as often as they could, the two enemies had few chances to meet and quarrel. It was only in class that they could show their dislike of one another. Robert was so anxious not to give Elizabeth any chance of jeering at him that he worked extra hard, and took enormous care with his home-work. Miss Ranger, the form-mistress, was surprised and pleased to find Robert making such progress with everything, and she praised him. «Robert, you are doing very well», she said. «I shouldn't be surprised if you are top of the class one week this term, if you work like this!» Robert went red with pleasure. He was really a lazy boy, and had never been anywhere near the top of his form, even at his old school.

  Elizabeth was annoyed to here Miss Ranger say this. Why, she, Elizabeth, could easily be top of the form if she wanted to! She would work like anything and just show Robert he couldn't get to the top whilst she was in the form! So she worked very hard too – but both children were working hard for the wrong reason – to spite one another! So they did not enjoy their work at all, which was a great pity.