«Thank you awfully, William», said Robert in a rather choky voice. «You can trust me to take care of the horses – and you can bet I'll choose those kids that I've teased, to take out riding first!»
«We thought you'd do that.», said Rita, pleased. «Let us know at the next Meeting how you've got on, Robert. We shall all want to know.»
«I'll go riding with you, Robert!» called a small boy's voice.
It was Peter. He had listened hard to everything that had been said, and in his generous heart he wanted to help Robert. He also felt a little guilty – for he remembered how once he had been jealous of his small sister and had smacked her when no one was looking. Good gracious, he might have turned into an unhappy bully like Robert!
«The Meeting must really break up now», said Miss Belle. «It has taken a long time and it is past the bed-time of the younger ones. But I think we all feel tonight that we have learnt something big – and once again you children have the chance of helping one of yourselves. It is grand to be helped – but it is even grander to help!»
«The Meeting is dismissed!» cried William, and knocked on the table with his hammer.
The children filed out, rather serious, but happy and satisfied. A difficult problem had been solved, and they were pleased.
Only one child was neither happy nor pleased. And that child, of course, was Kathleen! Robert had lost his place in the match because of her. Every child in the school was going to help him – but Kathleen had harmed him.
She was very miserable. But whatever could she do about it?
Chapter 14: The Day of the Match
The next day was Saturday, the day of the lacrosse match. Elizabeth woke up early, and looked eagerly at the window. Was it a fine day?
It wasn't very fine. There were clouds across the sky. But at least it wasn't raining. Good! What fun it would be to play in her first match!
«Jenny!» whispered Elizabeth, as she heard the girl move in her bed. «Jenny! It's the day of the match – and I'm playing instead of Robert!»
Jenny grunted. She wasn't sure if she was very pleased that Elizabeth should crow over Robert like that. Jenny thought Robert should certainly be punished – but crowing over him was another thing altogether.
Kathleen was awake too. She heard what Elizabeth said, and she felt guilty. She had thought that it was fine for another child to take the blame and the punishment for something she herself had done – but somehow she didn't feel like that now. Also, she was angry that Elizabeth should have the pleasure of playing in the match – for she did dislike Elizabeth so very much! What a nuisance everything was!
And what about Robert? Well, Robert also awoke early, and he remembered at once all that had happened the night before. He sat up in bed, his eyes shining, as he thought of the two horses he would choose for his own special care. He felt quite different. It didn't matter now a bit that the whole School knew he had been a bully – because they also knew it wasn't really his fault, and in a week or two he would be able to show them what he really was. What a surprise they would get! He remembered the lacrosse match, and a little sinking feeling came into his heart as he remembered that Elizabeth was to take his place.
“I'd like to have played in the match” he thought to himself. “And it is jolly hard that the Meeting gave me that punishment for something I really didn't do – but I suppose they had to believe Elizabeth this time. I must put up with it and hope that the person who's really playing those tricks will be found out some time. Then everyone will be jolly sorry they punished me for nothing!” He sat and thought for a while, his chin on his knees. “Elizabeth is a funny girl. She's so fierce and downright, so keen on being fair and just – and yet she's been awfully unfair to me. She might know I wouldn't play mean tricks like that. I don't like her at all.” Robert half made up his mind that he wouldn't speak to Elizabeth at all, or have anything to do with her. Then, as he thought of the lovely time he was going to have looking after the horses, his heart softened, and he couldn't feel hard even to Elizabeth! And anyway, he was going to show everyone that he could be kind just as easily as unkind.
«I know what I'll do!», he said to himself. «I'll go and watch the match – and if Elizabeth shoots a goal I'll cheer like the rest. That will be a hard thing for me to do, but I'll do it just to show everyone I can!» Robert got up before the others in his dormitory that morning. He slipped out and went to the stables. He would talk to the two horses he was going to care for – and he would go riding over the hills on his favourite. He felt proud and important as he unlocked the stabledoor and spoke to the stable-man.
«Can l talk to Bessie and Captain?» he asked. «I've got permission to look after them.»
«Yes, I've been told», said the man. «All right – but I'll have to oversee your work with them the first week, young man. After that, if you're all right, you can carry on.»
Robert heard running footsteps and looked out into the yard. He saw Leonard and Fanny hurrying to the cow-sheds. They were going to milk the cows. They saw him and shouted: «Hallo, Robert! Have you chosen your horses yet?»
«Rather!» said Robert. «Come and see the two that are going to he mine! Look – this is old Bess – she's a darling. And this is Captain. Rub his nose.»
Leonard and Fanny looked at the two horses and then they looked at Robert. They stared at him so hard that Robert was puzzled.
«What's the matter?», he said. «Have I got a smut on my nose, or something?»
«No», said Fanny. «But you do look different, Robert. You used to look so horrid – sort of sulky and mean – but now you're smiling and your eyes are all shiny. We're staring because it seems rather queer to see somebody change in a night! Come and see our cows! Would you like a glass of warm milk?»
The children linked their arms in Robert's and pulled him over to the cow-sheds, where the patient cows stood waiting to he milked. They chattered and laughed as they went, and Robert felt warmed by their friendly talk and looks. He began to chatter too, and soon he was standing drinking a glass of warm, creamy milk from the first cow.
“This is fun!” he thought. “I'll see Leonard and Fanny each morning when I come to see my horses. I shall soon make friends!” In five minutes' time he was galloping over the hills by himself, enjoying the wind in his hair and the bump of the horse's back beneath him. He talked to Bess, and she pricked back her ears to listen. All horses loved Robert. He had never had a great deal to do with them before, and now it seemed to him almost too good to be true to think that he could have as much to do with them as he liked.
“After tea I'll ask young Peter if he'd like to come riding on Captain” he planned. “I'll soon make that kid forget all about the teasing I gave him.”
Everyone who met Robert that morning had a grin for him, or a clap on the back. The whole School was keeping its word! Neither Kathleen nor Elizabeth met him, for both girls were busy. Elizabeth was digging with John in the garden, and Kathleen had gone with some others for a Nature ramble.Elizabeth was chattering to John about the match.
«It's a bit of luck for me that I'm playing, isn't it?», she said. «I was so disappointed when I saw Robert's name up on the board, instead of mine.»
«I expect Robert is feeling just as disappointed now», said John, digging hard.
«Well, it serves him right», said Elizabeth. «He's been jolly mean to me and Jenny. Think how he dirtied my tools one night, John – and you blamed me for it.»
«I'm sorry I blamed you wrongly», said John. «I only hope you are right about Robert, Elizabeth, and that he is not being blamed for something he hasn't done either.»
«Well, he's a horrid boy, anyhow», said Elizabeth. «I'm glad he's out of the match. I bet he won't come anywhere near it. He'll be so ashamed that he's not playing after all!»
But that was just where Elizabeth was quite wrong! The children playing the match had to change into their gym clothes immediately after lunch. The matches usually began at half-past two, so they hadn't
a great deal of time. Kinellan School was arriving by bus at twenty-past two, and the Whyteleafe team had to be at the gate to meet them and welcome them.
Elizabeth could hardly eat any lunch, she was so excited. She stole a look at Robert, and saw that he was looking quite happy.
Elizabeth pushed her potatoes to the side of her plate. «Miss Ranger! I just can't eat any more, I'm so excited!»
«Well, for once you may leave what's on your plate», said Miss Ranger, smiling. «I know what it feels like to be playing in your very first match.»
Elizabeth rushed off with the others to change. Then she went to welcome the Kinellan team, and take them to the field. They put their clothes in the pavilion there.
«Look – almost the whole School has turned out to watch!» said Elizabeth to Nora, as she saw the children streaming up from the school.
«And there's Robert too!» said Nora, as she caught sight of Robert coming along with the others.
«Where?» asked Elizabeth in surprise.
Then she saw him. Good gracious! Robert had come to watch the match he had hoped to play in! He had come to watch somebody play instead of him! The little girl could hardly believe her eyes. She suddenly felt rather small and ashamed. She knew she wouldn't have been able to do such a generous thing if she had been in Robert's place.
«I call it jolly decent of Robert to come and watch you play in his place», said Nora. «I think that's a big and generous thing to do. It's funny that a boy able to do a big thing like that should be mean enough to play horrid tricks. It makes me wonder if he really did do them, after all!»
Elizabeth picked up her lacrosse stick. She had felt so sure Robert wouldn't come near the match. She was quite wrong. And now suppose that, as Nora said, Robert hadn't done all the things she thought he had – suppose he was being punished unfairly? And all because of her! It wasn't a very nice feeling.
«Oh well, never mind! I'm jolly well going to enjoy my first match!» said Elizabeth to herself, and she ran out of the pavilion into the field. But what a disappointment – it was beginning to rain! The teams stared up into the sky in dismay. Surely the rain wasn't going to be much? Surely it would soon stop? It would be too bad if they couldn't play.
The children all crowded into the pavilion to wait. The rain fell more and more steadily. It pelted down. The clouds became lower and blacker – there really was no hope at all!
«I'm afraid the match is off», said Mr. Warlow. «Go to the gym and we'll arrange games for the visiting team.»
The children ran helter-skelter to the school. Elizabeth ran too, sadly disappointed. It was too bad! Her very first match, and the rain had spoilt it!
A voice spoke in her ear. «Elizabeth! Bad luck! I'm sorry!»
The girl turned – and saw that it was Robert who had spoken! He had run off to join the others, so she couldn't answer. Elizabeth stood still, astonished. Robert! Fancy Robert saying that! She simply couldn't understand it.
«Elizabeth! Do you want to be soaked to the skin?» cried Miss Ranger's voice. «What are you doing standing out there like that? Come along at once, you silly child!»
And into the school with the others Elizabeth went, very much puzzled, and not knowing quite what to do about it!
Chapter 15: Kathleen Owns Up
Everybody was disappointed that the match was off, especially the players themselves. The rain poured down all the afternoon. Mr. Johns and Miss Ranger got some games going in the gym, and the Visitors enjoyed themselves thoroughly.
Joan was sorry for Elizabeth's disappointment. She slipped her arm through her friend's. «Elizabeth, never mind! There's another match next Saturday. Maybe you'll be able to play in that instead.»
«Perhaps», said Elizabeth. «But it really is bad luck that it rained today. I've been practising so hard, and really I'm getting quite good at catching the ball and shooting at goal!»
«I guess Robert was pleased that it rained so that you couldn't play», said Joan.
«Well, Joan, that's the funny part – he was there to watch – and when it rained and we all went off the field, he came up and said it was bad luck and he was sorry», said Elizabeth. «I really was surprised. And somehow I felt rather mean.»
«Wait till he plays a few more tricks, then you won't feel so mean!» said Joan.
But no more tricks were played. Kathleen hadn't the heart to think of any more. She had seen somebody else publicly punished for her own wrong-doing, and she was beginning to despise herself. She hated Jenny and Elizabeth, but it was a miserable sort of feeling now, not a fierce red-hot feeling.
“I'm a dreadful person!” thought Kathleen in despair. “I'm plain and spotty and pale, I'm dull and slow, and now I'm mean and deceitful and cowardly. That's the worst of beginning to do horrid things – they make you feel horrid yourself, and then you can't ever be happy any more. I'm not fit to be at a school like Whyteleafe, where the children are happy and jolly – and where even a boy like Robert, who's been hateful to others, can turn over a new leaf and begin again!”
Poor Kathleen! It had seemed such fun, and so clever, at first, to think out nasty little tricks to get Jenny and Elizabeth into trouble – but now that she had found that mean ways make a mean person, she hated herself.
“And it's much worse to hate yourself than it is to hate somebody else” thought Kathleen. “Because you can never get away from yourself. I wish I was a happy honest sort of person like Nora or John.” Kathleen was really unhappy. She went about looking so miserable that the girls felt sorry for her.
«Don't you feel well?» asked Elizabeth.
«I'm all right», said Kathleen, and walked off with her head drooping like a sad little dog.
«What's up, Kathleen? For goodness' sake, smile a bit!» cried Belinda. «You're enough to turn the milk sour! Have you had bad news from home, or something?»
«No», said Kathleen, «I just don't feel like smiling, that's all. Leave me alone.»
Her work was so bad that Miss Ranger began to be worried. What in the world could be the matter with the girl? She looked as if she was worrying about something. Miss Ranger managed to get Kathleen alone for a few minutes, and spoke to her gently.
«Kathleen, my dear – is there anything wrong? Your work has gone to pieces this week, and you look so miserable. Can't you tell me what's wrong? I may be able to help.»
Kathleen felt the tears coming into her eyes when she heard Miss Ranger speaking to her so kindly. She turned her head away. «Nobody can help.», she said in a funny muted voice. «Everything's gone wrong. And nothing and nobody can put it right.»
«My dear child, there are very few things that can't be put right, if only you will give somebody a chance to help», said Miss Ranger. «Come now, Kathleen – what's wrong?»
But Kathleen wouldn't tell her. She shook her head obstinately, and Miss Ranger gave it up. She could not like Kathleen, but she fell very sorry for her. Then Kathleen made up her mind to do a very foolish thing. She would run away – right away home – but first she would tell Elizabeth and Jenny all she had done. She would confess to them, so that Robert would be cleared of blame. She could at least do that. She wouldn't despise herself quite so much if she owned up.
“Though it will be awfully difficult” thought poor Kathleen. “They will look at me in such a horrid way – they will call me names – and everyone in the school will know how awful I have been. But still, I shall have run away by then, so I shan't mind.”
That evening, after tea, Kathleen went up to Jenny. «Jenny», she said, «I want to speak to you and Elizabeth alone. Where's Elizabeth?»
«She's in the gym», said Jenny, surprised. «We'll go and get her. What do you want, Kathleen?»
«I'll tell you when Elizabeth is with us», said Kathleen. «We'll go into one of the music practice- rooms. We'll be alone there.»
Very much puzzled, Jenny went with Kathleen to find Elizabeth. They soon found her and called her. Elizabeth went with them, surprised and rather im
patient, because she had been having some fun with Belinda and Richard.
Kathleen closed the door and faced the other two. «I've got something to say to you both», she said. «I've been very unhappy, and I can't bear it any more, so I'm going to go home. But before I go I want to own up to something. Don't blame Robert for all those tricks – I did them all!
Elizabeth and Jenny stared at Kathleen as if they couldn't believe their ears. Kathleen had done all those things – hidden the books, taken Jenny's mice, dirtied the garden tools, muddled the drawers? Oh, the horrid, horrid creature!
«I knew you would look at me like that», said Kathleen, tears beginning to trickle down her cheeks, «I expect I deserve it. But before I go, I'd like to tell you something else. You are both pretty and jolly and clever, and everyone likes you. I'm plain and pale and spotty and dull, and I can't help it. But you don't know how I'd like to be like you! I envy you, and I can't help disliking you because you're all the things I'm not. You were very unkind once, Jenny, when you imitated Mam'zelle and me having a quarrel, but...»
«I'm sorry about that», said Jenny at once. «I didn't know you'd come into the room, I don't wonder you wanted to pay me out for that, Kathleen. But you shouldn't have got Elizabeth into trouble, too.»
«Well, I've paid myself out, too!» said Kathleen. «I don't like myself any more than you like me, I know I'm simply horrid, and that's why I'm going home. My mother loves me, even though I'm not as pretty and nice as other girls are. And she will perhaps understand and forgive me for running away.»
There was a silence. Elizabeth and Jenny simply did not know what to say. They were shocked at Kathleen's confession – and Elizabeth especially felt very angry because she had blamed Robert for things he hadn't done, and that was terrible.
«Well, Kathleen, all I can say is it's a jolly good thing you had the sense to own up», said Jenny at last. «I think more of you for that. But, my goodness, you're a spiteful mean person, i must say! Don't you think so, Elizabeth?»