«Ooooh!» said Ruth, in surprise. She looked round and saw Elizabeth's grinning face. Others began to giggle when they saw Ruth's angry look.
Elizabeth grew bolder. She folded up a bit of paper and flipped it at Helen, who sat in front. But Helen moved her head, and the pellet of paper flew past her and landed on Miss Ranger's desk. She looked up.
«Playtime is for things like this», she said. «Not lesson-time. Who did that?» Elizabeth didn't answer. Miss Ranger looked up and down the rows. «WHO DID THAT?» she said again. The boy next to Elizabeth poked her bard with his ruler.
«Own up!» he whispered. «If you don't we'll all be kept in.»
So Elizabeth owned up. «I did it», she said.
«Well, Elizabeth, perhaps you would like to know that I don't allow behaviour like that in my class», said Miss Ranger. «Don't do it again.»
«I shall if I want to», said Elizabeth. Everybody looked at her in amazement. Miss Ranger was surprised.
«You must be very bored with these lessons to want to flip paper about», she said. «Go outside the room and stay there till you feel it would bore you less to come back than to stand outside. I don't mind how long you stand there, but I do mind anybody being bored in my class. Now, children, get out your paint-boxes, please.» There was a clatter as the desks were opened and paint-boxes were taken out. Elizabeth loved painting and was very good at it. She wanted to stay. She sat on in her desk and didn't move. «Elizabeth! Go outside, please», said Miss Ranger.
There was no help for it then – up Elizabeth got and went outside the door.
«You may come back when you think you can really behave yourself, and not disturb my class», said Miss Ranger.
It was very dull standing outside the door. Elizabeth wondered if she should wander away and have a swing. No – she might meet the Beauty and the Beast! Ha ha! She was being naughty all right! But it was dull standing so long outside a door and hearing happy talking coming from inside, as the children painted blue and pink lupins that Miss Ranger had brought in. Elizabeth couldn't bear it any longer. She opened the door and went in.
«I can behave myself now», she said, in a low voice to Miss Ranger. Miss Ranger nodded, without a smile.
«Take your place», she said. «There's no time for you to do any painting – you can do a few more sums!»
“Sums again!” thought Elizabeth angrily. “Well – I'll just be bad as soon as ever I can think of something really naughty again!”
Chapter 7: The First School Meeting
That evening, after tea, the first Meeting was held. The whole school attended it, and Miss Belle, Miss Best, and Mr. Johns came too. They sat at the back and did not seem to be taking a great deal of notice of what was going on.
«But all the same, they never miss a word!» said Ruth to Belinda, who was feeling just a little scared of this first important Meeting.
The two Head Children of the school, a grave-looking girl called Rita, and a merry-eyed boy called William, sat at a large table in the gym, where the Meeting was held. They were the Judges. Twelve other children, six boys and six girls, big and small, sat round a table just in front of the two judges. They were called the Jury. All the others sat on forms around.
At first Elizabeth had thought she would not go to the Meeting. Then she had felt rather curious about it, and decided to go just this one time. She had seen a notice on the notice-board that said “Please bring all the money you have” and she had brought hers in her purse – though she was quite determined not to give it up if she were asked to do so.
All the children stood up when the two Judges and the two mistresses and master came into the room – all but Elizabeth! However she got up in a great hurry when she felt Ruth's hard fingers digging into her back to make her move! She glared round at Ruth, and was just going to speak angrily to her when there was the sound of a hammer being rapped on a table.
«Sit, please», said one of the Judges. Everyone sat. Elizabeth saw that there was a wooden hammer or mallet on the table in front of the Judges, and also a large notebook and some sheets of paper. There was a large box as well, like a big money-box. It all looked important and exciting.
«The twelve children round the smaller table are the monitors» whispered Helen to Elizabeth. «They are chosen by us all every month.» Elizabeth saw that Nora was at the Jury table, and so was the boy she had kicked the day before. She didn't know any of the others, except Eileen, the girl who had been kind to her yesterday.
The girl Judge rose in her seat and spoke clearly to the school. «This is our first Meeting this term», she said. «We have very little to do today, because school only opened yesterday, but we must just make our Rules clear to the new children, and we must also take in the money. We do not need to choose new monitors because we elected those at the last Meeting of the Easter term. You see them at the Jury table. They will remain monitors for one month unless any Meeting decides to choose others instead. As you know, monitors are chosen for their common sense, their loyalty to the school and its ideas, and their good character. They must be obeyed, because you yourselves have chosen them.» The girl Judge stopped and looked down at a paper she held, on which she had written notes to remind her of what she wanted to say. She looked round at the listening children.
«We have very few rules», she said. «One rule is that we place all the money we get into this box, and we draw from it two shillings a week each. The rest of the money is used to buy anything that any of you especially want – but you have to state at the weekly Meeting what you need the money for, and the Jury will decide if you may have it.» One or two of the children clinked their money as if they would like to put it into the box at once. The Judges smiled. «You'll be able to give your money in a minute», said the girl Judge. «Now, to go on with our Rules. The second rule is that if we have any complaint at all, we must bring it to the Meeting and announce it there, so that everyone may hear it, and decide what is to be done with it.
«Any bullying, unkindness, untruthfulness, disobedience may be brought before the Meeting, and we will decide what punishment shall be given. Please be sure you understand the difference between a real complaint and telling tales, because telling tales is also punished. If you are not sure of the difference, ask your monitor before you bring your complaint to the Meeting.»
The girl Judge sat down. The boy Judge got up, and beamed round the listening company. «We will now take the money», he said. «After that we will hand out the two shillings to everyone, and then see if anybody wants extra this week. Thomas, take the box round, please.» Elizabeth was quite sure she was not going to give up her money. She quickly pushed her purse under her and sat on it hard.
Thomas came round with the box. Money clinked into it – shillings and sixpences, half-crowns and even a ten-shilling note or two went into the big box.
The box came to Elizabeth. She passed it on without putting her money into it. But Thomas the monitor noticed it at once. «Haven't you any money at all?» he asked.
Elizabeth pretended not to hear. Thomas said no more, but went on taking the box round. Elizabeth was pleased. “I did what I wanted to them and they couldn't stop me!” she thought.
Thomas took the box up to the Judge. It was very heavy now. He put it on their table and said something to them in a low voice.
William, the boy Judge, rapped on his table with the hammer. Everyone stopped chattering.
«Elizabeth Allen did not put her money into the box», he said. «Elizabeth, have you no money?»
«Yes, I have», answered Elizabeth defiantly. «But I'm going to keep it.»
«Stand up when you speak to me», ordered the Judge. Elizabeth felt Ruth's hard fingers poking her again and she stood up. Ruth saw the purse on the form, and quickly picked it up.
«Why do you want to keep your money to yourself?» asked William. «Are you so very selfish?»
«No.», said Elizabeth. «But I think it's a silly idea.»
«Listen», said Willi
am patiently. «In this school we don't like to think that some of us have heaps of money to spend and others have hardly any. We all get the same, and if you want anything extra you can always have it if the Meeting agrees.»
«Well, I'm not going to stay at this school very long», said Elizabeth, in a rude, defiant voice. «And I shall want some money to go home by train – so I'm not going to give it to you.» There was a buzz of surprise and horror. The Judges and the Jury stared at Elizabeth as if she was something very queer indeed.
The two Headmistresses and the Master looked up with great interest, wondering what the Judges would say. William and Rita spoke together in low voices. Then they banged on the table with the hammer. Everyone was silent at once.
William spoke in a grave voice. «We think Elizabeth is wrong and silly», he said. «Her parents are paying a lot of money to keep her in this fine school, and even if she goes home in a short while, her term's fees still have to be paid. Also we think she is very feeble not to try and see if she likes Whyteleafe.»
«If I'm not sent home, I'll run away», said Elizabeth, angry at being spoken of like this.
«That can't be allowed», said William at once. «You would worry your parents and everyone here, just because you are a selfish, silly girl. Ruth, is that Elizabeth's money I see you waving at me? Bring it here.» Elizabeth made a snatch at her money, but it was too late. Ruth took the bag to the table and emptied six shillings, two half-crowns, and five sixpences into the money-box. Elizabeth blinked her eyes. She wanted to cry, but she wasn't going to.
«Elizabeth, we can't allow you to keep your money in case you are foolish enough to use it for running away», said Rita, in a kind but stern voice. One of the Jury stood up. It was a tall boy called Maurice. «I should like to say that the Jury think that Elizabeth Allen must not have any money at all to spend this week, because of her behaviour», he said.
All the Jury put up their hands to show that they agreed.
«Very well», said the Judge. «Now, Elizabeth, we shan't say any more to you today, because you are a new girl, and must be given a chance to settle down. I hope you will have a good report at next week's Meeting. We shall be very pleased if you do.»
«Well, I shan't, then», said Elizabeth, in a furious voice. «You just wait and see what I'll do.»
«Sit down», said William, losing his patience with the defiant little girl. «We've had enough of you for one meeting. Nora, give out the money to everyone, please.» Nora gave two shillings to everybody, except Elizabeth. The little girl sat sulking on her form, hating everybody. How dared they take her money? She would pay Ruth out for taking her purse like that! When everyone had their money, the Judges knocked for silence again. «Does anyone want extra money this week for anything?» asked William.
A small boy stood up. «I should like sixpence extra», he said.
«What for?» asked William.
«I've been told I must give some money to the School Club, to help towards a new gramophone», he said.
«Well, take it out of your two shillings», said William. «Sit down. Sixpence extra not granted.» The boy sat down. A girl got up. «May I have one and ninepence extra to pay for an electric light bulb I broke by accident in the playroom?» she asked.
«Who's your monitor?» asked Rita. One of the Jury stood up, a girl called Winnie.
«Was it a proper accident, Winnie, or just fooling about?» asked Rita.
«It was a proper accident», said Winnie. «Elsie was trying to open a tin, and the opener flew out of her hand and broke the light bulb.»
«Give her one and ninepence out of the box, then», ordered Rita. Winnie took the money and gave it to the girl, who was very pleased.
«Any more requests?» asked William. Nobody said anything.
«Any complaints or grumbles?» asked Rita.
Elizabeth felt uncomfortable. Would Nora complain about her? Would that boy she had kicked, who was a monitor, complain too? Goodness, this Meeting was lasting much too long!
Chapter 8: The First Week at School
Nobody made any complaints at all. Elizabeth couldn't help feeling glad. “All the same, they'll have plenty of complaints to make about me next week!” she thought. “I'll just show them that I mean what I say!”
Somebody had a grumble. It was a small boy called Wilfred. He stood up, looking rather shy. «I have a grumble», he said.
«Go on, then», said William, the Judge.
«Please», he said. «I learn music, and one of the times put down for my practice is half of cricket-time on Tuesday. Could I have it changed, because I do hate missing cricket.»
«Certainly», said William. «Mr. Johns, do you think that could be changed?»
«I'll see to it», said Mr. Johns, from the back of the room. «I'll speak to the music-master and have it put right for Wilfred.»
«Thank you», said William and Wilfred together. There were no more grumbles. William hammered on the table.
«The Meeting is over», he said. «The next will be held at the same time on the same day next week. Everyone must attend.»
The children jumped up, talking loudly, and went out to their various tasks. Some had lessons to prepare for the next day. Some had pets to feed. Some wanted to practise cricket or tennis. Everyone seemed to have something to do.
All except Elizabeth. She seemed to have no one to talk to, no one to walk with. She knew it was her own fault, but she didn't like it. She wandered off by herself and came to a little room where someone was playing the piano softly and beautifully.
Elizabeth loved music with all her heart. She crept into the little music-room and sat down to listen. Mr. Lewis, the music-master, was there, playing to himself. When he finished, he turned round and saw Elizabeth.
«Hallo!» he said. «Did you like that?»
«Yes, I loved it», said Elizabeth. «It sounded to me like the sea.»
«It was supposed to be the sea on a summer's day», said Mr. Lewis. He was an old man, with gentle eyes and a small grey beard. «It was written by a man who loved to put the sea into his music.»
«I wish I could learn to play it», said Elizabeth. «I really do wish I could. Am I supposed to be learning music at this school, do you know?»
«What's your name?» asked the music-master, taking out a small notebook and opening it. «Mine is Mr. Lewis.»
«Mine is Elizabeth Allen», said Elizabeth.
«Yes – here's your name», said Mr. Lewis. «You are down for music lessons with me. That's fine. We shall get on well together, and perhaps by the end of the term you will be able to play this sea-piece you like so much.»
«I'd like that», said Elizabeth, «but I shan't be here long. I hate school.»
«Dear me, what a pity», said Mr. Lewis. «Most children simply love it – especially Whyteleafe School. Well, if you think you won't be here long perhaps I had better cross your name off my list. It seems a waste of time to have any music lessons if you mean to go.»
«Well – I might as well have one or two lessons», said Elizabeth. «I suppose I couldn't have one now, could I?»
Mr. Lewis looked at his watch. «Yes», he said. «I've got twenty minutes. Fetch your music and we'll see what you can do.»
Elizabeth was happy for the first time when she sat down at the piano with the music – master by her side. She played one of her favourite pieces. Mr. Lewis jerked his foot in time to the music and nodded his head when she had finished.
«Yes, Elizabeth», he said, pleased. «You will be one of my best pupils. I must ask you to change your mind about leaving us soon – it will be a pleasure to me to teach you that sea-piece.»
Elizabeth felt pleased and proud. But she shook her head. «I'm afraid I shan't stay», she said. «They've taken my money away so that I can't run away, but I'm going to be so horrid that they'll have to send me away!»
«What a pity!» said Mr. Lewis. He looked at his watch again. «Play me something else», he said. «I've a little more time.» At the end of
the lesson Mr. Lewis showed Elizabeth the name of the sea-piece he had played. «There is a most beautiful gramophone record of it», he said. «Why don't you ask for some money to buy it at the next Meeting? Everyone would love the record in the playroom, and I know they haven't got it.»
«I'd love to get it», said Elizabeth. «Then I could hear it whenever I wanted to. But I know the Meeting wouldn't give me any money! Why, they've even not let me have the two shillings everyone else has.»
«Dear dear», said Mr. Lewis, smiling. «You must really be a very bad little girl – and yet you play my piano like an angel!»
«Do I really?» said Elizabeth in delight – but the music-master had gone, leaving Elizabeth to put away her music and shut the piano.
Elizabeth soon found out that there were many pleasant things that the children of Whyteleafe were allowed to do. Every other day they were allowed to go down to the village in twos, to buy sweets, toys, books, and anything they wanted. They were also allowed to go to the cinema once a week, provided that they paid for themselves.
They could go riding every day, and this Elizabeth simply adored, for there were rolling hills and commons around the school, on which it was perfectly lovely to gallop. Elizabeth rode very well indeed, for she had had her own pony for years.
Then, on two evenings a week, the music-master gave a little concert to those children who really loved music. The concert was from half past seven to eight, after supper, and Mr. Lewis gathered round him about twelve boys and girls who loved to hear the beautiful music he drew from his piano. Sometimes he played the violin too, and Elizabeth longed to learn to play it when she heard Mr. Lewis drawing the bow across the strings of his fine violin.
On another evening there was a small dance, beginning at half past seven, for an hour. Elizabeth loved dancing too, and when she saw the notice on the notice-board, she was pleased.