Mr. Lewis was disappointed. «Well, aren't you a little silly?» he said, patting her on the shoulder.
«What a pity! And we were going to do something rather exciting this week too – I've got Richard Watson to learn a duet, and I thought you and he could play it together. Duets are fun.»
«Oh dear», said Elizabeth in dismay. «I've never played a duet, and I've always thought it would be fun. Could you wait till next week, do you think, Mr. Lewis? I might get all my punishments taken off by that time.»
«I should hope you would!» said the music-master. «Now, Elizabeth, although you are going to miss your lessons with me this week, there is no need for you to miss your practice. Take this duet and try to learn your part by yourself – and next week I'll have Richard alone too, and we'll all have a go at it. Practice your other pieces too, and don't forget your scales.»
«I won't forget», promised Elizabeth, and she ran off. Richard Watson was a big boy, and Elizabeth couldn't help feeling rather proud to think that Mr. Lewis had chosen her to play a duet with him. She knew that Richard Watson played the piano and the violin beautifully.
Elizabeth turned over a new leaf that week. Nobody could have worked harder in class than she did She only got one sum wrong the whole of the week. She didn't get a single mistake in dictation.
Even the French mistress, Mademoiselle, was pleased with her because she learned a French song so quickly. «Ah, but you are a clever little girl!» she said to Elizabeth. «Will you not help this poor little Joan to learn her piece? Always she makes mistakes, and is at the bottom of my class.»
«Yes, I'll help Joan», said Elizabeth eagerly. «I can easily teach her the song.»
«You have a good heart», said Mademoiselle. Elizabeth went red with pleasure. The other children stared at her. They couldn't understand this strange girl who was so bad and horrid one week, and so good and helpful the next! Elizabeth helped Joan to learn the song. She and Joan went off to a corner of the garden and Elizabeth sang each line of the song in her clear voice, and made Joan sing it after her. It wasn't long before Joan knew it perfectly.
«You are very decent to me, Elizabeth», said Joan gratefully. «I wish I was going to have a birthday cake on my birthday – I'd give you the biggest piece of all!»
«When is your birthday?» asked Elizabeth.
«It's in two weeks' time», said Joan. «And I do hate it so, because I know I shan't get a single card, and my parents are certain not to remember it. Everyone else seems to have a big cake, and presents and cards.»
«I think it's a shame», said Elizabeth warmly. «I shall give you a present, anyhow – that is if only the Meeting will give me my two shillings! I shan't pour ink on my rug again, anyway – that was an awful waste of two shillings. I could have bought toffees with that. I haven't had a sweet for ages!»
«I'll buy some this afternoon and share them with you», said Joan. «I want most of my money for stamps, but I shall have a few pence over for sweets. It's a pity you can't go down to the village with me and choose the sweets. It would be fun to go together.»
«It would», agreed Elizabeth. «But I'm not going down till I'm allowed to. For one thing I promised Rita I wouldn't go alone – and for another thing, I'm jolly well not going to have the Meeting taking away my good times any more!» They went indoors. On the way they met three of the boys, going out to practise bowling.
«Hallo, Bold Bad Girl!» said one of them. Elizabeth went red, and tried to rush at them. But Joan held her arm firmly.
«Don't take any notice», she said. «They only want to see you get angry – and after all, you do deserve the name, you know!»
The boys went off to the cricket field, grinning. Elizabeth felt very angry. She still had not got used to the good-natured teasing that went on all around her. She wished she could tease back, or laugh, as the other children did.
Miss Ranger was delighted with Elizabeth that week. The little girl really had a fine brain, and was fond of a joke. She could say clever things that made Miss Ranger and the class laugh heartily. She had only to look at a page once or twice and she knew it by heart! She liked her work and did everything well.
«Elizabeth, you are a lucky little girl», said Miss Ranger. «Lessons come easily to you, and you should be able to do something fine in the world when you grow up. Whyteleafe School and your parents will be proud of you one day.»
«Whyteleafe School won't», said Elizabeth firmly. «I shan't be here long enough. Half a term is as long as I shall stay, and I may go home before that.»
«Well, we'll see», said Miss Ranger. «Anyway, it is a pleasant change to see the other side of you this week, and not the unpleasant rudeness of last week.»
Elizabeth practised hard at the piano all the week. She wanted to show Mr. Lewis that she could play that duet with Richard! Over and over she played the pages of the music, trying to get the right time, and to play softly and loudly at the proper moments.
One morning she got a letter from her mother enclosing some stamps. “Now that you have to buy your own stamps I thought perhaps it would help you if I sent you some”, wrote her mother. “Then you can spend all your money on the things you like.” Elizabeth counted the stamps. There were twelve penny ones and twelve ha'penny ones. She divided them in half and went to find Joan.
«Joan! Here are some stamps for you! Now you needn't spend all your money on them», said Elizabeth.
«Oh, thanks», said Joan, delighted. «What a bit of luck! Your mother must be a darling to think of things like that. I'll go straight down and buy some toffee.»
She did – and the two girls sucked it happily after tea that day, as they wandered round the school garden. They came across John Terry busy gardening with his new spade. He showed it to the girls, and they admired it. Elizabeth told John about the garden she had at home.
«You sound as if you knew a lot about gardening», said John. «Not many girls do. I suppose you wouldn't like to come and help me sometime, would you, Elizabeth? There's a lot to do, and in the summer-time not many people come and help.»
«I'd love to», said Elizabeth proudly. Fancy clever John Terry asking her to help him! «I'll come whenever I can.»
«You do look happy, Elizabeth», said Joan, staring at her friend's bright eyes. «I don't believe you want to leave Whyteleafe at all.»
«Well, I do, then», said Elizabeth, quite fiercely. «I don't change my mind as quickly as all that! You'll soon see. I'll ask Rita to get me sent back home before half-term!»
Chapter 13: The Third Meeting
The third Meeting came. Everyone went to the gym as before, and took their places. Some of the teachers sat at the back as usual. Rita and William came in last of all and the children rose and stood until their two Judges sat down.
Joan was sitting next to Elizabeth. She was hoping very much that Elizabeth would not say anything silly, and so spoil her week's good work and behaviour. Elizabeth wished the Meeting was over. She was not used to having her behaviour discussed and dealt with, and she didn't like it at all. But she knew that everyone was treated the same, and she saw that it was quite fair. Money was put into the box. One girl, Eileen, had had a whole pound sent to her by her grandmother, and she put it into the box very proudly. She was glad to feel that she could add so much to the spending money of the school.
The two shillings were given out to everyone. Elizabeth took hers gladly – now she would be able to buy some sweets for Joan.
«Does anyone want anything extra this week?» asked William, rattling the money-box.
Eileen wanted a shilling to get her watch mended, and it was granted at once. Nobody else said anything.
«Nothing else?» asked Rita, looking round.
Elizabeth suddenly found herself standing up. «I don't expect you will let me have it», she said, «but I would very much like something – it isn't only for myself, but it would be nice for everyone else too.»
«What is it you want?» asked Rita.
; «Well, there's a lovely sea-piece that Mr. Lewis plays», said Elizabeth eagerly. «He says there is a beautiful gramophone record of it, and I would so much like it. I'm sure everybody would love it too. I know I could buy it with my two shillings, but I owe Joan Townsend a lot of sweets, and I'd like to buy her some this week.»
William and Rita looked at the twelve monitors below them at the small table. «What do you think about it?» Rita asked them. «You might discuss it for a moment.»
The jury discussed it for a few minutes. Then Nora stood up. «We think the money might be granted to Elizabeth», said Nora. «We have heard her practising like anything every morning this week before breakfast, and we think she deserves a reward.»
«An extra two shillings is granted, then», said William. «Give the money to Elizabeth, Nora.»
Elizabeth was given another two shillings. She was really delighted. She thought the monitors were very decent to have granted her wish. She forgot that she had hated them all last week! The Meeting passed on to complaints and reports. One boy, Peter, was reported for scribbling over one of the cloakroom walls.
«A disgusting habit!» said William severely. «You will spend your next two playtimes cleaning off the scribble with soap and hot water, and then you will buy some yellow distemper from the school stores out of your two shillings, and repaint that bit of wall yourself. I shall come to see it at the end of the week.»
Peter sat down, very red. Never again in his life would he scribble on walls. He was not angry at his punishment for he knew that it was just – he must remove the mess he had made, and make the wall good.
«We all see the walls», said William, «and we certainly don't want to see your silly scribbles on them.»
Then there was a report on Harry, who had cheated the week before. Mr. Johns had sent in a written note to William about him. William read it to the Meeting. «I have to report that Harry is rapidly catching up with the rest of his class in arithmetic», wrote Mr. Johns. «After another week, he will be as good as the rest. As he will then have no reason to cheat, I propose that at the next Meeting Harry is told he may sit with the others again, and not apart.»
«What about letting Harry sit with the rest of his class this week?» asked one of the monitors. «He's had a week of sitting apart, and it's not very nice.»
«No», said William firmly. «He cheated before because he didn't know as much as the others – and if we let him go back too soon, he'll be tempted to cheat again. We don't want it to become a habit. Harry, next week we hope to put you back in your old seat with the others.»
«Yes, William», said Harry. He made up his mind to work so hard at his arithmetic that he would be top of the class before the end of the term – then the Meeting, and Mr. Johns, would know he had no reason to cheat at all!
«And now for the Bold Bad Girl, Elizabeth Allen», said William. Everyone laughed. Elizabeth laughed too. It sounded funny, not horrid, when William called her by those names. «Nora, what report have you to give?»
Nora stood up. «An excellent report», she said. «Elizabeth has obeyed all the orders of last week's Meeting, and as far as I know has obeyed them cheerfully and well.»
«Thank you», said Rita. Nora sat down. Rita opened a note. It was written by Miss Ranger. «Here is a report to me from Miss Ranger», said Rita. «This is what she says: “It has been a pleasure to have a girl like Elizabeth in my class this week. She has worked well, could easily be top of her class, and has been very helpful to others who cannot work as quickly as she can. She has been as good this week as she was bad last week!”» Rita looked up. She smiled her lovely smile at Elizabeth, and William smiled too. «This is very good, Elizabeth», said Rita. «I too have noticed a great difference in you this week.»
«Have you?» asked Elizabeth, pleased to think that Rita had taken any notice of her. «Rita, did you notice that my manners were better? Because I'd like you to think that my mother and father have taught me good manners and brought me up properly. I don't like people to think they haven't.»
«Well, we take back what we said about your parents being at fault», said Rita. «But you really must see, Elizabeth, that if a boy or girl is rude or horrid, it often means that their parents are to blame for not having taught them any better.»
«I do see that», said Elizabeth. «Well, you'll see my father and mother at half-term, and then you'll know that they couldn't possibly be nicer.»
«Oh – so you have made up your mind to stay with us, then?» asked Rita, with a sudden smile of amusement. She couldn't help liking Elizabeth, for the little girl said such funny things, and was so serious about everything.
«Oh no, I haven't», said Elizabeth at once. «But I see now that you wouldn't let me go home if I behave too badly – you'll only be angry with me and make me stay just to show me I can't get my own way. But, Rita, if I do try hard to be good, and do everything I ought to, will you please ask Miss Belle and Miss Best to let me go home? They can ask my parents at half-term to take me away. My mother wouldn't want me to stay anywhere where I was unhappy.»
William and Rita looked at Elizabeth in surprise, very puzzled to know what to do with such a strange little girl. Rita spoke to William, and the jury discussed things together too. But nobody could decide anything at all.
Rita hammered on to the table and everyone was quiet. «Well, Elizabeth», said Rita, «we simply don't know what to say to you. We've never been asked such a thing before. We think we'd better ask Miss Belle and Miss Best to help us. Please, Miss Belle and Miss Best, could you advise us what to do best for Elizabeth?»
The two headmistresses came up to the platform and Rita got them chairs. Mr. Johns came too, and sat with them. It was not often that the masters and mistresses came on to the platform at the weekly Meetings, and it seemed to make things much more important and serious.
«Well, first», said Miss Belle, «I think we should all discuss this thing together – and as it is not very pleasant to discuss a person when she is present, and Elizabeth may find it a little awkward to hear us, I suggest that she shall be given the chance to leave the room until we have finished. What do you think about it. Elizabeth?»
«I'd rather go out of the gym and wait till you say what's decided», said Elizabeth. «But please, Miss Belle, I shall be awfully naughty again if...»
«Don't say anything more, Elizabeth, my dear», said Miss Best hurriedly. She didn't want the children to feel annoyed with Elizabeth. She knew it was very difficult to be fair if people were feeling angry.
Elizabeth went out of the gym. She went to a music-room nearby and began to practise her part of the duet. She hoped that she would be able to have her music lessons the next week, then she could play the piano with Richard.
The Meeting began to discuss Elizabeth and what to do with her. Everyone had a say, and everyone was listened to.
«We don't want her, she's a nuisance», said one girl. «Why not let her go?»
«We do want her», said Miss Belle. «I think we can help her a great deal.»
«She's been spoilt», said William. «It's always difficult for spoilt children to fit in anywhere. They think the world's made for them and them alone.»
«But you can't think how kind Elizabeth is really», said Joan eagerly. «I'm her only friend, and I know more about her than anyone. She really has a good heart, Mademoiselle said she had too.»
«That is quite true», came Mademoiselle's voice from the back of the gym. «This little Elizabeth is a good child at heart, and a clever one. But she is so-o-o-o obstinate.» Everyone laughed at Mademoiselle's long “so-o-o-o-o”.
«It's so silly to think that Elizabeth can be simply splendid, but means to be awful if we don't give her what she wants», said William. «Fancy wanting to leave Whyteleafe School! I've never, never known anyone want to do that before.»
The discussion went on. Nobody could imagine how Elizabeth could want to leave such a fine school as Whyteleafe, where the children were so happy, and where they rule
d themselves. Miss Belle, Miss Best, and Mr. Johns smiled at one another when they heard the excited children blaming Elizabeth for wanting to leave Whyteleafe.
«I think I can see the answer to your problem», said Miss Belle, at last. «Shall we say this to Elizabeth – that she may certainly leave us after the half-term if she is really unhappy, and can say so honestly to the Meeting? She does not need to be rude or naughty or disobedient any more, but may be good, hard-working and enjoy herself all she likes – because we are quite willing to let her go, if she really wants to, in a few weeks' time!»
«Oh – I see», said Rita, her eyes shining. «You mean that Elizabeth can't possibly come and say she is unhappy, after enjoying herself at Whyteleafe till half-term! So she won't want to go after all – but we're offering her what she wants, so she needn't be bad any more?»
«That's right», said Miss Belle. «If Whyteleafe School is all you say it is, and I am very proud to hear it – then I think we can safely say that you children and the school will be able to keep Elizabeth here of her own free will. We shall see Elizabeth at her best – and we can all help her to be good and happy.»
Everyone stamped their feet and agreed. It seemed comical to them – they were going to tell Elizabeth she could leave when she wanted to – but when the time came they were sure she wouldn't want to! What a good idea! They all made up their minds to be as nice as possible to Elizabeth so that she simply couldn't say she was unhappy, when half-term came!
«Call Elizabeth in», said Miss Best, «we'll tell her.»
Chapter 14: A Lovely Week
Elizabeth was called back to the gym by Nora. She stopped playing the piano and went back to her place in the gym. She wondered what the Judges were going to say. They looked serious, but not angry.
Rita knocked on the table. «Quiet», she ordered. «Elizabeth, we have all discussed what you want us to do. And we have decided that if you come to us at the Meeting after half-term, and tell us honestly that you are unhappy here, and want to go home, Miss Belle and Miss Best will advise your parents to take you away.»