“I felt awful when the train didn’t come in,” said Kathleen, crying into her handkerchief, which was already soaking wet. “I felt as if that was one more thing against me! I couldn’t even run away because there wasn’t a train! “It’s a good thing you couldn’t run away,” said William, “It’s not a very brave thing to do, is it? You can’t get rid of troubles by running away from them, Kathleen. They go with you” “Well, what else can you do with troubles?” asked Kathleen, wiping her eyes.
“You can look them in the face and find out the best way to beat them,” said Rita, “You were funny, Kathleen -you were really trying to run away from yourself! Nobody can ever do that F’ “Well, you’d want to, if you were like me,” said Kathleen. “I’m so unlucky. Nothing nice ever happens to me as it does to other children.” “And nothing ever will as long as you think and talk like that,” said William. “It isn’t our luck that makes good or bad things happen, Kathleen, it’s just ourselves. For instance, you might say that Jenny has plenty of friends, so she is lucky. But she doesn’t have friends because she is lucky- she has them because she is kind and generous and happy. It is her own self that brings her lots of friends, not her luck.” “Yes–I see that,” said Kathleen. “I hadn’t thought of that before. But I’m not pretty and happy and generous like Jenny.” “Well, why not make the best of yourself?” said Rita, “You have a sweet smile, and you have a dimple that goes in and out, though we don’t see it very often. If you brushed your hair one hundred times each night~ and morning as Jenny does, it would look silky and shiny, If you stopped eating so many sweets, your spots would go; and if only you’d go out for more walks and try to play games a bit harder, you would soon get rosy cheeks and happy eyes!” “Should I?” said Kathleen, beginning to look more cheerful.
Rita fetched a mirror from the mantelpiece and put it in front of Kathleen’s sad, tear-stained face. “Smile!” she said, “Go on, smile, you silly girl! Quick! Let me see that dimple!” Kathleen couldn’t help smiling, and she saw her miserable face change in an instant to a much nicer one-and the dimple came in her left cheek, “Yes,” she said, “I do look nicer. But I’m so dull and slow too-and think of the mean, horrid things I’ve done!” “You’re dull and slow because you’re not as healthy as you might be, and you’re not happy,” said William. “Give yourself a chance, do! As for the mean, horrid things you’ve done-well, you can always make up for those. We all do mean things at times” “I’m quite sure you and Rita don’t,” said Kathleen.
“And anyway, William and Rita-please, please don’t make me stay m Whyteleafe, because I simply couldn’t get up in front of the whole School at the next weekly Meeting and say what I’d done, even to clear Robert. I’m a coward. I know I am, so it’s no good pretending that I’m not. I shall lee ie tomorrow morning if you make me do that,” “We shan’t make you do anything,” said William. “It’s no good making people do things like that! They must want to do them themselves, if it’s to be any good. Well, listen, Kathleen-we’ll get Elizabeth to clear Robert of blame, but she shall not say who is to blame; but maybe later on you will feel differently about things, and then you eau talk to us again.” “1 shall never be brave enough to own up in front of everyone,” said Kathleen, “But I’ll stay at Whyteleafe if I don’t need to do that, I’ve told Elizabeth and Jenny and that was herd enough.” “It was a good thing you did that,” said William, “We will see that those children who know that it was you will not tell anyone else. So you need not be afraid that anyone is despising you. Do as Robert has done-turn over a new leaf-and smile as much as you can!” “I’ll try,” said Kathleen, putting her wet hanky away. “I don’t feel line smiling. I don’t even feel like turning over a new leaf. But you’ve both been so kind to me that I’ll try, just to please you?
“Good!” said Rita and William. Rita looked at her watch, “It’s almost your bedtime,” she said. “Have you had any supper-or did you miss it?” “I missed it,” said Kathleen. “But I’m not hungry?
“Well, William end I are going to make ourselves some cocoa,” said Rita, “We are allowed to have our own gas~ ring, you know, as we are the head children of the school.
Stay and have some cocoa with us-and we’ve got some good chocolate biscuits too. Even if you are not hungry you will like those!” In ten minutes’ time the three of them were drinking hot cocoa and nibbling chocolate biscuits, William was making jokes, and Kathleen was smiling, her dimple showing in her left cheek, When her bedtime bell went, she got up.
“You are kind,” she said, tears coming into her eyes again. “I won’t forget this evening. I’m glad you’re the head boy and girl-I think you’re fine!” “Cheer up!” said William, “You’ll find things are never so bad as they seem. Good-night!” THINGS ARE RETTER! ELIZABETH was up early, and went out to the stables. Robert was there, saddling the horses, whistling softly to himself. He was completely happy. He was looking after something he loved, caring for the horses, and getting back from them the affection he gave them.
“It’s a lovely warm feeling,” he told Elizabeth. “I never had it before, because I never had a pet-and anyway, I never much cared for any animal except horses. William and Rita couldn’t possibly have thought of anything nicer! It seems queer, doesn’t it, that instead of being punished for bullying, I get a marvellous treat like this! And yet it’s stopped me from being beastly far more quickly than any punishment would. I just don’t want to be horrid now.” “You can’t be horrid to anyone when you’re feeling happy,” said Elizabeth wisely. “I know I can’t. I just want to be warm and generous then, Come on-let’s go, Oh, Robert, isn’t it queer to be friends after being such dreadful enemies!” Robert laughed as he sprang on to Bess’s back. The horse whinnied and tossed her head. She loved to know that Robert was riding her. The two children cantered down the grassy path and then galloped off over the hills, Elizabeth had ridden for years, and rode well. Robert rode well too, and the pair of them enjoyed their gallop tremendously.
They shouted to one another as they rode. Then Elizabeth had an idea.
“I say!” she yelled. “Will you take Kathleen Peters with you sometimes? She might get red cheeks then!” “Kathleen! I can’t bear her!” shouted back Robert, “She’s an awful girl. Surely you aren’t going to be friends with Am!” “Well, I am,” cried Elizabeth, “I don’t like her, Robert, any more than I lined you. But I’ve been so wrong about people lately that 1w all I know I may get to like her very much, Any way. I’m going to give her a chance. So will you help?” “All right,” say Robert. “She doesn’t ride badly. But come too, I really don’t think I could hear to go galloping with her by mi self. I should be bored stiff! There’s one thing about you-nobody could ever be bored with you! You’re either very, very nice, or very, very horrid!” “Don’t tease me about that,” said Elizabeth, slowing down her horse, “I’m turning over n new leaf too! I want to be nice always. In fact, when I came back to Whyteleafe this term I had made up my mind to do ray very, very best nod be as nice as I could. And really, I’ve made the most awful muddles and mistakes! I know that I shall never be made a monitor!” “You know, I’d rather like to be,” said Robert. “It must be a lovely feeling to be trusted and looked up to, and to sit at the Jury’s table. Still, we’re neither of us ever likely to do that, I made a bad beginning this term-and you were the naughtiest girl in the school last term. My word–you must have been bad!” Robert and Elizabeth were happy when they went in to breakfast that morning. Their cheeks were red with the cold wind, and their eyes sparkled. Elizabeth smiled at Kathleen, who was sitting in her usual place at the table, looking happier but rather nervous, “Hallo, Kathleen!” said Elizabeth. “Hallo, everybody! Golly, I’m hungry! I could eat twenty sausages and twelve eggs!” “Have you been riding?” asked Kathleen, pushing the toast towards Elizabeth. “My goodness, you are red! The wind has made you look like a Red Indian!” Elizabeth laughed. “It was fun,” she said, “You should get up early and come riding too,” “Yes, do,” said Robert. “You ride well, Kathleen, whydon’t you come with Elizabeth and me sometimes? We could gallop for miles I” Kathleen flushed with pleasure. She smiled warmly and everyone noticed at once how her dimple danced in and out. “I’d love to,” she said. “Thanks awfully. I like that horse called Bess best.” “Do you really?” said Robert in surprise. “How funny! So do I! She is a perfect darling, honestly she is. You know, she was limping yesterday and I was awfully worded,” Soon he was telling Kathleen all about Bess and Captain, and Kathleen listened eagerly. She really knew quite a lot about horses, but for once she didn’t boast, but listened humbly, glad that someone should speak to her in such a warm and friendly manner. She tried to remember not to let her mouth droop down at the corners in the way that made her so plain, but looked pleasant, and laughed at Robert’s jokes.