“We shan’t have time to go very far,” shouted Elizabeth. “We’ve only got about twenty minutes. We’ll go as far as Windy Hill and back!” They cantered out into a lane heading to the hill, And then something happened! As they trotted round a corner, a steam-roller started rumbling down the lane, which had just been mended. Tinker reared up in fright, and Peter held on with all his might.
Elizabeth cantered up beside him and put out her hand to hold the reins tightly-but the horse tossed its head, gave a loud whinny, and darted into an open gateway that led to a field, And then it ran away! The three children stared infright. Poor Peter! There he was on Tinker, holding on for dear life, whilst the horse galloped like mad across the stony field towards Windy Hill~ “I’m going after him! cried Elizabeth. She swung her horse round and galloped through the gateway. She shouted to him, and smacked him on his broad back. He set off swiftly, knowing that he had to overtake the rum away horse.
Over the stony field went Elizabeth, whilst John and Kathleen watched in fright. Far away galloped Tinker, Peter still clinging fast.
Elizabeth’s horse was bigger and faster than Peter’s. He galloped eagerly, his heels kicking up the stones. Elizabeth urged him on, shouting loudly. It was a good thing that she was such a good rider and that she trusted her horse On and on they went, gaining little by little on Tinker.
Peter’s horse was panting painfully. He began to climb the steep Windy Hill and dropped to a trot, Peter tugged at the reins and tried to bring him to a stop, but the horse was still terribly frightened, Elizabeth galloped her horse up Windy Hill and at last overtook Tinker. But Tinker started in fright as soon as the other horse came up beside him. He stretched out his neck and began to gallop off again.
But Elizabeth had managed to get the reins, and when Tinker felt her strong little hand on them, he quietened down, and listened to her voice, Elizabeth was good with horses and knew how to speak to them. After the first tug to get rid of Elizabeth’s hand, Tinker slowed down and then, trembling from head to foot, stopped still.
Peter was trembling too. He climbed down at once. Elizabeth leapt down and went round to Tinker’s head. In a few minutes she bad. quieted the horse, but she did not dare to ride him.
“Peter, ride my horse and go back and join the others,” she said, “I shall have to walk Tinker home. Tell the stableman what has happened, and take a message to Mr. Warlow for me to tell him I shan’t be back in time for games. Go on, now!” Peter rode back to the others on Elizabeth’s horse. Ho soon recovered himself, arid began to boast about the runaway horse. The three children rode home and gave Elizabeth’s message-whilst poor Elizabeth had to walk Tinker home for a very long way.
The little girl was tired and upset. Something dreadful might have happened-Peter might have fallen from the horse and been badly hurt! Why had she let him ride Tinker without first getting Robert to say he could? Well, it was Robert’s fault for being late for the gallop! Her heft hand hurt her, She had got hold of Tinker’s reins with it when she had tried to stop him, and somehow her wrist had been twisted. She tucked it into her coat, hoping it would soon be better. She was very miserable as she walked back over the fields and lanes, leading a tired and steaming horse, The stableman was not pleased. Robert came running out when he saw Elizabeth coming back, and he was not pleased either, “Elizabeth! I’ve heard all about it! How could you be so silly as to let Peter ride Tinker! I couldn’t help being late. Mr. Johns kept me to do something for him. You might have waited! This wouldn’t have happened then, for I would never have let Peter ride Tinker in that state. You are always so impatient and cocksure of yourself!” Elizabeth was tired and her hand was hurting her. She burst into tears.
“That’s right! Be a baby now!” said Robert in disgust. “I suppose you think that if you cry I’ll be sorry for you and not say any more! That’s just like a girl! It’s a good thing for you that neither Tinker nor Peter have come to any harm!” “Oh, Robert, don’t be so unkind to me,” sobbed Elizabeth. “I’ve hurt my hand, and I can’t tell you how badly I feel about letting Peter ride Tinker,” “Let’s have a hook at your hand,” said Robert, more kindly. He took a look at the swollen wrist. “You’d better go right away to Matron. That hooks pretty bad to me, Cheer up! It’s no good crying over spilt milk!” ‘I’m not! said Elizabeth, wiping her eyes. “I’m crying over a runaway horse and a hurt wrist!” And off she went to find Matron, nursing her hurt hand. Poor Elizabeth! Things always happened to her.
ELIZABETH IS VERY TIRESOME.
ELIZABETH went to find Matron. She was in the Sanatorium with two ill children there. She came out when Elizabeth knocked at the door, “What is it?” she asked. “You can’t go in!” “I know,” said Elizabeth, “I’ve twisted my wrist and I thought perhaps you could do something for it,” Matron looked at the swollen wrist, “That must hurt you quite a lot,” she said. “How did you do it?” Elizabeth told her. Matron soaked a bandage in cold water and wrapped it tightly round the hurt wrist, “Will it soon be better?” asked Elizabeth. “It’s a good thing it’s not my right hand.” “It will take a little time to get right,” said Matron.
“Now, keep it as still as possible, please. And look-I will make you a sling out of this old hanky-like that-round your shoulder. That will help a bit,” It was past tea-time by now. Matron took Elizabeth into her own room and made some toast. Elizabeth was tired and pale, and although she said she didn’t want anything to eat, she couldn’t help thinking that the buttered toast looked rather nice. So she soon ate it up and drank the cocoa that Matron put before her.
Then she went off to the common-room. Everyone was waiting to hear what had happened. Joan ran to her at Once.
“Elizabeth! Is your hand badly hurt?” “Well, it hurts a bit now,” said Elizabeth, “but it’s not nearly as bad as it was, since Matron bandaged it. It’s all my own fault, as usual! I was impatient because Robert was late and I saddled Tinker for Peter-and Tinker ran away.” “Poor old Elizabeth!” said Jenny.
Robert said nothing. He sat reading a book. He still looked cross, There came a knock at the common-room door and small Peter poked his head in. “Is Elizabeth here?” he asked. “Oh, there you are, Elizabeth. I say-how’s the wrist? I’m awfully sorry about it. I suppose you won’t be able to play the piano for a little while now.” Elizabeth hadn’t thought of that for one moment. She stared in dismay at Peter. “Oh, my goodness!” she said. “I had forgotten that. Oh dear-and I so badly wanted to practise hard this week, and now I’ve only got one hand!” Everyone was sorry for her, Robert raised his head and looked solemn, “Bad luck, Elizabeth!” he said. “I hope your hand will be well enough to play at the concert,” Elizabeth was upset. She felt the tears coming into her eyes and she got up quickly. She hated people to see her crying. She went out of the room and went into one of the little music-rooms, She sat down at the piano and leaned her head against the music-rack, She was angry with herself for doing something silly that had ended, as usual, in bringing trouble on herself, Richard came along humming. He didn’t see Elizabeth at the piano, and switched on the light to practise. He was surprised to find her in the dark, all alone.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, “What are you crying for?” “Because what you said has come true,” said Elizabeth sadly. “You told me I was getting conceited about my playing-and that pride comes before a fall. Well, you were right. I did something silly, and now I’ve hurt my wrist and I can’t play the piano, so I don’t expect I’ll be able to play duets with you at the concert,” “Oh, I am sorry!” said Richard, in dismay. “Now I suppose I’ll have to play them with Harry, and he’s not nearly so good as you. Oh, Elizabeth-what bad luck for you!” “You shouldn’t have said pride comes before a fall!” wept Elizabeth, “I feel as if you made this happen!” “Oh, don’t be so silly,” said Richard. “No, really, that is silly, Elizabeth. Anyway, cheer up-it may not be as bad as you think. I’ll play to you, if you like. Get up and let me come on the stool,” Elizabeth got up. She went to the chair in the corner and sat down, tired and cross. She didn’t like Richard, She didn’t like Robert, She didn’t hike Peter and his runaway horse, She didn’t hike herself. She didn’t hike any’ body at all! She was a cross, unhappy, tired girl who didn’t want to be pleased with anything or anybody! But Richard’s music made things much better. The little girl’s frown went away and she leaned back feeling happier as the soft notes of the piano fell in the silence of the little room. Richard knew exactly what music to play to comfort her.