Everyone had to stand when William and Rita, the Head Boy and Head Girl, came into the gym. They sat down and everyone else sat too.
William knocked on the table with a small wooden hammer, and the children were quiet.
“There isn’t much to say to-day,” said the Head Boy. “I expect the new children have been told why we hold this big Meeting every week, and what we do at it. You see at this table our twelve monitors, and you all know why they are chosen. We chose them ourselves because we can trust them to be sensible, loyal and kind, and therefore you must obey them and keep the rules they make.” Then Rita spoke. “I hope you have all brought your money with you. As the new children probably know, any money we have is put into this big box, and out of it we take two shillings for every person each week. Out of that you must buy anything you need, such as stamps, sweets, ribbons, shoe-laces, and so on. If you want any more than two shillings you must say why, and it will be given to von if it is deserved. Now will you please get your money ready. Nora, take round the box.” Nora got up. She took the big box and handed it down each row The chi1dren all nut in their money. The new boy, Robert Jones, looked most annoyed.
“I say,” he said, “you know I’ve got a whole poundfrom my grandfather. I don’t see why I should put it into the box. I shan’t see it again!” “Robert, some of us have too much money and some of us have too little,” explained William, “It sometimes happens that we have a birthday and get lots of money, and sometimes we haven’t any at all. Well, by putting all our money into the big box each week, we can always have two shillings to spend-the same for everyone, you see, which is quite fair-and if we need anything beyond that, we can always get it if the Jury give permission. So put in your money.” Robert put his pound note in, but did not look at all pleased. His face looked even more sulky than usual! “Cheer up!” whispered Elizabeth, but he gave her such a scowl that she said no more. Nora took the box back to the table. It was very heavy now.
Two shillings were given out to everyone, and the money went into pockets and purses. Rita and William had the same as everyone else.
“Any extra money wanted this week?” asked William, looking round the School.
Kenneth stood up. “Could I have an extra sixpence?” he asked. “I borrowed a book out of the school library and I can’t find it, and I’ve been fined sixpence.” “Take it out of your two shillings.” said William, and the Jury nodded in agreement. “I don’t see why the School’s money should pay you for being careless, Kenneth! There are too many books lost. Pay the school library sixpence, and you can have it back when you find the book. No extra money granted!” A girl stood up. “My mother is abroad and I have to write to her each week, of course, but the letters have to have a sevenpenny stamp on. Could I possibly have a little extra money allowed for that?” The Jury discussed the matter. They agreed that it was hard luck on Mary to have to spend so much money on one letter each week, “Well, you can have fourpence ha’penny extra each week,” said Rita, at last, “That means you pay the usual twopence ha’penny for a stamp, and the School money pays the rest, That’s quite fair.” “Oh yes,” said Mary gratefully. “Thank you.” Four-pence ha’penny was given to her, and she put it into her purse.
“I think that’s all the business for this week,” said Rita, looking at her notes, “You all understand that any bad behaviour, such as unkindness, disobedience, cheating, bullying, and so on, must be brought before this Meeting each week, But I hope that the new children will understand that this does not mean telling tales. Perhaps their monitor will explain everything to them,” “Yes, I will,” said Nora, “Now-any complaints or grumbles before we go?” asked William, looking up. But there were none. So the Meeting broke up, and the children filed out of the gym. Elizabeth was rather silent as she went. She was remembering the bad time she had had last term at the Meeting. How defiant and rude she had been! She could hardly believe it now, She went off with Joan to feed the rabbits. One was so tame that it would lie quite peacefully in Elizabeth’s arms, and she loved that, “Isn’t everything peaceful this term?” said Joan. “I hope it goes on like this, don’t you?” But it wasn’t going to be peaceful for long! ELIZABETH MAKES AN ENEMY.
IT was two of the new children who disturbed the peace of the form. When Robert had settled down and found his feet, the other boys and girls found that he was spiteful and unkind. And they discovered, too, that Kathleen Peters, the white-faced, spotty girl, was so quarrelsome that it was really very difficult to be nice to her.
On the other hand, Jennifer Harris was great fun, She was a wonderful mimic and could imitate the masters and mistresses marvellously, especially Mam’zelle. Mam’zelle wagged her hands rather a lot, and her voice went up and down when she spoke. Jennifer could put on a face exactly like Mam’zelle’s, and talked and wagged her hands in a manner so like her that she sent the class into fits of laughter.
“Jenny’s fine,” said Elizabeth, “But I simply can’t bear Robert or Kathleen, You know, I think Robert’s cruel, Joan,” “Why do you think that?” asked Joan, “Has he been unkind to you?” “No-not to me,” said Elizabeth. “But I heard someone squealing yesterday and I saw 1ittle Janet running away from him, crying. I called out to know what was wrong, but she wouldn’t tell me. I believe Robert had been pinching her or something.” “I shouldn’t be surprised,” said Joan.
Belinda Green heard what they were saying and came up.
“I think Robert’s a bully,” she said. “He’s always running after the smaller ones, and jumping out at them, and giving them sly pinches.” “The hateful thing!” cried Elizabeth, who always hated any unfairness, “Wait till I catch him! I’ll jolly well report him at the very next Meeting!” “Well, be sure to get your facts right,” said Belinda, “or Robert will say you are telling tales, and then you won’t be listened to.” Robert came up at that moment and the three of them said no more. Robert bumped hard into Elizabeth as he passed and nearly sent her into the wall.
“Oh, I didn’t see you!” he said, with a grin, and went on down the room. Elizabeth went red with rage. She took a step after Robert, but Joan pulled her back.
“He only did it to make you annoyed,” she said. “Don’t be annoyed!” “I can’t help being,” said Elizabeth furiously. “Rude, clumsy thing!” It was time to go into class then, and there was no time to do anything more, Robert was in Elizabeth’s class, and she glared at him as she sat down. He made an extra~ ordinary face at her-and they were enemies from that moment.
When Robert got nearly all his sums wrong, Elizabeth smiled with pleasure. “Serves you right!” she said in a loud whisper. Unfortunately Miss Ranger heard it.
“Is there any need to gloat over bad work done by somebody else?” she said coldly-and then it was Robert’s turn to grin with delight.
Each of them was pleased when the other did badly- though Elizabeth got more laughs out of Robert than he did out of her, for she was a clever girl and found lessons easy. Robert was much slower, though he was bigger and taller.
At games they did all they could to defeat each other, They were very often on opposite sides, and if Robert could give Elizabeth a whack over the hand with his lacrosse stick, or a blow on the ankle with his hockey stick, he would. Elizabeth was not an unkind girl, but she found herself lying in wait for Robert, too, and giving him a hard blow wherever she could, Mr. Warlow, the games master, soon noticed this, and he called the two of them to him.
“You are playing a game, not fighting a battle,” he told them gravely. “Keep your likes and dislikes out of hockey and lacrosse, please, and play fairly.” Elizabeth was ashamed, and stopped trying to hurt Robert-but Robert took an even greater delight in giving Elizabeth a bruise whenever he could, though now he was careful to do it when Mr. Warlow was not watching, “Elizabeth, you really are stupid to make an enemy of Robert,” said Nora one day. “He is much bigger than you are. Keep out of his way. You’ll lose your temper one day and put yourself in the wrong. That’s what he’s hoping for,” But Elizabeth would not listen to advice of that sort, “I’m not afraid of Robert!” she said scornfully.