"Blyton, Enid - Naughtiest Girl 01 - The Naughtiest Girl in the School" - читать интересную книгу автора (Blyton Enid)
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 w'andered 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.
Tim 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.
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 spoil 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 ruled 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 1 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." "Really!" said Elizabeth in delight. "Oh, thank you, Rita. I am pleased. Now I don't need to be horrid and rude any more. I can wait till half-term, but I warn you that at the very first Meeting after that I shall ask to go home. I hate being at school." Elizabeth wondered why everyone roared with laughter when she said that. She looked round in surprise. Even Joan was laughing.
"Well, Elizabeth, that's settled, then," said Rita. "Please be as nice as you know very well bow to be until half-term-and then, if you wish, you can certainly go home, if your parents will take you away." "I know they will, if I'm unhappy," said Elizabeth.
"Thank you, Rita. I promise to be really good now." "Very well," said William. "All your punishments are lifted from now on, your bedtime will be as before, at eight o'clock. You can take riding and painting and all your favourite lessons." "Good!" said Elizabeth, beaming. She felt very pleased with herself. She had got what she wanted! She could go home at half-term! "I'm glad it's not before then," thought the little girl. "I do want to learn that duet with Richard. And I want to give Joan a present for her birthday. And I want to do some more riding-oh yes, and buy that record too! How everyone will love to hear it when I first put it on." Elizabeth was very happy. She beamed round at everyone, not listening to anything else that was said at the Meeting. There was very little else to discuss, anyway, and very soon the gym was empty, and the children ran off to their various tasks or hobbies.
"Well, Elizabeth, I've got you till half-term, anyway!" said Joan. tucking her arm into Elizabeth's.
"That's something." "Well, make the most of me!" said Elizabeth with a laugh. "For you won't have me afterwards. I jolly well mean to go back home to my pony, and my dog.
I mean to show my parents that I just won't be sent away to school!" A lovely week began for Elizabeth then. After supper that night there was a little dance, and the boys and girls had great fun. When eight o'clock struck Elizabeth and the others of her age went upstairs to bed, leaving the older ones to go on dancing.
The next day she and Joan went down to the village to buy sweets, and the gramophone record that Elizabeth wanted. The music-shop didn't have it, but they said they would send for it to the town over the hill, and get it for Elizabeth. They would send it up to the school for her.
Joan bought some chocolate and a book, Elizabeth bought some toffee, and two packets of lettuce seeds. She hadn't forgotten that she was going to help John Terry with his gardening Dear me, what a lot of things there were to do! "You can have the first lettuce that grows from these seeds," she promised Joan.
"Well, you'll have to stay till the end of the term then," laughed Joan. "Lettuces don't grow quite so quickly as you think, Elizabeth." "Oh," said Elizabeth, disappointed, "Well-you'll have to cut the first lettuce then, after I'm gone. Have a toffee?" It was fun to eat toffees and talk to a friend. It was fun to feel the lettuce seeds rattling in their packets It was lovely to think of going riding that afternoon and having a music lesson after tea. Perhaps Richard would he there, and they would play their duet.
The riding lesson was glorious. Twelve boys and girls were taken out on the hills by the riding master. Elizabeth had been used to her pony and she rode well, enjoying the jog-jog-jog, and sniffing the fresh early summer breezes, This was much better fun than cantur~~ ing along on her old pony at home, That afternoon the postman brought a parcel for Elizabeth. She undid it-and inside she found a large chocolate cake, sent to her by her Granny! "Oh, I say! Look at this!" cried Elizabeth, "We can all share it at tea-time ~" "My word, Elizabeth, you're rather different from when you first came!" said Nora, stating at the excited girl, as she put her cake into her tin in the playroom. "You wouldn't share a thing then!" Elizabeth blushed. "Don't remind me of that, Nora," she begged. "I'm ashamed of it now. All I hope is that you won't all say no when I offer you some of this cake!" Well, nobody did say no! Elizabeth counted the number of people at her table-eleven. She cut the cake into twelve pieces. They were very large. Elizabeth offered the plate round and soon there were only two pieces left.
"Thanks, Elizabeth! Thanks, Elizabeth!" said everyone, taking a piece. They were delighted to have it, because by now everyone's tuck-box was empty, and no more goodies had come yet from their homes, for no one had had a birthday.
"Your Granny must be jolly generous!" said Nora. "This is the finest cake I've ever tasted." Elizabeth was proud and pleased. She took the plate to Miss Ranger and offered her one of the two pieces that remained on it. Miss Ranger took it and nodded.
"Thank you, Elizabeth," she said. Then Elizabeth helped herself to the last piece and settled down happily to eat it. This was better than keeping everything to herself! It was lovely to share. She looked round at all the contented faces, and liked to see the girls and boys eating her cake.
"Miss Scott would be surprised at me," thought Elizabeth suddenly. "She wouldn't know me! What a horrid girl I must have seemed to her." After tea Elizabeth got her music and raced off to Mr. Lewis. Richard was there too, a big, serious boy with long clever fingers. He meant to be a musician when he grew up. He looked at Elizabeth and didn't smile.
"I suppose he doesn't think girls can play at all,'9 thought Elizabeth. She was right. Richard was dis. gusted to find that he was expected to play a duet with a girl-and Elizabeth too, that Bold bad one! What would she know of music?
They began. Elizabeth had practised so hard that she knew her part wonderfully well. She took the lower part, the bass, and Richard had the more difficult part, the treble, where the higher notes were, "I shall count the first few bars," said Mr. Lewis.
"Now-one two three four, one two three four, one two three four . .
He soon stopped, for the two children found their own time, and the duet went with a swing. Mr. Lewis let them play it all the way through and then he smiled.
| © 2025 Библиотека RealLib.org (support [a t] reallib.org) |