Naughtiest Girl 2: The Naughtiest Girl Again Read Online Free PDF Page B

storm died down, the rain sprinkled softly, the wind ceased, the sun shone, and the music became ca1m and smooth.
    And as she listened, the little girl felt soothed and softened too. She loved music so much. Mr. Lewis glanced at her and saw that she looked peaceful instead of troubled He played a little longer and then the bell went for Elizabeth's bedtime.
    "There you are," said Mr. Lewis, shutting the piano. "After the storm, the calm. Now co off to bed, sleep well, and don't worry your head too much about anything."
    "Thank you, Mr Lewis," said Elizabeth gratefully. "I do feel better now. I was all hot and bothered about something, but now I feel happier"
    "Good-night!"
    JENNIE'S WHITE MICE.
    ELIZABETH did not sleep very well that night. She tossed and turned, thinking of the Meeting, of "that hateful Robert," as she called him to herself, of the apology she had had to make-and she made plans to catch Robert when he was being unkind to any of the younger ones, "Yes-I'll watch and wait and catch him properly," said Elizabeth to herself. "He is a bully, I know he is-and sooner or later I'll catch him!"
    Elizabeth was heavy-eyed and tired the next day. She did her lessons badly, especially French, and Mam'zelle was cross with her.
    "Elizabeth! How is it that you did not learn your French verbs yesterday?" scolded Mam'zelle. "That is not good. You sit there, half asleep, and you pay no attention at all. I am not pleased with you."
    Robert grinned to himself, and Elizabeth saw him, She bit her lip to stop herself from being rude to both Robert and Mam'zelle, "Well, have you no tongue?" asked Mam'zelle impatiently. "Why did you not learn your verbs, I said?"
    "I did learn them," said Elizabeth truthfully. "But somehow I've forgotten them this morning."
    "Then you will please learn them sometime to-day and remember them!" said Mam'zelle, her dark eyes flashing, "You will come and say them to me when you know them."
    "All right," said Elizabeth sulkily. But Mam'zelle would not let that pass. She rapped on the desk and spoke sharply.
    "You will not say 'All right' to me in that rude way! You will say 'Very good, Mam'zelle.'"
    "Very good, Mam'zelle," said Elizabeth, knowing quite well that Robert was enjoying her scolding immensely, and wishing that she could pull some more hairs out of his dark head.

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    After that the lesson went on smoothly, for Elizabeth was determined not to give Robert any more chances to crow over her. But she did not do so well as usual in anything, for as soon as she had a moment to think, she began to plan how she might catch Robert being unkind to someone Belinda and Joan and Nora had a little talk together, whilst Elizabeth was having her music lesson that day.
    "We'll have to keep Elizabeth away from Robert for a few days if we can," said Joan. "She just hates him, and, you know, she has such a quick temper that she's quite likely to fly at him again if he makes a rude face at her."
    "After a few days she won't feel so badly about it all,"
    said Nora. "We'll try and get her to come down into the town with us, or to garden with John, or something like that-the less she sees of Robert the better. 1 can't say I want to see very much of him myself!"
    So for the next few days Elizabeth found that she was always being rushed off somewhere.
    "Come and help me to choose a new ribbon, Elizabeth!" Joan would beg. "I really must get one." And down to the town the two would go.
    "Elizabeth, come and practise catching the ball at lacrosse with me," Nora would say.
    "You're getting quite good. A little more practice and you'll be first-rate."
    Then Elizabeth would beam with pride and go to fetch
    her lacrosse stick.
    "Elizabeth, John wants you and me to go and help him to pile up rubbish for a bonfire!" Belinda would call. "Coming?"
    And off Elizabeth would go again, so that she hardly saw Robert at all, except in class. But she did not forget what she had planned to do, and when she had a chance she watched to see