Chapter 8 A TRANSFORMATION¹
Berta stood in the middle of the floor, blinking her tears away. Anne gave a gasp².
'You know - it's very odd - but she does look rather like a boy - a very, very good-looking boy!'
'An angelic boy,' said Dick. 'A choirboy or something. She looks smashing! Who would have thoughtit?'
Aunt Fanny was very struck with Berta's appearance too. 'It's certainly very odd,' she said. 'But there'sno doubt about it - when she's - I mean he's - dressed in boy's clothes, he'll make a fine boy. Betterthan George, actually, because her hair's really too curly for a boy.'
Berta went to the looking-glass on the wall. She gave a wail³. 'I look awful! I don't know myself!
Nobody would EVER recognize me!'
'Splendid!' said Dick, at once. 'You've hit the nail right on the head. Nobody would recognize younow. Your father was quite right to say, cut your hair off and dress up as a boy. Any prowlingkidnapper would never think you were Berta, the pretty little girl.'
'I'd rather be kidnapped than look like this,' wept Berta. 'What will the girls at your school say, Anne,when they see me?'
'They don't say anything to George about her short hair, and they won't say anything to you,' saidAnne.
'Stop crying, Bert - er - Lesley,' said Aunt Fanny. 'You make me feel quite miserable⁴. You've beenvery good to stand so still all that time. Now I really must think of a little reward for you.'
Berta stopped crying at once. 'Please,' she said, 'there's only one thing I want now. I want Sally-dog tosleep with me.'
'Oh dear, Ber - er Lesley - I really can't have another dog in that little bedroom,' said poor AuntFanny. 'And George would make things most unpleasant if I did.'
'Aunt Fanny - Sally is a very very good guard for me,' said Berta. 'She barks at the very slightestsound. I'd feel safe with her in the bedroom.'
'I'd like you to have her,' said Aunt Fanny, 'but...'
Joan had come into the room to put away some things and had heard the conversation. She stared inadmiration at Berta's neat golden head, and then made a suggestion. 'If you'll excuse me, Mam,' shesaid, 'Miss Berta could have her camp-bed in my room. I don't mind the dog a bit, she 34can have her and welcome, he's a pet, that little poodle. It's very crowded in the girls' room now, withthree beds in it, and my room's a nice big one. So, if Miss Berta doesn't mind sharing it, she'swelcome.'

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