11 Alicia has a Parcel
The days flew by. It was still very cold and Gwendoline and Mavis complained bitterly, as they huddled¹ near the fire in the common-room, or sat almost on top of the radiators².
“You should rush about a bit more in gym or on the lacrosse field,” said Darrell, whose face was a rosy-pink with good health and happiness. She had gone out to the field every moment she could spare to have coaching from Molly. She was getting very good! She knew she was. Molly praised her catching³ and said it was excellent.
Gwendoline looked at Darrell with her usual scowl⁴. She really felt miserable⁵ in the cold weather, for she came from an overheated home and could not get used to the fresh-air atmosphere of school. It annoyed her to see Darrell without a single chilblain, and to watch her race out happily into the frosty air for her lacrosse practice.
Belinda came slipping up behind Gwendoline, who was quite unaware⁶ that she was scowling⁷. Belinda’s quick pencil set to work. Mavis nudged Gwen.
“Look out! Here’s Belinda again!”
Gwen turned round quickly, trying to smooth the scowl off her face—but it was difficult to feel angry and yet not scowl!
“Go away, Belinda! I don’t want you to draw me!” she said, peevishly⁸. “I wish you’d leave me alone. I hate the way you come slinking up—I call it really sly.”
“Oh no!” said Belinda. “I’m just interested in you, that’s all. You have such a lovely scowl—the ugliest in the whole school, I should think. Do, do scowl again, Gwen, and let me draw it.”
Gwen stopped herself from scowling, but it was a very great effort. Belinda grinned.
“Poor Gwendoline Mary—so annoyed, that it makes her want to scowl more fiercely than ever—but she won’t! Well, never mind—I’ll watch for the next time.”

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