9 Gwendoline and Clarissa
Darrell forgot about Clarissa for a day or two, because for some reason the days suddenly became very full up indeed. Head-girls seemed to have quite a lot of duties Darrell hadn’t thought of, and there was such a lot of prep to do this term.
Gwendoline now had Clarissa very firmly attached to her side. She sat next to her in class, and offered to help her whenever she could—but this usually ended, not in Gwen helping¹ Clarissa, but the other way round!
Their beds were next to each other’s at night, for Gwendoline had persuaded soft-hearted Mary-Lou to change beds with her, so that she might be next to Clarissa.
“She’s never been to school before, you see, Mary-Lou,” she said, “and as I hadn’t either, before I came here, I do understand how she feels. It’s at night you feel things worst. I’d like to be near her just to say a few words till she settles down properly.”
Mary-Lou thought it was extraordinary of Gwendoline to develop such a kind heart all of a sudden, but she felt that it ought to be encouraged anyway—so she changed beds, and to Darrell’s annoyance² one night, there was Gwendoline next to Clarissa, whispering away like anything.
“Who told you you could change beds?” she demanded.
“Mary-Lou,” said Gwendoline, in a meek³ voice.
“But—why in the world did you ask Mary-Lou?” said Darrell. “I’m the one to ask, surely.”
“No. Because it was Mary-Lou’s bed I wanted to change over, Darrell,” explained Gwen, still in a meek voice. She saw that Darrell was annoyed, and decided⁴ to offer to change back again. Then surely Darrell would say all right, keep next to Clarissa!
“But, of course, if you’d rather I didn’t sleep next to Clarissa—though I only wanted to help her—” said Gwendoline, in a martyr-like voice.
“Oh, stay there,” said Darrell, who could never bear it when Gwendoline put on her martyr-act. So Gwendoline, rejoicing inwardly, did stay there, and was able to whisper what she thought were comforting words to Clarissa at night. She was too far away from Darrell’s bed to be heard—and in any case Darrell, usually tired out with work and games, slept very quickly, and heard nothing.

分享到：