forbidding her to see him, she goes on being silly and getting punished! She can't have seen that horse of hers for a whole week now!”
Miss Potts looked startled. She frowned, trying to remember something clearly, “Well—that's funny—I could swear I saw Wilhemina in the stables yesterday when I went by, I looked in at the windows as I passed—and I'm almost certain it was Wilhemina—standing beside a big black horse.”
“Yes—that would be Thunder,” said Miss Peters, grimly. “The untrustworthy, disobedient little monkey! If I catch her disobeying I shall insist that the horse is sent back to her home. She can ride one of the school horses instead, I will not have her mooning all the morning over that horse, nice as he is—and being disobedient like that.”
Miss Peters was really very angry. She never could bear
Darrell and Bill tried to hide to be disobeyed. She went back to her room, feeling shocked and disappointed. She hadn't thought Wilhelmina would be so deceitful and untrustworthy. It just showed how little you knew about anyone!
Miss Peter felt more and more indignant about the whole thing as the day wore on. It so happened that she took the third form very little that day, as Miss Carton, the history mistress, Mam'zelle, Miss Linnie, the art mistress, and Mr. Young, the singing-master, each took the third form for a lesson. She had no chance of looking sharply at Bill to see if she looked guilty or not.
After dinner that morning there was about half an hour before afternoon school. This was a time when Bill very often slipped out to the stables. She usually went down the back stairs, out at a little side-door, and across to the stables by a path under the trees, so that, unless she was very unlucky, nobody would see her.
She slipped off to the stables as usual to see Thunder. He whinnied softly when he heard her footstep. She opened the big door and went inside. There was no one else there at all. Only the horses stamped and blew, glad of each other's company.
She went to Thunder's stall. He put his great black head into the crook of her arm and snuffled there happily. Bill stroked his velvety nose, “Thunder, do you feel better? Let me look at your eyes. Oh, Thunder, they aren't as bright as they ought to be—and I don't like the feel of your coat. It should be much silkier. It's harsh. Thunder, what's wrong? Don't be ill, darling Thunder, I couldn't bear it.”
Thunder blew a little, and whinnied happily. He didn't feel well, certainly—but that didn't matter when Bill was with him. He could feel ill and yet be happy at the same time if she was with him.
Upstairs in North Tower, Miss Peters walked along the corridor. She meant to find Bill and have a straight talk with her. She went to the door of the third-form common room and looked in. Wilhelmina was not there!
I want Wilhelmina,” said Miss Peters. “Where is she?”
Everybody knew, of course. But nobody was going to tell. Darrell wondered if she could possibly slip out and warn Bill to come back quickly.
“Shall I go and find her for you?” she said.
“No. I'll find her,” said Miss Peters. “Does anyone know where she is?”
Nobody answered. They all looked blank in a most irritating way. Miss Peters felt furious. She knew quite well that they all knew. Well, she couldn't expect them to sneak, if they thought Wilhemina was somewhere she ought not to be—in the stables!
I suppose she is in the stables,” said Miss Peters, grimly.
She looked at Jean. “You, as head-girl, Jean, ought to tell her not to be so foolish and dishonourable. You know I put everyone on their honour to obey any punishment I give.”
Jean went red and looked uncomfortable. It was all very well for Miss Peters to talk like that! Nobody could possibly make any impression on Bill if it meant that she would have to neglect Thunder!
“Stay here, all of you,” commanded Miss Peters, feeling sure that one or other might rush off to the stables to
Miss Potts looked startled. She frowned, trying to remember something clearly, “Well—that's funny—I could swear I saw Wilhemina in the stables yesterday when I went by, I looked in at the windows as I passed—and I'm almost certain it was Wilhemina—standing beside a big black horse.”
“Yes—that would be Thunder,” said Miss Peters, grimly. “The untrustworthy, disobedient little monkey! If I catch her disobeying I shall insist that the horse is sent back to her home. She can ride one of the school horses instead, I will not have her mooning all the morning over that horse, nice as he is—and being disobedient like that.”
Miss Peters was really very angry. She never could bear
Darrell and Bill tried to hide to be disobeyed. She went back to her room, feeling shocked and disappointed. She hadn't thought Wilhelmina would be so deceitful and untrustworthy. It just showed how little you knew about anyone!
Miss Peter felt more and more indignant about the whole thing as the day wore on. It so happened that she took the third form very little that day, as Miss Carton, the history mistress, Mam'zelle, Miss Linnie, the art mistress, and Mr. Young, the singing-master, each took the third form for a lesson. She had no chance of looking sharply at Bill to see if she looked guilty or not.
After dinner that morning there was about half an hour before afternoon school. This was a time when Bill very often slipped out to the stables. She usually went down the back stairs, out at a little side-door, and across to the stables by a path under the trees, so that, unless she was very unlucky, nobody would see her.
She slipped off to the stables as usual to see Thunder. He whinnied softly when he heard her footstep. She opened the big door and went inside. There was no one else there at all. Only the horses stamped and blew, glad of each other's company.
She went to Thunder's stall. He put his great black head into the crook of her arm and snuffled there happily. Bill stroked his velvety nose, “Thunder, do you feel better? Let me look at your eyes. Oh, Thunder, they aren't as bright as they ought to be—and I don't like the feel of your coat. It should be much silkier. It's harsh. Thunder, what's wrong? Don't be ill, darling Thunder, I couldn't bear it.”
Thunder blew a little, and whinnied happily. He didn't feel well, certainly—but that didn't matter when Bill was with him. He could feel ill and yet be happy at the same time if she was with him.
Upstairs in North Tower, Miss Peters walked along the corridor. She meant to find Bill and have a straight talk with her. She went to the door of the third-form common room and looked in. Wilhelmina was not there!
I want Wilhelmina,” said Miss Peters. “Where is she?”
Everybody knew, of course. But nobody was going to tell. Darrell wondered if she could possibly slip out and warn Bill to come back quickly.
“Shall I go and find her for you?” she said.
“No. I'll find her,” said Miss Peters. “Does anyone know where she is?”
Nobody answered. They all looked blank in a most irritating way. Miss Peters felt furious. She knew quite well that they all knew. Well, she couldn't expect them to sneak, if they thought Wilhemina was somewhere she ought not to be—in the stables!
I suppose she is in the stables,” said Miss Peters, grimly.
She looked at Jean. “You, as head-girl, Jean, ought to tell her not to be so foolish and dishonourable. You know I put everyone on their honour to obey any punishment I give.”
Jean went red and looked uncomfortable. It was all very well for Miss Peters to talk like that! Nobody could possibly make any impression on Bill if it meant that she would have to neglect Thunder!
“Stay here, all of you,” commanded Miss Peters, feeling sure that one or other might rush off to the stables to
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