ITwasadullautumndayandJillPolewascryingbehindthegym.
, soIshallsayaslittleaspossibleaboutJill'sschool, “Co-educational, ” aschoolforbothboysandgirls, whatusedtobecalleda “mixed” school; , horridthings, wentonwhichatanordinaryschoolwouldhavebeenfoundoutandstoppedinhalfaterm; butatthisschooltheyweren', , themainresultwasthatyoubecameratherafavouritethanotherwise.
'tnearlyfinishedhercrywhenaboycameroundthecornerofthegymwhistling, .
“Can'tyoulookwhereyou'regoing? ” saidJillPole.
“Allright, ” saidtheboy, “youneedn'tstart—” andthenhenoticedherface.“Isay, Pole, ” hesaid, “what'sup? ”
Jillonlymadefaces; thesortyoumakewhenyou'retryingtosaysomethingbutfindthatifyouspeakyou'llstartcryingagain.
“It'sThem, Isuppose—asusual, ” saidtheboygrimly, digginghishandsfartherintohispockets.
, .
“Now, lookhere, ” saidtheboy, “there'snogoodusall—”
Hemeantwell, (whichisquitealikelythingtohappenifyouhavebeeninterruptedinacry).
“Oh, goawayandmindyourownbusiness, ” shesaid.“Nobodyaskedyoutocomebargingin, didthey? Andyou'reanicepersontostarttellinguswhatwealloughttodo, aren'tyou? IsupposeyoumeanweoughttospendallourtimesuckinguptoThem, andcurryingfavour, anddancingattendanceonThemlikeyoudo.”
“Oh, Lor! ” saidtheboy, , buthewasn'tabadsort.
“Pole! ” hesaid.“Isthatfair? HaveIbeendoinganythingofthesortthisterm? Didn'tIstanduptoCarterabouttherabbit? Anddidn'tIkeepthesecretaboutSpivvins—undertorturetoo? Anddidn'tI—”
“Id-don'tknowandIdon'tcare, ” sobbedJill.
