The Doll

The next morning my cold was worse, and Mother tried to make me stay in bed, but I insisted on getting up and going off to school as usual. ‘​​​​​​​I can’​​​​​​​t go on making a fuss about a silly cold,’​​​​​​​ I told her. ‘​​​​​​​I’​​​​​​​ve got to harden up, in future, and try to forget how you and Father have spoilt me. Aunt Madge will think me an awful nuisance if I expect to stay in bed whenever I have a cold. What with London fogs, and so on, I shall probably have a cold the whole winter, so I may as well become used to it.’​​​​​​​ And I laughed cheerfully, so as not to worry her, and teased her too, and said how lovely it would be for her in the warm sunshine of Australia, while I was sitting alone in the bedroom of Aunt Madge’​​​​​​​s London house.