"I'm just wr-r-r-etched! They all laugh and call me Frenchie! I'm not French, and I w-w-ant to be l-l-oved!" Irene looked at her and shook her head.
"That's not the way to go about it I'm afraid.

I'm sorry, but you know you'll just _invite_ teasing if you carry on like this.

Can't you brace up and be sporty?
Pretend you don't mind anything they say and they'll soon stop." "But I _do_ mind!" sobbed the tragic little figure on the steps.

"I mind d-d-dreadfully! Why are they all so horrid to me?
People have always been so nice till I came here!" "That's exactly the reason," said Irene, grasping the situation and explaining it truthfully.

"You've been accustomed to be petted by everybody, and after all why _should_ the other girls in your form pet you?
You don't pet _them_, do you ?" "N-n-o!" Desiree's eyes were round with amazement.
"Well, can't you see school's a matter of give and take?
If you do something for the rest they'll possibly like you, but they won't fall on your neck just out of sheer good nature.