When I was in Senior Grade 2, there was a girl whom I disliked. I do not know why I disliked her. She had always been friendly toward me, and had never done anything to cause me to feel the way I did about her. I was continually saying unpleasant things to her, making fun of her, and snubbing① her.

One day as I was going home from school, the girl caught up with me and said, “Miss Lin, our teacher, wants you to come back to the schoolhouse for a little while.” I didn't believe her. I just said, “Do you think that I would walk back to the schoolhouse just because you told me to? You probably are just telling me that for a joke.” I walked on down the street, leaving the girl standing alone.The next day when I got to school, Miss Lin asked me, “Why didn't you come back to the schoolhouse as I asked you to?” I said, “I didn't know you wanted me. “Miss Lin sent for the girl and asked her, “Did you tell Su Ming to come back?” The girl answered,“I'm sorry, Miss Lin, but I didn't tell her; I couldn't catch up with her.”

I was surprised. I suddenly realized how pretty she was. She had long black hair and blue dark eyes. Her even white teeth showed from her parted lips as she smiled at me. I felt I ought to be ashamed of myself and I found out all my faults in comparison with her liberality.