Rosamund Leaves the Chalet School
The CBB -> St Agnes's House

#1: Rosamund Leaves the Chalet School Author: CarolineLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 9:01 am


Chang asked some questions about Rosamund over in 'Question Time' and I was reminded of this little story I wrote many years ago. Hope you enjoy it

Rosamund Lilley folded her overcoat neatly and laid in into her trunk. Her packing complete, she gazed mournfully around the narrow slip of a room that was hers alone by right, as Head Girl of the Chalet School. This was the last term she would spend in this room. In a few days, she would join the rest of the School as it travelled home for the Christmas Holidays, but unlike the rest of the School, she would not be returning for the new term. She sighed heavily, closed the lid of the trunk, and turned to the mirror to tidy her hair. After spending several minutes rearranging the masses of dark brown hair she wore in a knot in the nape of her neck, she could put off the inevitable no longer. Miss Annersley, Headmistress of the Chalet School for the last 19 years, had told Rosamund that she might tell the other prefects that she was leaving herself (although the rest of the School was not to know until next term), and she was dreading it. She left her room, and went downstairs to the Prefects room, where her friends were amusing themselves with books, needlework and gossip – mainly, it has to be said, the latter – before the last prefects’ meeting of the term.

‘Where have you been?’ cried Len Maynard, one of her closest friends.

‘Just packing and tidying my room.’ Rosamund looked pale and anxious, but the rest were too excited about Christmas and the end of term to notice.

‘But why has it taken you so long?’ queried the third of their group, Second Prefect Ted Grantley, looking up from Len’s address book in which she was writing her Christmas holiday address.

‘Oh, no reason.’ Rosamund smiled faintly. The real reason being, of course, that all of her belongings had had to be packed, not just the normal holiday load.

She sat down in her customary seat at the head of the long table. ‘This is the last time I will sit in this seat,’ she thought, and tried to swallow the lump in her throat. The rest of the prefects assembled around the table. Ted, full name Theodora, opened the minutes book, and uncapped her fountain pen, and Rosamund rose to declare the meeting open. After the minutes of the last meeting had be read, approved and signed, the girls discussed all the usual end of term chores; recovering all the library books, cleaning out the form rooms and making everything trig and trim for the holidays. The formal business ended with Heather Clayton’s long debate about tidying away the games equipment and cleaning the gymnasium, and then the meeting visibly relaxed. Con Maynard and Ricki Fry began a side conversion about the St Mildred’s pantomime which would come off next term, Betty Landon and Alicia Leonard started to tell Carmela Walther about the show they were going to see in London after Christmas, and all around the table, the attention of the girls wandered. Rosamund swallowed hard and stood up abruptly; her moment had come.

‘Girls, I have something to tell you.’ Rosamund’s voice shook slightly. ‘There is no easy way to say this, so I think I had better just come out with it. This is my last prefects’ meeting as Head Girl. I am leaving the Chalet School.’

 


#2:  Author: ChairLocation: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 9:07 am


Thanks, Caroline. Will we get to find out why Rosamund is leaving the CS, please? I really enjoyed reading this.

 


#3:  Author: SquirrelLocation: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 9:12 am


Oh poor Rosamund. I hope the others can help her. Thanks Caroline

 


#4:  Author: RóisínLocation: Galway, Eire PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 9:22 am


Thanks Caroline, this is fabulous Very Happy

 


#5:  Author: LizBLocation: Oxon, England PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 12:19 pm


Thanks Caroline

Poor Rosamund - and what a shock for the others Sad

Liz

 


#6:  Author: CarolineLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 12:24 pm


Here's part two!

There was a stunned silence throughout the room as Rosamund's news sank in, followed swiftly by loud exclamations of horror in at least three languages. When the noise threatened to get out of hand, the Head Girl banged on the table with her hand and called for silence.

‘Please, can we keep the noise down! You’ll have Matey or the Head in here soon if you keep this up! You might all be third formers!’ Now that the news was out, she was in control again.

‘But Ros, why on earth are you leaving?’ Len looked upset. ‘Or can’t you tell us?’

‘Yes, I can tell you, in fact the Head says I must tell you. By the way, she also says the kids aren’t to know till next term, so please don’t broadcast this,’ Rosamund paused. Always a private person, this was something of an ordeal for her. ‘It’s simple really. You all know that I am already 18 – ’

‘Of course we do,’ interjected Margot, the youngest of the Maynard triplets, and a sub-prefect, ‘we all shared that simply wizard cake that you had last May!’

‘It was good, wasn’t it?’ said Rosamund, smiling reminiscently. ‘Well, anyway, what you folk probably don’t realise is that the Gay Scholarship only lasted till the end of last term – it expired at the end of the school year in which I was 18. I believe the next winner starts here after Easter. I don’t think it ever occurred to Rev. and Mrs Gay that I might stay at the school past the age of 18. Most girls don’t – Tom herself didn’t, of course, she went to St Mildred’s at 17 and had a year there as well, before going to the University at 18. But I didn’t join the Chalet School until I was 14, and I had so much work to make up that I stayed on.’

‘So, are you going to St Mildred’s next term?’ asked Francie Wilford and Rosamund shook her head sadly.

‘Why ever not? And what are you going to do?’ said Primrose Trevoase in bewildered tones.

Rosamund blushed. She had hoped not to have to explain this to all the Prefects, although she had fully intended to tell the Triplets, Ted, Ricki and Francie later.

‘My parents hoped that they could give me an extra year here themselves, but unfortunately Dad’s been very ill and has had to retire early, and so they just can’t afford it. And I don’t really need to go to St Mildred’s – it’s not as if I’m going to Oxford or anything, and it would cost just as much to send me to Millie’s as it does here. As for what I am going to do – I’m to take a secretarial course. With my languages I should be able to get a really decent job, and be able to help Mum and Dad out.’

Seventeen year old Len looked at her friend miserably from her seat halfway down the table. ‘This is what you get,’ she thought, ‘when all your pals are years older than you.’ Her other best friend at school, Prunella Davidson, was three years older than Len and had left several years ago, and now Ros, a year and a half older, was leaving too. ‘I knew we’d have to split up at the end of the year, because we three will either be staying here or going to St Mildred’s and Ros was going to horticultural college,’ she thought, trying to cheer herself up. ‘It’s just come a bit sooner than we thought, that’s all.’ Len caught the eye of her sister Margot at the foot of the table. Margot, of course, had been through this experience herself when her chum Emerence Hope had left the Chalet School a few years before. Margot smiled sympathetically at her sister, and Len found herself smiling faintly back. At least she would still have her sisters and Ruey Richardson, who was almost another sister – and Ted, of course.

The Head Girl went on to explain that horticultural college was out, of course, in the circumstances, ‘but Dad says he will teach me all he can in the evenings and at the weekends, and when I’ve done my course and am earning some money, I can have evening classes in all the theory and stuff.’ At that point the bell rang for Kaffee und Kunchen, and the meeting had to finish. Every girl there, however, vowed to do as much as she could to make things easy for Rosamund, and they all recognised the sacrifice that she was making and respected her for the mature way in which she was dealing with it. They knew that gardening was her passion and she had set her heart on a career in horticulture.

Final part to follow shortly...

 


#7:  Author: SquirrelLocation: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 12:27 pm


Poor Len. That must really hurt. And poor Ros having to give up her dreams like that. Thanks Caroline

 


#8:  Author: MaryRLocation: Sale Cheshire PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 12:42 pm


A very interesting take on Ros, Caroline.

Thank you.

 


#9:  Author: Helen PLocation: Crewe, Cheshire PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 12:47 pm


Thankyou so much, Caroline. I haven't been a FOCS member long enough to have seen this first time round.

I really feel for Rosamund, and for Len, too.

Looking forward to the final part.

 


#10:  Author: AllyLocation: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 12:52 pm


Thanks Caroline this is really good Very Happy It's so sad for Rosamund to suddenly have toleave like that.

 


#11:  Author: ChangnoiLocation: New Mexico, USA PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:13 pm


Thank you, Caroline!

I'm happy to see what happens but so sad that Ros is leaving. Don't anyone get angry at this, if possible, but I always liked her rather better than Len.

If the muse (or the bunny) strikes/bites you, will there be more about what happens in Ros' life when she leaves? I know this is an old story, but I AM SEEKING ROS INFO.

Thanks thanks thanks

Chang

 


#12:  Author: CarolineLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:26 pm


Chang, I *think* have another story somewhere which has Ros come back to the School as a secretary, start teaching gardening part time and marry one of the family - I'll have to have a look through my files...

Here's the final part - which is more Len than Ros, as it happens.


Later that evening, after Abendessen, Miss Annersley sent for Len Maynard. Len hurriedly tidied her hair, and made her way to the Head’s study. She tapped on the door and entered, making the customary curtsey, and was surprised to see Miss Wilson, Head of St Mildred’s, as well as Miss Annersley.

‘Auntie Nell, how lovely to see you!’ Len’s surprise and her affection for her Godmother and brevet-Aunt caused her to forget momentarily that she had been officially summoned to the Headmistress’ Study, and that such occasions merited a slightly more formal greeting. Miss Annersley’s eyes twinkled as she observed Len redden, and Miss Wilson hastened to cut off the girl’s stammered apology.

‘No need for that, Len, it’s nice to know that you are glad to see me. It is a good job that no-one else is here to witness your enthusiasm, though.’

Len’s blush deepened, and Miss Annersley decided to spare her any more teasing. Quashing her colleague with a slight frown, she turned to the business of the day.

‘Rosamund informs me that you now know that she is to leave us.’

Len’s face clouded over. ‘Yes, Auntie Hilda, she told us just before Kaffee. I don’t think it’s really sunk in yet, though – ’ her voice trailed off.

‘Yes, I imagine that the news came as a bit of a shock. I am sorry about that, but we didn’t want Rosamund’s last few weeks of school to be overshadowed by much, ahem, wailing and gnashing of teeth.’ Miss Annersley smiled. ‘Rosamund is being a very plucky girl, but I am sure you realise that she is very upset at her father’s sudden illness and the thought of loosing her last year at school.’

Len nodded forlornly, and Miss Wilson took a hand.

‘Len, dear, cheer up! This isn’t the end of the world, for you or for Rosamund! Rosamund will get her training eventually, although it might take a little longer than she originally planned, and even you will survive. Rosamund has far too much about her to let this ruin her life. And she loves her parents far too much to contemplate doing anything else. Don’t you think that you are being a little bit selfish, Len? Rosamund is doing her best to look forward positively, and as her friend, I would expect you to support her, rather than make things worse. You should be helping to make her last days here happy.’ Nell Wilson smiled as Len flushed.

‘It was just such a shock, Auntie Nell,’ she said, regarding the toes of her slippers.

‘I know, dear. And now we have another surprise for you.’ Len looked up, and turned to her Headmistress with wide enquiring eyes.

‘As Rosamund is leaving we must rearrange the prefects slightly, and appoint a new Head Girl. Consequently we would like you, Len, to fill that position.’

Len gasped. 'But Auntie Hilda! Loads of the others are older than me – shouldn’t one of them be appointed?’

‘What terrible English! No Len, it has to be you. Who else is there? Ted makes an excellent Second Prefect, but does not have that extra quality a Head Girl needs. Ricki may leave anytime – depending on Professor Fry – and girls such as your sister Con, Alicia, Lizette and Eve just don’t have the personality for the job. Others, such as Carmela, Betty and Francie, don’t have the required experience. Other than you and Rosamund – of the senior prefects – who has even been a form prefect or could be described as a leader?’

Len thought for a moment. ‘Jo Scott was always pree in our form, and then Ros or me when she left.’

‘Exactly,’ said Miss Annersley impressively. ‘Next year, if you three go to St Mildred's, we will have more choice – Mary Allen, of course, and Primrose and Priscilla or even Audrey Everett. But this year, it has to be you. Regardless of the abilities of the others, you are the best girl for the job, and if you do stay on for another year, you will keep this job.’

‘And there is one other thing, Len. You are carrying on for Rosamund. This should have been her year – the culmination of five very successfully years at the School. That has been taken away from her by circumstances beyond her control. You should accept this appointment, and do your best in it for Rosamund’s sake as well as your own. Now, what do you say?’ Miss Wilson looked at Len anxiously.

Len frowned for a moment, and then she looked her Headmistress squarely in the eye and said firmly ‘I accept.’

And that's it - short but sweet.

Caroline

 


#13:  Author: SquirrelLocation: St-Andrews or Dunfermline PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:33 pm


Well done Len. And Thanks Caroline, that is great. I'd also be interested in reading that other drabble of yours if you do find it.

 


#14:  Author: RayLocation: Bristol, England PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 1:46 pm


I like it - and it is, as you say, a very EBDish reason Smile

Thank you

Ray *Smile*

 


#15:  Author: aitchemelleLocation: West Sussex PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 4:41 pm


Thank you Caroline!! That was great!

*looking forward to reading any more drabbles you "find"*

 


#16:  Author: LizBLocation: Oxon, England PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 4:42 pm


Lovely

Thanks Caroline Very Happy

Liz

 


#17:  Author: francesnLocation: away with the faeries PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 6:13 pm


that was really lovely - it'll be canon for me from now on.

Thank you

 


#18:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 7:52 pm


Thanks Caroline. That was lovely. I always wondered why EBD made Ros leave like that (apart from a plot device to make Len HG of course!!).

 


#19:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 7:54 pm


That was great Caroline, thank you. I'd love to see your other story as well.

 


#20:  Author: LesleyLocation: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 8:05 pm


Thanks Caroline - as others have said, a very plausible reason for Rosamund leaving. Even though we know it was really just so EBD could have Len as head Girl for five terms! Laughing

Would it be possible to see your other stories about Rosamund?

 


#21:  Author: ChairLocation: Rochester, Kent, England PostPosted: Fri Sep 09, 2005 10:10 pm


Thanks, Caroline. I definitely accept that explanation. What a wonderful and lovely story.

 


#22:  Author: AnnLocation: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2005 7:29 pm


That was excellent, Caroline, I think I'll accept it as canon!

 


#23:  Author: Helen PLocation: Crewe, Cheshire PostPosted: Sat Sep 10, 2005 9:31 pm


Thankyou Caroline - canon for me now too! Very Happy

I would love to read the other Rosamund story - I do hope you find it.

 


#24:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 3:46 pm


Thanks Caroline. I remember reading this when FOCS printed it, but it's lovely to read it again.

 


#25:  Author: MaryRLocation: Sale Cheshire PostPosted: Sun Sep 11, 2005 7:06 pm


Thank you, Caroline, a lovely little vignette. Very Happy

 


#26:  Author: Miss DiLocation: Newcastle, NSW PostPosted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 6:42 am


Like everyone else, I really enjoyed your story Caroline and it was a very EBDish reason for Ros to leave. I imagine she will make a success of her changed circumstances and make the most of the opportunities she is sure to get later on!

 


#27:  Author: CarolineLocation: Manchester PostPosted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 8:14 am


Thanks for the kind words, everyone.

I found my other story (also published in the FOCS mag many years ago) - it's not about Rosamund as such, but she does feature quite a lot in one of the chapters. It's a future story, though, so I think that means it fits in Ste Therese rather than here...

Thanks again,
Caroline.

 


#28:  Author: LianeLocation: Manchester England PostPosted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 8:36 am


Definately (sp) canon from now on.
Thanks Caroline.

 


#29:  Author: JosieLocation: London PostPosted: Mon Sep 12, 2005 8:55 am


Just read this through, Caroline. Very plausible reason for her leaving!

Thanks. Very Happy

 


#30:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 12:18 am


Thanks, Caroline.

It's sad for Ros, but very convincing -- and just the sort of thing EBD would have done.

 


#31:  Author: Tiffany PostPosted: Wed Sep 14, 2005 12:14 am


Thankyou, Caroline - that's canon for me too now. I've always wanted to know more about Rosamund - I think she was interesting enough to merit far more screen time than EBD gave her. It's her bad luck that she had to be shoved out of the way to make room for Len!

 


#32:  Author: RuthYLocation: Anyone's guess PostPosted: Tue Sep 20, 2005 8:02 pm


That was great, thank you Caroline.

Ruth

 


#33:  Author: MiaLocation: London PostPosted: Wed Sep 21, 2005 3:26 pm


Thanks Caroline!

 




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