Guides at the Chalet School
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#301:  Author: Mihiri, Location: surrey england PostPosted: Thu Nov 25, 2004 6:17 pm

Nicky I've just finished rading this and it's amazing. It sounds exactly like EBD. I can't believe GGBP rejected it. Thank you for posting it here.

 

#302:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Fri Nov 26, 2004 11:42 pm

Thank you Nicky, love the enrollment scene, so moving. Typical CS to have a big breakout after such a poignant day. Hope someone puts the fire out before the whole area catches fire.

 

#303:  Author: nickyj, Location: Essex, England PostPosted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 8:29 pm

The fire, needless to say, was not out. It smouldered gently for a little while and then a tongue of flame flickered across to the remains of the discarded pile of kindling. The wood was dry, and despite Evvy’s earlier struggles, caught immediately. The brief rain of the previous day had been dried by the hot sun and there might have been a tragedy had Herr Braun, heading home to the Kron Prinz Karl after a pleasant time with his brother in Torteswald, not caught sight of a fine column of smoke rising among the trees and crossed the pasture to the pinewoods faster than might have been expected of a stout middle-aged innkeeper. Arrived in the clearing he beat the flames down with a branch and then stamped on the embers in his stout boots, making sure that all fire was at an end, just as the Chalet contingent, headed by Evvy, tore into the clearing.

They had reached the stream, only to realise that they had no way of carrying the water, and been arguing over whether they should go back to the Chalet for a receptacle, thus inviting detection, when Ilonka had seen the smoke. That had decided the matter the five had torn back to the clearing, arriving just too late. Herr Braun ignored them for a moment, raking through the ashes to satisfy himself that all danger was at an end. Then he turned to the stricken girls.
“Is this your fire?” Evadne stood still, suddenly realising the enormity of what she had done.
“I…. Yes, Herr Braun.” The Austrian looked from one to another, resting for a moment on Anita Rincini whom he had known since babyhood, then coming back to the young American, clearly the leader of the little band.
“You will come with me to your headmistress,” was all he said, but his voice was grim and they dared do nothing but follow.

Madge Bettany was relaxing in a corner of the garden with her staff, reading a letter from her twin brother in India, when the little group came up the path. She excused herself and went across the grass to meet them.
“Herr Braun. How good to see you.” She paused and searched his face. “Won’t you come into the house.” He nodded, following her along to the study. Madge, intensely curious, and not a little worried, bade the girls wait outside the door and then addressed the man whose help was an invaluable aid to her. “What has happened, Herr Braun?”

In few words he told the story. To say that Madge was angry would be to put it mildly. The people of the Briesau valley had taken them to their hearts, satisfied that these were not careless city dwellers who would damage the countryside, and she was well aware that this incident could do considerable damage to their reputation.
“Thank you, Herr Braun,” she said slowly, eventually. “I will, of course, see that the girls are dealt with and that nothing like this should ever happen again. Other than that, I hardly know how to apologise.”
“It is not your fault, Madame, “ the old innkeeper said slowly. “You cannot watch them each minute. But I will be glad to know that they will be punished. The danger of fire is very real here, and your girls must learn to know that it is not something to be played with.” He paused for a moment, then softened.
“I will not tell others of this, Madame. There might be bad feeling, and I am sure that it will not happen again. I will bid you good day and leave you to deal with your bad pupils.” He raised his hat and was gone, leaving Madge feeling a little like a naughty schoolgirl who had been reprimanded.

She paced her study for a moment then opened the door.
“You may come in now,” she said briefly, and the little group crept, literally, into the study, standing in a line in front of the desk. Suzanne and Paula were already crying and Anita, knowing the scolding that would greet her at home should her parents learn of this, was little better. Ilonka, perhaps did not quite understand the gravity of the situation, but she had been at the school long enough to know that this was no ordinary row. And Evvy – when the head’s eyes rested on her for a moment she flinched, studying the toes of her shoes, wishing herself anywhere else. Only a boyish hatred of tears prevented her from joining Suzanne and Paula.

“Tell me what you thought you were doing.” Evadne cast a glance, at her companions, knowing full well that the culpability was almost entirely hers, then spoke, still not looking up.
“It was my fault, Madame.”
“That was not what I asked.” Madge had never been so angry. “And look at me when I’m talking to you!” The command was like a pistol shot and Evadne raised her eyes.
“I.. we were practising lighting a fire, Madame. For Guides.”
“For Guides?” Madge looked at her in amazement. “You sneaked off to do something which you knew very well would be forbidden, nearly set the valley alight because you thought it would make you better Guides?”
“We, we didn’t know it was forbidden, Madame.” Paula, inadvisedly, had found courage to speak, unwilling to let her friend take the whole blame.
“I see. You really thought that I would allow you to go into the woods and light a fire, in an area where all of the houses are made of wood and everything as dry as timber?” Madge’s voice was scathing and it finished Paula totally.
“No, Madame.” It was Evvy. “We didn’t think.”
“Clearly.”

A few more pointed questions and she had the whole story out of them. When she was sure that she knew all there was to know she studied them in silence for a few minutes, thus reducing Anita to tears also. When she spoke it was more quietly.
“Evadne, wait outside, please.” When the small American, looking scared, had closed the door behind her, the young headmistress gave the other four her unvarnished opinion of them. She was, she said, horrified that Chalet girls could show such lack of thought for the community that had welcomed them so warmly. She pointed out that while the original idea may have been Evadne’s, in choosing to follow her they had made themselves as culpable as she was. She did consider, for a moment, telling them that they would not be able to be enrolled in the Guide company at the end of term with the rest but relented. After all, Ilonka had, perhaps, not been here long enough to realise the danger they had caused, and the other three had hitherto shown themselves to be fairly weak characters, easily led Guides would be the best thing in the world for them. When she was certain that they understood the enormity of their conduct, she pronounced sentence. Since they could clearly not be trusted – Ilonka joined the weepers at this point – for the rest of the term, they would not leave the house except in the presence of a mistress or prefect. They would also each write a personal apology to Herr Braun for the inconvenience they had caused him that afternoon and beg his forgiveness for the danger in which they had placed the valley. Then she dismissed them, with the order that they were not to tell the other girls what they had done – Madge had no wish to inspire more reckless behaviour.

In the passage, Evvy, more scared and upset than, perhaps, she had ever been, watched her companions file out weeping bitterly, and faced the very real possibility that she would be expelled. She knew now exactly what she had done. When she was called in and the door had closed, however, no amount of fear of consequences could stop her being truthful.
“Madame, it was all my fault!” she blurted out. Madge’s face softened slightly.
“I hardly know what to say to you, Evvy,” she said quietly. “You are one of our oldest girls and you have let me down so badly that I feel a little sick. I am quite sure that you meant no harm, but your lack of thought, quite apart from risking the valley, could have brought severe damage to the school. We have been welcomed here, taken in to the people’s hearts, and that means a lot. If we have a reputation for carelessness then we would no longer be welcome here. Do you understand what I am saying?”
“Yes, Madame.” Evadne’s voice was little more than a whisper, so close to tears was she.
“I am nearly as disappointed that you could lead weaker girls into such schemes,” the headmistress went on. “I would, I think, be less angry had it been Margia and Joey, girls who are able, if they wish, to stand up to you and tell you that you are doing wrong.”
“I … I tried them first – well, Margia, at least,” Evvy said miserably. “She wouldn’t have any of it.”
“So you brought in girls whom you knew did not have the force of character to refuse you.” Madge’s tone was cutting. That you did it in the name of Guides almost makes it worse. Do you know what the first point of the law is?” The small American swallowed hard, fighting the tears that threatened to fall.
“A Guide is loyal and can be trusted.” The young head nodded.
“And do you feel that your behaviour today suggests that you are fit to be a Guide?”
“No, Madame.” The voice was choked as Evvy lost her battle.
“Neither do I,” was the quiet response. “You broke the first point of the law in the most flagrant manner, and I don’t think you came very close to keeping the spirit of the rest.” She came round the desk and put a hand on the girl’s shoulder. “I’m not going to make a decision today, Evvy, as to whether you may be enrolled with the rest. Your behaviour between now and the end of term will determine that.”
“I’ll do my best, Madame.” Evvy raised tear-filled eyes to hers, relief evident in her face.
“You will take the same punishment as the others that is, you will not leave the house for the remainder of term unless you are under the eye of a mistress or prefect. In addition, after church tomorrow you will walk with me to the Kron Prinz Karl and beg forgiveness of Herr Braun for your behaviour. Now, I want you to go to your dormitory, draw your cubicle curtains, and go to bed. Come down in the morning determined to do your best to be worthy of our trust in you. Goodnight, Evvy.”

Evvy was crying in earnest now she curtsied unsteadily, stumbled upstairs, thankfully meeting nobody, and got herself into bed. Margia, coming up an hour later in search of a clean handkerchief, heard the muffled sobs and came to investigate. In strict defiance of rules she sat down on the edge of her friend’s bed and rested a hand on her shoulder.
“You got caught, huh? Oh, Evvy, don’t cry! Was it horrible?”
“Guess Madame thinks I’m the world’s worst pig, and she’d be right ,” Evvy choked. “Oh, do go, Margia, or you’ll be in a row too. Sides, I’d sooner be alone.”

Margia nodded and went away, to be met by her little sister Amy who informed her that she was wanted in the study and what was the row anyway?
“None of your business,” Margia said tersely and ran along to tap at the door of Miss Bettany’s sanctum. That young lady smiled at her, however, and held out her hand.
“Come here, Margia. I want you to make me a promise.” Margia crossed the room.
“I won’t tell the others, if that’s what you’re asking..”
“That’s what I’m asking,” Madge said. “For everyone’s sake, I think it best that the matter is closed.”
“It’d be mean to Evvy to tell the rest – she’s frightfully upset,” Margia confided. “She says you must think her the world’s worst pig and you’d be right.” Madge almost laughed.
“I can see I shall have to give more attention to teaching proper English,” she mused aloud. “Very well, Margia, run along back to the rest. It’s almost time for Kaffee.”

Madge Bettany did not forget Margia’s words. She kept Evvy close beside her during the walk to the little chapel the next morning and chatted brightly to her as they walked across to the Kron Prinz Karl, under cover of a errand that needed doing. The apology was earnestly made and the old Austrian innkeeper forgave her instantly, bending down to kiss the top of her head in a gesture that would have made her indignant at any other time but which she was still to upset to resent. Moreover, the head kept a close eye on her naughty pupil during the afternoon and, once Kaffee was over, suggested early bed. Evadne had slept badly the previous night so was not sorry to go, and once she was between the sheets Miss Bettany came to her and, sitting on the side of the bed, talked very sweetly to her, making it clear that she was forgiven.

 

#304:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 9:10 pm

Awww, that was so lovely. A perfect CS scene, everything, from Her Braun, to the Row, to forgiveness at the end. Beautiful, Nicky.

 

#305:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 9:36 pm

Fabulous post. Very Happy Very Happy Thanks Nicky

 

#306:  Author: Mihiri, Location: surrey england PostPosted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 10:11 pm

Fantastic post. Thanks Nicky. I can actually picture the scenes.

 

#307:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 10:32 pm

Nicky that was lovely - I could really see Herr Braun stamping out the fire Very Happy And nice and long too Very Happy Thanks Liz

 

#308:  Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 10:33 pm

That's what Madge should be like! I wish EBD had let her stay this way. Thanks Nicky.

 

#309:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 11:03 pm

Good job, Madge and Margia! Thanks, Nicky.Hope Evvy doesn't get thrown out of Guides, though! (or not let in, as the case may be....)

 

#310:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 1:22 am

Nicky that was just wonderful - thankyou

 

#311:  Author: Chelsea, Location: Your Imagination PostPosted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 3:11 am

Quote:
“It’d be mean to Evvy to tell the rest – she’s frightfully upset,” Margia confided. “She says you must think her the world’s worst pig and you’d be right.” Madge almost laughed. “I can see I shall have to give more attention to teaching proper English,” she mused aloud. “Very well, Margia, run along back to the rest. It’s almost time for Kaffee.”
I can picture Madge having to bite her lip to keep from laughing at this! Lovely bit - very CSish (and EBDish)

 

#312:  Author: Rachael,  PostPosted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 10:49 am

Herr Braun is a complete poppet - and Madge is lovely in this ... Thanks, Nicky

 

#313:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 11:38 am

Lovely. Thank you Nicky.

 

#314:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 8:06 pm

Just caught up with the last two posts. This is lovely and Madge is a dear, thank you.

 

#315:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire PostPosted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 11:04 pm

Nicky, this is so good. Thankyou for sharing it with us all. If you ever do get it published, I'll buy it for sure!

 

#316:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 11:28 pm

Just caught up on the last couple of pages, and can I just ask, was the use of the name Rieser for any particular reason (just found that there's a hotel Rieser on Achensee!) Wonderfull though. JackieJ

 

#317:  Author: nickyj, Location: Essex, England PostPosted: Sat Dec 04, 2004 4:55 pm

JackieJ wrote:
Just caught up on the last couple of pages, and can I just ask, was the use of the name Rieser for any particular reason (just found that there's a hotel Rieser on Achensee!)


Not significant but I wrote a fair bit of this while I was there one summer so it was probably in my mind from having seen it

--------------------

XIX

“D’you folk realise it’s barely a fortnight until the end of term?” Joey Bettany sat on her desk in the big schoolroom, swinging her legs, sharpening a pencil with her penknife, and almost cutting herself as the realisation struck her.
“But surely not,” Bianca di Ferrara answered, then counted on her fingers for a moment. “You are right, Joey. I had not realised.”

If truth be told none of the girls had noticed how fast the time had flown since the enrolment of the first Guides. The patrol leaders and seconds had been busy deciding how their patrols would be run, coaching their juniors and beginning to work for badges. Captain had decreed that none might be taken that term, but the girls saw that work done this would give them an advantage next, and went ahead with a will. And then this was the games term, of course for the latter part of the Christmas term and most of the Easter one they were often confined to the house for days by the weather, so in the summer a certain amount of leeway was allowed.

Madge Bettany, after several consultations with Herr Braun about safety, had provided the school with half a dozen sturdy, flat-bottomed rowing boats, declaring that as they lived practically on a lake all of them should learn to row. The boats were clumsy but almost impossible to upset, and the girls had taken to them eagerly, almost neglecting their cricket for the new sport. Madge was wise, however, she only allowed fairly short periods on the lake at first, partly because she was aware that the girls were using muscles many of them had never used, but also because she did not want to encourage them to drop existing hobbies automatically for fresh ones. So Grizel had had little cause for complaint and the Chalet School cricket team only lacked an opponent against whom they could pitch their skills.

City-bred Marie, who had astounded her friends at the beginning of the term by saying that she would work keenly under Grizel, had stuck by her views and proved herself to be very able both at batting and bowling, although she showed equal talent, to the surprise of some, on the lake, soon outstripping girls who had been brought up with rowing boats. Joey, having cried off of cricket at first simply because Grizel was in charge, had found, when pushed, that her talents lay more in that line than at tennis, at which she was too erratic to do much good. Frieda and Simone had both settled for tennis, the young Innsbrucker being quite good. In addition to games and Guides and, of course, schoolwork, there had been preparations for the entertainment which they gave to the people of the Tiernsee at the end of every term, so they had been busy days indeed, hence the surprise at Joey’s revelation.

Any further comment, however, was squashed by Carla von Flugen commenting shyly that since it was only five minutes until the prep bell rang perhaps they ought to be getting ready. There was a dash for the lockers at the back of the room, the usual hunting for missing books by certain people whose possessions never seemed to be where they should be, but by the time that Bette Rincini entered the twelve middle school boarders were seated at their desks, ready for work. The elder girl settled herself at the mistress’s desk, spread out her own books to her satisfaction, glanced around to see all was well and then began on her own work. Friday night prep was generally a fairy peaceable affair, the girls having spent the afternoon tiring themselves out at games, and this evening, the entire contingent having enjoyed a very strenuous time on the lake, was no exception. Besides, with exams so close nobody dared waste any of the precious time and quiet reigned over the big schoolroom for over an hour.

Joey Bettany, having finished her written prep, glanced over her French and German dictee then, deciding that her knowledge of those languages would be sufficient to carry her through, set them aside, fished out a notebook and began to wrestle with something that had been troubling her for a week or so. She was taking a risk in doing so, for if Bette had taken it into her head to make the rounds to see what they were all doing then she would have been in trouble. However fortune favoured her that day for the prefect was satisfied with looking up from time to time to see that nobody looked at a loss, and the younger Miss Bettany was allowed to do her own thing, so absorbed that she barely noticed the bell ringing.

“Joey, what on earth are you doing?” Margia came to hang over her shoulder once Bette had collected up her things and left the room. “In case you didn’t notice the bell rang five minutes ago.” Joey looked up, startled.
“I didn’t.” Marie raised her eyebrows.
“What is it that you were so engrossed in, Joey?”
“It’s this wretched piece about the Guide enrolment for the magazine,” Joey explained, setting down her pencil and sitting back in her chair. “And before any of you say so, I know it’s not Guidelike to be writing it in prep but I was stuck. And I’m still stuck,” she ended disconsolately.

Writing had always come easy to Joey Bettany, she had taken in her stride her editorship of the school magazine, the Chaletian, and the first edition had been a huge success. The young editor was in no mind to have the next issue any less so and when each of the four patrol leaders had refused point blank to tackle the description of the ceremony, declaring that they could not do it justice, she had agreed to take it on herself. Then, for the first time in her life, she found that the words she wanted did not come easily. Her first effort had been stilted in the extreme, and the next three had followed it into the waste paper basket. No matter how hard she tried she could not quite capture the essence of the great occasion. The others crowded round, offering advice, but since English was a foreign language to all but Margia, Evadne and Mary Burnett, none of whom were gifted in that way, Joey was no further forward for the assistance. Then no less a person than Marie had a brainwave.

“Could you not ask Miss Wilson to help you?” she suggested. “She has been a Guide herself and she may know what it is that is giving you the difficulty.”
“Marie, you’re a gem!” Joey seized her notebook and jumped to her feet. “Oh bother, there’s the bell!” She sat lost in thought throughout Abendessen and went eagerly in search of the young science mistress when the meal was over. But Miss Wilson was in the staff room, enjoying a cigarette and a natter with Miss Durrant and Miss Maynard, so Miss Joey had to wait in patience until the morrow. For the record, that piece was finally finished and, when the second issue of the Chaletian came out at the end of the following term Joey’s account of the enrolment was widely held to be the best part of it.

 

#318:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Dec 04, 2004 5:07 pm

Lovely, Thanks Nicky. Very Happy

 

#319:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Sat Dec 04, 2004 6:36 pm

Thanks, Nicky! (and Marie, and Bill) (Sounds like the end may be near, though Sad -- unless there are more Guide activities once school's out. Or major excitement before end of term. *perks up*)

 

#320:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sun Dec 05, 2004 1:56 am

awwww - lovely post! thank you very much!!!

 

#321:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Sun Dec 05, 2004 12:51 pm

What a nice post! Thanks Nicky Very Happy (Also sad this looks like it's nearing the end though Sad )

 

#322:  Author: Mihiri, Location: surrey england PostPosted: Sun Dec 05, 2004 3:32 pm

Thanks Nicky I hope this doesnt end too soon though

 

#323:  Author: nickyj, Location: Essex, England PostPosted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 7:30 pm

The days that followed were exceptionally hot, and the girls groused at being expected to work as usual. Miss Bettany, herself wilting under the noon heat, decreed that Mittagessen should consist of cold meats and salads, with plenty of fruit, insisted on the rest hour afterwards being spent in the dormitories rather than the garden and forbade all running about, including tennis and cricket. Grizel groused at this last and one or two of the middles, notably Evadne, were heard to grumble about the embargo on cakes and sweets, but for the most part there were few complaints. With the shutters almost closed to keep out the sun the big schoolrooms were cool and as soon as the worst of the heat of the day was gone swimming and boating were the order of the day.

Had the end of term exams not been so close Miss Bettany would have contemplated cutting back on both lessons and prep. As it was that was impossible. The young headmistress had decided that, with the school growing so fast, the time had come to make some big changes, and, although the girls did not yet know it, the following term would see the three divisions of the school, Senior, Middle and Junior, replaced by six classes, the youngest juniors becoming the First Form and the prefects and their contemporaries the Sixth. The examinations would help with the final choice as to the placement of the girls into each of these forms and of such were of some importance. So schoolwork and prep had to be got through as usual, though the mistresses were more lenient than was normal in passing over inattention and mistakes.

“All the same, I’ll be glad when the wretched things are over!” Grizel Cochrane declared one evening as they packed up after prep. “I’ve just spent ages stewing over some French translation that just doesn’t make sense.”
“It is just the heat,” Bette soothed.
“All very well for you,” Grizel, who was, although she would not admit it, badly affected by the sticky weather, growled. “You’re good at languages.” Bette, who spoke German and Italian at home and was fluent in both French and English besides, could not argue with this.
“But I have spent the same time struggling with maths,” she reasoned. “Come, Grizel, put it aside. Madame has said that those of the seniors who wish may bathe for a short while. Will you come?”
“Rather!” Grizel’s grievances were forgotten as she raced after her friend to collect swimming costume and towel and then run down to the bathing hut to change.

To the relief of all concerned the hot spell broke on the day that the exams began, and for three days there was quiet at the Chalet as the girls tackled the papers. No last minute cramming was permitted and after Kaffee each day they were ordered out to the cricket pitches and tennis courts to work off the effects of sitting still all day and shake off worries about the next subjects. The few days were soon over and then it was the turn of the staff. While the girls enjoyed a carefree weekend, playing cricket or tennis, boating, and enjoying Guide work, those who were not on duty turned to and marked the papers so that the wait for the results would be as short as possible. Even the younger middles had worked with a will lately and though there had been plenty of grumbles when each exam was over the questions had been fairly set and, in the end, no one was found to have disgraced herself totally. There were plenty of howlers, of course, and in the late evenings the staffroom rang with laughter and various efforts of the middles, especially Evadne, who openly declared that she hated languages and whose translations sometimes had unexpected results.

“It has been a good term,” Gisela sighed, the evening after the results had been posted, when they were relaxing in the garden. “And you were worrying needlessly about your exams, Grizel, for you did very well.” Grizel, who had indeed been pleasantly surprised by the exam results, smiled at this. If truth be told she had been determined to be a full prefect next term and had been wise enough to know that good exam results might help her in this, so she had been unusually diligent.
“All the same,” she said, “there’s been one thing wrong with this term, and that’s that we’ve not had a soul to play cricket against. I did hope there might be, I don’t know, a party at one of the hotels or something, who played.” Juliet laughed.
“Hardly likely, I’m afraid. Of course a lot of the visitors play tennis, and I’m sure if it wasn’t that we can play that among ourselves perfectly well they would have challenged us. But a whole cricket side’s a bit much to hope for, Grizel.” Grizel laughed in spite of herself.
“Oh, I know. All the same, it seems an awful waste to have put in all that effort and not be able to prove how good we are!”

Miss Bettany had come in search of Gisela in time to overhear this, and she took a vacant deckchair for a moment.
“Is it really a waste, Grizel? The girls are fitter physically than they were, they have had a great deal of enjoyment and, most importantly, they have learnt to work together as a team. Cricket has taught them that as much as Guides as done, you know. I think you can be very proud of your team, even if they have not had worthy opponents.” Grizel blushed at this unexpected praise.
“I am, Madame,” she owned. “All the same, I do wish we could have had one match!” Madge laughed and then turned to Gisela with the message which had brought her to them and the subject was dropped. But Grizel, although she did not forget the quiet lecture, determined in her own mind that come the next season the Chalet School eleven should have a team to play against, somehow.

 

#324:  Author: Laura, Location: London (ish) PostPosted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 7:31 pm

Thanks for updating this and marlows, Nicky! Is v impressive!

 

#325:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 7:56 pm

Excellent - thank you Nicky.

 

#326:  Author: Mihiri, Location: surrey england PostPosted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 9:58 pm

Thank you Nicky. As I've said before this is so true to the tyrolean stories

 

#327:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sun Dec 12, 2004 10:40 pm

thaks for the update - this is really impressive! good to see grizel being a bit more mature and working hard to get where she wants to.

 

#328:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 2:49 am

Thanks Nicki, I really do feel as though I'm reading a previously undiscovered EBD manuscript, this seems so much a part of the series.

 

#329:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 10:16 am

Thanks Nicky! So are we to guess that the visiting school are about to turn up to play them at cricket then?

 

#330:  Author: Rachael,  PostPosted: Mon Dec 13, 2004 4:09 pm

Wonderful, Nicky - thank you! Very Happy

 

#331:  Author: nickyj, Location: Essex, England PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 9:02 pm

Moved house successfully so here's the next bit

XX - The Guide Hike

The term had been so busy that there had be no chance as yet for the Cock and poppy patrols to hold the hike which had been rained off early on. However, with the exams over Miss Bettany agreed easily to her lieutenants’ suggestion that it should be held, weather permitting, the following Saturday, and those involved were looking forward to it keenly.

Joey Bettany, as usual, woke early on the Saturday morning, but instead of snuggling down again under her plumeau to think or, in direct defiance of the sitting-up-only rule, to read, she slipped out of bed and onto the narrow balcony. The mists were down – usual in the early morning – the chalets of Buchau invisible, but she sky was light, a sure sign of good weather later on.

The members of the Cock and Poppy patrols came to Fruhstuck in their Guide skirts with their ties – those who had been enrolled - pinned at the necks of blue sleeveless blouses, Miss Bettany having decided early on that there would need to be some concessions to the hot weather in terms of uniform when they were walking. Those with long hair had it pinned up and they looked very smart and business like. Five to nine brought Frieda Mensch and Sophie Hamel hurrying along to join them, and promptly on the hour, leaving the others to go to Saturday morning mending, they set off, marching at a steady pace round the Buchau end of the lake and up to Scholastika, singing as they went where the incline of the broad path allowed.

The summer visitors they met on the path eyed them curiously for Austria has nothing to resemble the Girl Guides and the party of girls, with their neat uniforms and clear happy faces, were an unusual sight.
“I suppose the avalanches do only happen in the winter?” naughty Margia mused aloud with a grin at Evvy, as they passed an area where fallen rocks had been cleared to the side of the path.
“Avalanches? Surely not?” Evvy shivered in spite of the heat of the early afternoon sun. “Here?”
“But surely you must know that, Evvy,” Bette told her. “There are no pines here, for it is too steep. Where the pines grow the rock falls are scattered. But where the mountainsides are bare they will gather, how do you say, momentum until they are hurled, with great force, onto the path and thus to the lake. There have been some bad accidents. Now they build iron fences on the steepest slopes, to attempt to break the falls – see.” And she motioned up the mountainside to where strange looking fences stretched across the most barren patches.
“And yes, Margia, it is hardly the season for such things,” Gertrud told her. “I do not think that we need fear today.”

Just after the big white hotel at the head of the lake Miss Maynard gave the signal to stop and motioned to a track leading up the mountainside.
“Do we go up there” Joey asked with interest. “Much jollier than the road.” The lieutenant nodded.
“It runs more or less parallel to the road, a little way up the mountainside, so we should get some good views of the valley. We’ll break ranks here, girls. Yes, Joey, you and Simone may lead, but don’t get too far ahead, Bette and Gertrud, perhaps you will come last with me to make sure that nobody is left behind. And Miss Wilson, will you walk in the middle – but do leave her some breath for walking!” with a schoolgirl grin at the younger members of the party who had not tired of demanding more Guide stories from the newest mistress at every possible opportunity.

“Isn’t this just absolutely topping?” Joey Bettany, remembering another walk under less happy circumstances, slipped her arm through Simone’s as they walked briskly along the wide track. On one side of the path the fir clad slopes rose steeply, on the other, through breaks in the same firs, they could see down to the scattered chalets of the Tiernthal and beyond them the gentle peaks of the Seeberge mountains. Simone nodded, glowing with happiness. She had emerged from the trouble earlier in the term a much nicer and wiser girl where her friendship with Jo Bettany was concerned, but that did not stop her pleasure at being the chosen partner of the unofficial leader of the middles.

Now she stopped as the two of them – they were still leading the party – came to a wide gate with a smaller one beside it, both firmly closed and apparently secured.
“I say, have we come to someone’s private land?” Jo turned and called to Frieda, walking just behind with Carla von Flugen, a quiet Austrian girl who had come to the school in its second term. “I say, Frieda! Can we go on? Are we trespassing?” Frieda laughed.
“No, my Joey. The gate means that this is a pasture for one of the herds.”
“What, here?” Joey, despite her year in the Tyrol, whistled in surprise, for the slopes rose steeply both above and below the path. “How do they keep their feet? You’re ragging me.”
“Truly, Joey, it is so,” Frieda said. “Listen, you can hear them.” Joey paused, her head cocked to one side, and, sure enough, there came the tinkling of the bells that all cows in the Alps wear around their necks.
“Jumping Jehosophat!” was her conclusion. “I’d never had thought it. Anyway, the gate’s well and truly closed. Do we climb it?” and she shook the little side gate to prove her point.
“Reach over it, Jo, and there will be a chain hooked over a nail.” Thus advised, Joey opened it easily and set off once more, while Frieda stayed behind to see that it was properly secured, knowing only too well the dangers to the cattle should they wander from the grazing ground. When Miss Maynard and Bette, who were bringing up the rear, had come through, she ran forward to rejoin Carla.

 

#332:  Author: Laura, Location: London (ish) PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 9:08 pm

Thanks Nicky! Again, this is just so amazingly EBDish (in a good way!) Nice to know you're in your new home for christmas too Very Happy

 

#333:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 9:19 pm

Thanks Nicky - *sigh* this is so lovely! Laughing

 

#334:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 9:51 pm

Thankyou Nicky. Glad the move went well. I do hope Gertrud is right about it not being avalanche season - why do I have a feeling something untoward is going to happen?

 

#335:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 9:54 pm

Because this is the CS, and something untoward ALWAYS happens!

 

#336:  Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Mon Dec 20, 2004 9:59 pm

Very Happy Thank you Nicky - I'm glad the move was successful!

 

#337:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 1:00 am

Very Happy Thanks Nicky. Hope it all goes smoothly!! Glad the move went well.

 

#338:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:59 am

Thanks Nicky Hope you're soon settled in Is it by design that if you put the two patrols together you get poppycock? Laughing Liz

 

#339:  Author: nickyj, Location: Essex, England PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:52 am

LizB wrote:
Thanks Nicky Hope you're soon settled in Is it by design that if you put the two patrols together you get poppycock? Laughing Liz
No, just my knack of not seeing the obvious until it's right under my nose! Very Happy

 

#340:  Author: Rachael,  PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 9:33 am

*g* at "poppycock"!Great to see more of this Nicky - thank you!

 

#341:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 2:12 pm

Great to see more! Thank you Nicky. I'm glad your move went smoothly.

 

#342:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 1:08 am

lovely to see this developing...just in time for one end-of-term crisis in true EBD style.

 

#343:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Thu Dec 23, 2004 4:01 am

Thanks, Nicky! Excellent as usual. Good thing they have Frieda along!

 

#344:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Tue Dec 28, 2004 5:56 pm

Thank you Nicky. Have just read lots of lovely story. As others have said this is very Ebdish and very true to the early books. Looking forward to the next part.

 

#345:  Author: nickyj, Location: Essex, England PostPosted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 9:15 pm

Sorry for the long wait, life's been crazy!

-------------------------------

The tinkling cowbells were a never-ending source of delight to Ilonka, who kept dashing to the side of the path to see the creamy brown animals grazing on the steep slopes. The cows on the Briesau peninsular were all up on the alms during the summer months and the girls walks had not happened to take them near a grazing herd that term, so this was a totally new experience for her. The broad path wandered up and down the mountainside. At one point it crossed a rushing stream, where a narrower path branched off, and the unmistakable rushing sound of falling water could be heard.

Evvy was already on the little path when she recalled that this was a Guide hike and she was already in disgrace and came back.
“Miss Maynard, could we go and have a look, please?” she begged. “It sounds awfully near.” After a swift consultation with Bette, Miss Maynard vetoed the idea, however. The sound of the waterfall was deceptive, the Austrian girl told her it was a good twenty minutes away, and though worth making a detour for would cut badly into their time in Tiernkirch. Evadne had to be content with the promise that, if possible, they might visit the fall at a later date, and she went on to join her friends without a protest, a fact that made the young mathematics mistress, who knew nothing of the trouble hanging over the child, raise her eyebrows in surprise.

They went onwards, with occasional glimpses of the village of Tiernkirch through the gaps in the pines, then the path began a gentle but definite descent, and suddenly they were out of the woods and looking out across the valley, the village just below them. Here the lieutenant called a stop for Mittagessen and the girls flung themselves down on the short grass and opened their knapsacks.

Marie had done them proud – there were rolls stuffed with chicken and herbs, huge slices of blaubereentorte and juicy apples, with bottles of her own special lemonade to wash it down. The long walk had sharpened their already keen appetites and they made short work of the meal.
“I thought you said there were two churches, Jo,” Margia, who had not been this far up the valley before, said presently, between bites of apple.
“Uh-huh,” Joey, similarly occupied, answered. “Look to your left, my dear.” Margia looked. Set apart from the village, atop a hill, was a little white chapel, completely isolated. She whistled,
“What a strange place to build a church. Why’d they do it?”
“Not an earthly,” was Jo’s slangy response. “Frieda might know.” But the young Innsbrucker, who had spent her summers at the Tiernsee since babyhood, could not answer either. She did not think, from memory, that there was any clue in the church itself either.

Miss Maynard was keeping a close eye on her watch and exactly half an hour after they had stopped she blew her whistle and gave the order to pack up and move on. They picked up the path where they had left it and ten minutes later they were in the centre of the village. Tiernkirch is larger than Briesau, having a proper road into it, but is nonetheless pretty, nestling in green meadows between the sweeping, fir-clad mountains, with gentler slopes at its head, and is notable for its two churches, with their distinctive onion spires, typical for the Tyrol but less usual in the Tiernthal, and also for its pottery workshop,, where the beautiful glazed local china is produced. The girls were keen to see both attractions and Miss Maynard, after a word to Miss Wilson, divided them into two groups.

“There are too many of us to go around in a crowd,” she told them. “Miss Wilson, will you take the Cocks and go to the main church first? Then the Poppies and I will visit the Annakirchl and then the pottery.” That decided, the little party split up, arranging to meet back in exactly two hours time. “No more than that,” Miss Maynard warned. “We are a good hour from the landing stage and Madame has arranged for us to have Kaffee und Kuchen at the hotel at four o’clock.” Moreover, in the first term, the girls had been more than once caught far from shelter in the sudden storms which come up in the late afternoons of summer. The staff were wise to them now, and although Miss Maynard knew that there was plenty of shelter in the village, to wait too long would be to miss the last steamer and hence result in a long tramp home.

 

#346:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire PostPosted: Thu Jan 13, 2005 11:31 pm

A new bit! Fantastic! Thankyou Nicky - and so EBDish as usual - down to the lovely geographical description.

 

#347:  Author: Helen C, Location: Sheffield/Luton PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 12:05 am

Thanks Nicky really enjoying this Very Happy

 

#348:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 1:06 am

Heaves a sigh of relief that this is back thankyou Nicky

 

#349:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 3:06 am

Thanks, Nicky! Glad to see this back. I was equally impressed by the cowbells. Also that the cows had horns. Shocked *admits waiting to continue on path until they had moved well out of the way*

 

#350:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 9:44 am

Yay - a new update. Very Happy Wonderful as ever Nicky, thanks.

 

#351:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 11:34 am

awwww what a lovely update i love ilonka and the cows!!!

 

#352:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 12:06 pm

Yay its back. Thank you Nicky - good as ever.

 

#353:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 2:14 pm

Hooray! Guides is back! Thanks Nicky - that was lovely Liz

 

#354:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Fri Jan 14, 2005 10:31 pm

Thank you Nicky. JackieJ

 

#355:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Sat Jan 15, 2005 11:18 pm

Thank you Nicky. Glad to see this back. Love the descriptions especially the food and scenery.

 

#356:  Author: nickyj, Location: Essex, England PostPosted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 10:43 pm

The church offered welcome respite from the heat of the early afternoon and Miss Wilson’s party did not linger on their way. Joey, with an innate sense of propriety, held Margia and Evvy back for a moment while Miss Wilson and the continental girls dipped their fingers in one or other of the stone fonts in the vestibule and crossed themselves before the altar, then followed them in.

“Golly! Will you look at that!” Evvy stood stock still just inside the doorway, eyes wide at the scene before her.
“Shhh!” Margia, who had travelled widely for her twelve years and seen plenty of similar churches, hushed, seeing Miss Wilson’s eyes upon them. “Their churches are often like this. You’ve seen the Hofkirche in Innsbruck.”
“Well, yes, but that’s a cathedral,” the small American murmured. “I never thought they’d do it up here.”

There was some excuse, perhaps for her surprise, used as she was to the plainness of decoration in the churches of her home country. The church of Saint John the Baptist, as it would be known in England, was, as Margia had said, no more ornate than many of the churches of a region where the people are devout in their religion. Stained glass windows on either side paid homage to a variety of saints, including Scholastika, the lake’s own patron and little St Notburga, the patron saint of servant girls who has her own church at the very foot of the Tiernsee, while in the altar nave (words?) the windows depicted our Lord and Our Lady. The usual gilded paintings of the stages of the cross hung below these windows, both the centre and side altars were rich with statues, and golden arms-decked flags hung at the corners of the apex formed by the pews. In contrast to all of the splendour the pews themselves were of roughly carved wood, their narrowness paying tribute to an era where to be comfortable in church was thought to detract from one’s piety. The choir balcony, with its sloping floor and partition dividing laity from the men of the order enthralled the younger ones, and they peered in fascination up the rickety ladder to the organ loft.

There were no other visitors so as long as they hushed their voices they might talk, but by and large even Evvy and Margia were silenced by the atmosphere. The mistress left them to it for half an hour, then suggested they might look at the churchyard. The ornate marble and granite gravestones occupied them for some time and then they left the coolness and shade for the climb up the hill to the little chapel dedicated to St Anne and also to Saint Christopher the Martyr.

“Guess this is more to my taste anyhow,” Evvy murmured to Margia as they entered the tiny church with its plain whitewashed walls, the only colour provided by the alcoved statues of the disciples which lined the walls. “The other was a mite fancy if you ask me.”
“Nobody did ask, as I recall,” Joey, who was just behind them, remarked scathingly.
“Dry up Evvy, do.” Evvy subsided and went across to gaze with utter fascination at the life size statue of Our Lady, seated with her dead Son across her lap, which adorned the altar.

“Who was St Anne, anyhow?” The young American was never subdued for long and when they were once more outside and making their way at a leisurely pace back down towards the village and the pottery, she wondered aloud. “Don’t think I’ve ever heard of her.”
“Evvy!” Ilonka, walking with her, looked and sounded scandalised. “She was the mother of Our Lady!”
“Oh well,” and the American looked uncomfortable for once. Miss Wilson saw it and came to the rescue by changing the subject.
“Do you know anything of its history, Bette – the church I mean?”
“Only that it was consecrated in the early sixteenth century,” Bette turned to reply. “And the Tiernkirch itself some twenty years later. Of course, there has been a church of sorts here for centuries before that.”

Conversation languished then, for the path down was steep, and they were soon back on the level ground of the village. The pottery was of interest to all of them, even to Joey and Bette, who had been before, and all of them made small purchases. Joey, it has to be said, was drawn to a big jug that she was sure would delight her sister, but Miss Wilson reminded her that it would be a brisk march back to the lake and that such a large item would be in danger of being broken, so the younger Miss Bettany regretfully put it aside for another day when they would have more time and the little party just managed to make their rendezvous with the others. The march back to the lake was uneventful and they found two large tables set aside for them on the sun-terrace of the Hotel Scholastika, where they ‘gorged themselves’, to quote Joey, on fancy breads and cakes washed down with coffee, or, in the case of the adults, the light wine of the district. Then it was a scramble to catch the last steamer and all in all it was a very tired but happy party of girls who reached the Chalet in good time for Abendessen.

 

#357:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 11:40 pm

Lovely Nicky Laughing

 

#358:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 11:46 pm

awwww a very sweeet update - but no catastrophe???

 

#359:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Wed Jan 19, 2005 11:50 pm

Wonderful, thanks Nicky Very Happy You've got them all down pat, especially Joey!

 

#360:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 1:18 pm

Really vivid descriptions of the church and chapel At 14 or so, I thinnk I'd have been like Evvy and a bit shocked at the ornateness of the church, especially in an area where there was so much poverty eta - wonder if the jug Joey wanted to buy was a forerunner of the jug she had later and which Anna broke when they were packing to move to Switzerland from Plas Gwyn

 

#361:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Thu Jan 20, 2005 8:53 pm

That was lovely nicky, reminded me of the little church we found when we were in Germany. You have captured the mood so perfectly though. Thank you JackieJ

 

#362:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Fri Jan 21, 2005 12:10 am

Thanks Nickyj that was a lovely update. You brought it all to life so vividly.

 

#363:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Fri Jan 21, 2005 3:32 am

Thanks, Nicky. Smile
Nicky wrote:
in the altar nave (words?)
The nave is normally the part of the church in which people sit. If the church is roughly cross-shaped, the main seating area is the nave, and the two side parts are transepts. Up around the altar and ambo (pulpit) the terminology gets kind of confusing. We mostly call that whole area the sanctuary, but sometimes it’s split into the apse (behind the altar, with a wall that sometimes does have stained glass) and the chancel (the part in front of the altar, though I gather some people use the word to mean the whole sanctuary Confused.) Poor Evvy! Tastes do vary, from overwhelmingly ornate, through simple but beautiful, to the unfortunate appearance of my local parish church, competing for the ugliest possible church award. (All meant to show the importance of people compared to building, laudable sentiment but visually depressing.)

 

#364:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Jan 21, 2005 9:20 am

We have a church like that in Peterborough, Kathy_S. It's hard to imagine that an architect had anything to do with it. It's really ugly. Appropriately enough, it's called St. Judes, - after the patron saint of lost causes.

 

#365:  Author: Helen P, Location: Crewe, Cheshire PostPosted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 8:47 pm

That was lovely, Nicky - I can picture the church vividly. *Admitting uncomfortably, along with Evvy, to not know who St. Anne was either - until now!* Embarassed

 

#366:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 3:36 pm

Dawn wrote:
eta - wonder if the jug Joey wanted to buy was a forerunner of the jug she had later and which Anna broke when they were packing to move to Switzerland from Plas Gwyn
I wondered if it was the one that got broken in the thunderstorm in Exploits (or was that a bowl)? Thanks Nicky - lovely description of the churches Liz

 

#367:  Author: Miriam, Location: Jerusalem, Israel PostPosted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 9:19 pm

That was a bowl. It was on a stand in the hall-way, so it was probably normally used for flowers - though it seems to have been empty at the time.

 

#368:  Author: nickyj, Location: Essex, England PostPosted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 8:48 pm

XXI - A Grand Wind-Up

The next excitement of the term was the enrolment of the rest of the Guides, and also the Brownies. The girls had clamoured for another outdoor ceremony, so once more the Mensches’ maid had run home with glad news for her parents, and the money from the two occasions would go a good way to helping the family through the next winter.

The build up to the occasion was every bit as excited as it had been for the first, with the notable exception of one girl. Ever since the hike Evadne Lannis had been edgy and quiet, hoping for a summons to the study to say that her headmistress thought that she was fit to be a Guide after all, but none had come. Now it was the day before the enrolment, which to her could only mean one thing.

“What’s wrong, Evvy – cat got your tongue?” Grizel Cochrane asked sneeringly, the day before the big day. Five terms at the Chalet School and the influence of Guides had softened her slightly, but there were five years of ill-treatment behind that and she was still apt to be unpleasant to her juniors on occasion.
“Yes, what is up, Evvy?” Joey demanded, rather more sympathetically it may be said. “You’ve not said a word all day. Anyone’d think you don’t want to be a Guide.”
“Is it perhaps that Evadne knows that she will have to become more responsible when she makes the promise?” Simone asked tactlessly.
“Leave her alone, won’t you?” Margia surprised them all by jumping to her feet, eyes flashing. “You don’t know anything so just can it! Come and help me iron those flags, Evvy?” Evadne got to her feet and thankfully followed her friend across the garden.
“Thanks,” she said unhappily. “Say, d’you think Madame will let me come and watch?”
“She’ll do more than that if I have any say.”

Margia left her friend abruptly and tore along the corridor to the study in a manner guaranteed to bring down the wrath of any mistress who caught her upon her head. Thankfully none did and outside the study door she pulled herself together and knocked smartly, bobbing her regulation curtsy as she entered. Miss Bettany looked up from her letters.
“Margia, what can I do for you, my dear?” Margia coloured but stood her ground.
“Madame this is awful cheek and none of my business anyhow, but won’t you let Evvy be a Guide after all?” she blurted out. “She’s awfully miserable, and she really has tried!”
“My dear girl, what – oh!” and Madge looked conscience stricken. To tell the truth, the excitements of the past weeks had put the young American’s escapade completely from her mind, along with the threatened ban on Guiding for her. She pulled herself up sharply, conscious of Margia’s eyes on her.
“Thank you, Margia. It was right of you to come. I think that you had better send Evadne to me.”

She was still kicking herself mentally when another knock sounded and her small American pupil came nervously in, looking pale and unlike herself.
“You sent for me, Madame.” She barely lifted her eyes, certain that her exclusion was to be confirmed.
“Evvy, my dear, can you forgive me?” Madge put an arm around the thin shoulders. “I have been more than satisfied with you lately, so much so that I am afraid I forgot that I had doubted your fitness for Guides.” Evvy’s eyes lit up.
“You mean…”
“I mean that you will be enrolled with the others tomorrow, of course,” her headmistress told her. “I would have told you before had I remembered that there was ever any doubt. Now you had better run away and see that your uniform is freshly pressed, hadn’t you. Take it to Matron if not and she will see to it.”

And Evvy ran off, beaming, catching Margia, who was waiting for her in the corridor, around the waist and waltzing her up to her dormitory. The next day she followed her best friend into the big horseshoe at Bette’s side and made the longed-for promise. And the look in the Head’s eyes as she returned the salute made the young American all the more determined to live up to that promise.

 

#369:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 9:05 pm

awwwww so glad Madge will let Evvy be a Guide. It's lovely to see her determination to live up to the promise she will make (and this is perfect timing cos i was discussing the promise with some of my new recruits this evening!)

 

#370:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 9:22 pm

Awwww, bless her! And how lovely of Margia too. Thanks Nicky Very Happy

 

#371:  Author: auntie karry, Location: Stoke on Trent PostPosted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 9:27 pm

What a friend Margia is! Good for her! {{Evvy}}

 

#372:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 10:05 pm

Nice to see that Madge could own up to her mistake - and what a wonderful friend Margia is. Thanks Nicky. Laughing

 

#373:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 1:04 pm

Nice to see Madge admit she was wrong and to see Evvy becoming a guide. Good for Margia for sticking up for Evvy.

 

#374:  Author: Rachael,  PostPosted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 4:31 pm

Yay - just caught up with this Very Happy Loved their expedition and all its detail, right down to Joey pulling Margia and Evvy back so the catholics could enter first ... Poor Evvy - she must have been feeling so bad - I'm glad she proved herself worthy of becoming a guide As usual - I can't believe this isn't published!

 

#375:  Author: nickyj, Location: Essex, England PostPosted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 8:59 pm

“Madame, will you permit that some of us walk to the landing stage to meet the steamer?” Gisela asked of her headmistress half an hour before Kaffee two days before the end of term. “Papa is coming by it, you know, and also Bette’s parents and Mr and Mrs Stevens.”

The enrolment of the remaining Guides over, lessons had been cut to a minimum as the girls threw themselves heart and soul into practising for the entertainment they were to give for the people of the lakeside and those parents and friends who lived round about or were coming to collect their daughters for the holidays. Joey’s idea of performing songs and dances from all of the nationalities represented in the school had been seized on with delight by the prefects, who had charge of this. Gisela and Bette, with a little help from their head, had written a charming little pageant around it, bringing in the Guides and Brownies too – this had been Grizel’s idea – and although they had been rehearsing in odd moments for weeks there was still much to do.

Those girls who possessed national dresses had written home for them but there were a number that had to be made, and here none other than Simone Lecoutier had come to the fore, for the prefects were too busy and of the other older girls none was particularly gifted with a needle, Grizel Cochrane being barely able to do more that darn her stockings decently even after terms of Mademoiselle’s patient teaching. French Simone was in her element, pressing into service the majority of the Continental girls among the middles, whose sewing was generally fairly exquisite, and the dresses had rapidly taken shape.

The weather had remained sunny but not too hot and the girls were keeping their fingers crossed that it would continue for they hoped to give their entertainment in the garden. There had been a full run through that afternoon, when the prefects had taken turns, to quote Grizel, to tear their hair out by the roots, for everything that could feasibly go wrong had. The Juniors had muddled their dances, Bette had caught the sleeve of her Guide jumper on a branch and torn it, Evvy had forgotten the words of the opening speech that had been given to her and Joey had gone flat in the middle of one of the lovely old English folk songs.

Miss Bettany, watching from the sidelines, had consoled her prefects with the old adage that a bad dress rehearsal makes for a good performance and had then suggested that they put the whole thing from their minds for the evening. Gisela, sighing, had agreed, and the girls had drifted off on their own concerns. The prefects had been sitting in the shade of the pines when Joey, declaring herself far too restless to sit still, had suggested a walk and the head girl, glad of the distraction herself, had gone to ask leave and met her headmistress coming across the garden towards her. That lady smiled at the request.

“I was going to suggest that very thing, Gisela. How many of you wish to go?”
“Well, Bette and myself,” the head girl said. “And Maria and Margia and Amy will wish to come too. Joey says that she cannot sit still, so might she come also?” Madge nodded, knowing that her sister would not settle to quiet pursuits if she were left behind.
“And if you are going to Le Petit Chalet to fetch Maria and Amy then you may tell Joey that the Robin may go with you as well.” Gisela raised her eyebrows at this unusual suggestion but was too well mannered to question the reasoning behind it, merely going back across the grass to break her news.

Joey, needless to say, was over the moon in the bustle of the last weeks of term she had barely seen her little adopted sister. She raced away across the grass to tell Miss Durrant and warn the three little girls to be ready and by the time that Gisela and Bette had found Margia and reached the smaller building the four were standing on the path, Maria and Amy wildly excited at the thought of seeing their respective people and barely able to keep still. Robin clung to Joey’s hand and the head girl took those of the other two Juniors, leaving Bette and Margia to go ahead. The boat was just leaving Buchau on the other side of the lake but Gisela, mindful of the many visitors and the fact that they were in uniform, would not permit them to run, so the mooring ropes were flung securely over the posts, the gangway drawn up and the passengers disembarking before the girls reached the landing stage.

Margia and Amy flung themselves on a tall, fair man whom Joey knew by sight while Maria raced up to Herr Marani, Gisela following rather more quietly as befitted a head girl, leaving Bette to be claimed by a dark Italian gentleman who was clearly her father. Joey turned her attention back to the boat for a moment and was watching a party of summer visitors disembark when her gaze strayed beyond them to the last of the passengers to leave. Her heart skipped a beat and she turned a suddenly flushed face to the little girl beside her.
“Robinette, look!” The baby obeyed, then tore away her hand and flung herself through the crowd and onto the landing stage itself.
“Papa! Oh, Papa! How I have missed thee!” Her baby voice broke in her delight and Captain Humphries, for it was none other, swept her up in his arms and held her tightly, murmuring endearments into her dark curls.

“Come, Joey, and greet Papa, will you not?” Gisela’s soft voice said beside her. “And I know that Herr Rincini will wish to speak with you as well. The baby does not need us now.”
“No.” Joey’s own face was very soft as she turned to Herr Marani, who was an old friend, and was introduced also to Bette’s father and to Margia’s. Then the little party, at Gisela’s suggestion, made their way back to the Chalet, for it was almost time for Kaffee.

No more was seen of the Robin that night. She had Kaffee with her father, although it has to be said that she ate little, so excited was she to be with him again. Afterwards the two went for a short walk along the lakeshore, and then Captain Humphries took the baby across to Le Petit Chalet and, once she was ready for bed, heard her prayers and tucked her up tenderly, sitting by the bedside until she was asleep. He sat on for a while, watching the delicate little face, crowned with its halo of black curls, which reminded him so much of his dear beloved Marya, then crept away, his heart very full, to join Madge in her little sitting room.

The other girls spent the time before Abendessen dancing in the big schoolroom, and were ushered off to bed soon after the meal, even the seniors, for the next day would be a long one. The staff gathered in their own sanctum for a little while, but they too soon retired to their beds and peace fell over the Chalet.

 

#376:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 9:11 pm

That was lovely, thanks Nicky.

 

#377:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 9:24 pm

That's made me feel all warm and fluffy Nicky - thankyou

 

#378:  Author: Vikki, Location: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat Jan 29, 2005 10:28 pm

Awww!!!!! That was lovely!!! What a wonderful suprise for Robin!

 

#379:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 5:11 am

*suspects Madge knew something* Lovely, Nicky!

 

#380:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 2:00 pm

That was lovely Nicky - thank you Liz

 

#381:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Sun Jan 30, 2005 9:45 pm

Thank you Nicky, I always found Robin at that age so sweet. Lovely! JackieJ

 

#382:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Tue Feb 01, 2005 11:50 am

Thank you Nicky lovely update. How nice for Madge to arrange for Robin to go and meet her father. This drabble really is early CS at its best.

 

#383:  Author: nickyj, Location: Essex, England PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 5:51 pm

“Coo, aren’t there a lot of them! Looks like half the valley.” Joey Bettany peered through a gap in the bushes which bordered the lawn where the concert was to be given and watched the visitors arriving. It was half past one the show was to begin at two, and already the rows of seats which had been laid out on the grass were more than half full, with a goodly handful of children squatting on the rugs in front of them.

The slight slope of the lawn down to the lake made a natural stage at the end closest to the Chalet, the piano had been pulled out onto the grass by Hansi and his cousin, and the bushes which edged it formed a natural screen for the performers. Those young ladies were supposed to be sitting quietly on the groundsheets laid out for them, but needless to say most of them were too excited to sit still, although to their credit not one voice was raised enough to be audible to the visitors.

At precisely two o’clock Miss Bettany, looking very pretty and as young as some of her girls in a rose pink summer frock, came out onto the lawn to greet the audience, which by now had overflowed the seats so that some of the men of the district had to stand or sit on the grass. She welcomed them all, thanked them for coming, explained that at the end there would be a collection in aid of the parish and then handed over to Gertrud Steinbrucke, who was possessed of an exceptionally clear speaking voice and had been chosen as the compere for the afternoon.

She wore full Guide uniform, carrying her patrol flag. She explained to the audience that she meant to take them on a journey through songs and dances of many lands, repeating her remarks in German for the benefit of the people of the valley, then stepped to one side of the stage as eight of the Seniors and Middles, in light summer dresses, ran on to give Galopede and We Won’t Go Home Till Morning. The audience, to most of whom this was a totally fresh experience, enjoyed the contrast of the straight lines of one with the swinging circle of the other and applauded loudly, then fell silent as Joey Bettany, in a white frock, came out to sing the old English nursery rhyme Boys and Girls Come Out to Play. The words and tune were very simple but somehow Joey’s clear voice, with its choirboy quality, made more of them.

There was no time for encores, however, for as the last note died away eight of the juniors, led by Maria Marani and Amy Stevens, came running out. The original idea had been to have each country represented by its own girls, but for the English part it had been necessary to draft in some of the Continental girls to supplement the relatively small number of English pupils. The little girls wore their Brownie uniforms, however, so the effect was quite authentic as they gave the audience two action songs, Oranges and Lemons and When I was a Schoolgirl. A group of seniors and middles, selected by Mr Denny, sang the old nursery rhyme ‘Oh Dear, What Can the Matter Be’ and then, to contrast, Parry’s ‘Jerusalem’ and Joey ended the English part of the performance with an old folk song.

Everything that had gone so badly wrong at the final rehearsal went like a dream now. With brief words from Bette in between, the French girls, in peasant costume of full skirted dresses with shawls, aprons and white caps, sang Frere Jacques and did a short folk dance Bette, Luigia, Bianca, Vanna, Anita and Giovanna gave two Italian folk songs, to much applause the two little Norwegians, Thyra and Inga Eriksen, represented their country shyly with a nursery rhyme Evadne, who had refused to have the ‘good old United States’ left out, sang She’ll be Coming Round the Mountain in a surprisingly sweet voice for a girl given to shouting on most occasions. It must be mentioned here that the irrepressible Evvy had begged for a dress made from the Stars and Stripes but had been firmly squashed, first by Grizel and then, on appeal, by Gisela, who had though it to be in bad taste So Evvy wore her school frock, but was no less well received for that.

The came a surprise for at least one member of the audience for no other than the Robin trotted out, dressed as a little Russian girl from the end of the last century, a shawl over her black curls, and lifted up her baby voice in the song with which her mother had always soothed her to sleep, The Red Sarafan. There had been a lot of discussion over whether the little girl should do this, with the memory of the dead mother so near in her mind still, but Robin had been adamant, and when she had found her father would be there, more so.

Captain Humphries, seated in the front row next to the headmistress, felt his throat tighten and his eyes sting. He longed to close them and imagine that it was his Marya singing, but kept them fixed proudly on the little girl and none clapped so loudly as he when she had finished. The baby looked around her for a moment, almost bemused, and her lip began to tremble, but Bette, her own eyes suddenly bright with unshed tears, came to put an arm around her shoulders and lead her away to the shelter of the bushes where she was left in Joey’s tender care.

Only one of the audience had understood the words of the song, but there had been no mistaking its feeling, nor the brief words of explanation Bette had given, and many were the tender looks which followed the baby off of the stage. Old Herr Braun from the Kron Prinz Karl, who had adored the baby since she had come to the Tiernsee nearly a year ago, found tears in his eyes, and he was by no means the only one. There was no doubt in many of their minds that the Robin, little girl though she was, had stolen the show.

Ilonka, blushing furiously and feeling self conscious in a richly embroidered dress which had belonged to her mother as a girl, came on next to sing a simple Hungarian folk song, but was glad to retire and watch Margia take her seat at the piano. Margia, as has been seen by the cricket incident, was totally self-composed and sure of herself where her music was concerned. She had refused point blank to dress in costume, saying that she could not play with flapping sleeves, and wore a simple white frock which made her look closer to ten than twelve. When she began to play, however, the audience forgot everything but the music. Following on from Ilonka, she played one of Lizst’s Hungarian Rhapsodies, with a technique and feeling almost unheard of in a girl of her age.

Herr Anserl, music master at the Chalet, who was in the audience, was sure that she was destined for great things, and had already had one battle with Madge Bettany, who had wisely insisted that if Margia was to become a rounded person she could not possibly specialise in music so young. Her practice hours might be extended within reason, yes, she might have an extra lesson a week, but she would study all her other subjects until she was at least fifteen. The gruff old Austrian had gone away, it is true, but he would bide his time, and it was certain that it would not be the last time he would try to make her change her mind.

Now, however, he felt his heart swell with pride for Margia, perhaps inspired with gipsy feeling from Ilonka’s song, played the piece better than she had ever done. That, Bette explained, brought the tour back to Austria itself. Frieda Mensch, Marie von Eschenau, Paula von Rothenfels and Sophie Hamel, sang two of the old German Lieder. Then Bernhilda took up her violin and Gisela and Wanda, with the two Austrian seniors who lived round the lake and came to the Chalet daily, danced first one of the Austrian Landler and then a Schuplattler, a version of the Landler specific to the Tyrol and Salzburg region. They omitted, by necessity, some of the more boisterous movements which were normally made by the men, but the effect of both the dancing and the national dress was excellent and the audience, who had enjoyed the whole concert but in many cases had found it unfamiliar, clapped louder than ever.

Finally the whole crowd, still in their various costumes, came onto the stage to sing the old Scottish farewell of ‘Auld Land Syne’ and the concert was over. The girls hurried to change and go and greet their friends or relatives, the visitors from the valley departed for their various homes, and the Chalet rang with voices and laughter as its pupils talked over the concert and enjoyed their last few hours of what one and all agreed had been a wonderful term.

----------------------------

Not quite the end, will post the last chapter when I get back from skiing

 

#384:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 6:09 pm

That was all so lovely Nicky, had tears in my eyes when Robin sang. Thank you.

 

#385:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 6:39 pm

Thanks, Nicky, that was lovely.

 

#386:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 8:35 pm

I was reaching for the tissues too Nicky I don't want this to finish, I'm enjoying it so much

 

#387:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 9:32 pm

Thanks Nicky, lovely. Also not wanting, but wanting, the last post, if you know what I mean. Confused

 

#388:  Author: JackieJ, Location: Kingston upon Hull PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 9:52 pm

That was lovely Nicky, the thought of all the nations joining together like that, even through schoolgirls is a very hopeful thought. JackieJ

 

#389:  Author: Torri, Location: County Durham/Connecticut PostPosted: Sat Feb 05, 2005 10:35 pm

That was lovely, Nicky. "Guides" was one of the first drabbles I read through on the board, and the fact that it's coming to an end is bittersweet, but I'm eagerly looking forward to the next post.

 

#390:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sun Feb 06, 2005 10:54 pm

beautiful description of their first summer "do" thank you so much!

 

#391:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Mon Feb 07, 2005 10:26 am

I've often thought that the early concerts and plays were the best ones, and this just proves the point. Thanks Nicky, that was lovely. Have a good time skiing - remember not to cross your toes Very Happy Liz *also wanting the next post, but for this not to end*

 

#392:  Author: nickyj, Location: Essex, England PostPosted: Sun Feb 27, 2005 6:35 pm

XXII – The end of term

Nell Wilson stood on the lake shore, just where the path led off to Gaisalm, gazing out over the water. The last steamer had long since slid into its berth at the Briesau landing stage, the late afternoon storm that was so much a feature of the mountain-ringed Tiernsee had passed, leaving a clear blue sky and a lake almost green rather than blue under the evening sun, undisturbed by any but the smallest ripples. The whole scene was one of beauty but the young science mistress had no eyes for it as she stood there.

“And so endeth the first term,” she murmured to herself. She had been too absorbed in her thoughts to notice the quiet steps behind her and she jumped slightly when a soft voice replied.
“I hope it has been a pleasant one.” Madge Bettany, looking very young and girlish in a simple skirt and sweater, came to stand beside her, turning her own eyes to the still waters. “I love this view, you know. Forgive me for intruding, but you looked so troubled standing there. Hasn’t it been a good term for you? Are you not happy with us?”
“Oh, no! I mean yes!” Nell said incoherently. “It’s been wonderful. The girls are such dears and it’s so lovely here, peaceful.” She paused and the young headmistress changed her tack.

She had come out to look for the newest member of her staff, having seen her slipping away after Abendessen, which was always early on the last night of term, in consideration of those girls who had a long journey on the morrow. Madge had been more than satisfied with her science mistress, but was still troubled about her, was no nearer than she had been at the start of term to knowing the story behind those haunted eyes.
“Mollie Maynard tells me you’re going to Paris for the summer,” she said. Miss Wilson nodded.
“At least, not exactly to Paris – August there would be stifling. I have an old university friend who teaches there and her parents have a house in the country. She has invited me there.”
“So you won’t be going home to England at all?” Madge asked. “Nell, I don’t mean to pry, but aren’t you homesick?”
“Never!” was the vehement answer. Then Nell realised what she had said and kicked herself mentally.
“Won’t you tell me about it?” Madge laid a hand on the younger woman’s arm and spoke gently.

Nell Wilson almost pulled away. But something in the velvety brown eyes of this woman who was, after all, not much older than herself, broke through the wall of reserve and, hesitantly at first, then more easily, she poured out the whole story – the deaths of her parents and sister, the need to get away, the breaking of her engagement to the promising young doctor. There was a catch in her voice from time to time but she held back the tears. When she was finished Madge slipped an arm around her shoulders.

“You poor girl,” she said gently. “And you’ve not said a word, just bottled it up.”
“I thought – I thought if I came so far away I could somehow forget, make it easier,” Nell said unsteadily. “And it was easier, most of the time. It’s all so new, and I love my work, and Guides helped, but at night you know….” Madge nodded, her face soft with understanding.
“You felt all alone. Well, you mustn’t, you know. You’ll always have a home at the Chalet School. The girls love you and all the staff speak highly of you. You’ve made an excellent start. And Nell, there is a bigger Help, of course.”
“I know,” the young mistress said shyly. “I – in a way I feel that it was He who sent me to that interview.”
“Perhaps he did,” Madge said with simple faith. Then she spoke more briskly. “Now, come on back and see what everyone is up to. The girls should all be in bed by now but I doubt they’ll be asleep – they’re all far too excited.” She slipped her arm through the younger woman’s and chattered brightly about the events of the term all the way back to the Chalet. Once there, in the cosy staff room Nell joined in the holiday talk with more enthusiasm than she had hitherto done, and went off to her pretty room presently feeling that she had found her feet, a safe haven, and that things would never be quite as bad again.

“It’s bedlam, pure and simple.” Madge Bettany, seated at the head of the staff table, murmured to her colleagues at Fruhstuck the next morning. They might sit as they liked on the last day, an arrangement Madge had instigated out of an understanding that friends who were to be parted for weeks would want to spend every last moment together. She was now feeling, it has to be said, that she had made a mistake this time, for everyone, it seemed, wanted to sit next to Gisela, Bernhilda and Wanda. The former two had spent the night at the Chalet, for old times’ sake, Grizel and Juliet having given up their beds in the Green dormitory and gone across to Le Petit Chalet, and the scrum for places as the girls filed in was appalling. Madge let them have their heads for a minute, then, seeing Joey and Grizel becoming heated over the place they both wanted, rang her bell.

“That is enough,” she said firmly. “It may be the last day of term but I will not have you acting like hooligans. Each of you take the chair nearest to your right hand side, immediately.” The girls obeyed, of course, Joey sitting down triumphantly on the disputed chair next to Wanda, then feeling bad and standing up.
“Go on, you have it,” she said with a nod to Grizel. “After all, I’m going to Marie for a week of the hols and I’ll see plenty of Wanda then.” Grizel flashed her a grateful smile and sat down and the girls got on with their meal.

When it was over they rushed off upstairs to tidy their cubicles for the last time, and make sure that nothing had been left behind. Rules were in abeyance, of course, and the noise the girls made, running in and out of one another’s rooms, exchanging addresses, promising postcards, searching for lost items, was enough to raise the roof. The day girls had come along as soon as their parents had permitted to say their last goodbyes and added to the confusion, even shy Frieda shrieking as she rushed into the Yellow room in search of Marie, having found the Blue dormitory deserted.

The staff, enjoying a second cup of coffee in the staff room, left them to it.
“They won’t do any damage,” Madge said wisely. “And all the prefects are with them – though goodness knows they are as excited as the rest. Let’s have a quiet twenty minutes before we have to think about them getting ready to leave.”


“Auf wiedersehen, Marie! We’ll see you in three weeks! Goodbye, Evvy! Don’t you and Margia burn down Vienna between you if you can help it! Ilonka, my dear, has it been a good first term?”
“Topping, Madame.” Ilonka had been very quick to improve her English, including picking up a certain amount of slang. But Madge was not about to scold on the last morning so she smiled down at the little Hungarian.
“I’m glad. Have a lovely holiday. Come along, Amy, or you’ll be left behind.” She ushered the little girl, who had been whispering with the Robin until the last minute, up the gangway to the steamer, then stood back as the men pulled in the mooring ropes and the little Kron Prinz Karl steamed off, first to Buchau on the other side of the lake and then to the little railway terminus at Seespitz.

It was almost midday. The English girls, under the care of Miss Maynard and Miss Durrant, had left earlier that morning, together with Mademoiselle, the Lecoutiers and the Merciers, en route for Paris. Miss Wilson had stayed behind to escort the last contingent. At Innsbruck she would hand over the Italian girls into the care of Vanna di Ricci’s uncle, then take the rest of her party on to Vienna, in which city the Lannises were staying and the von Eschenaus made their home. Ilonka would be met there by her elder brother, on his way from the University at Munich to their home in Budapest, and the young mistress herself would spend two nights with an old friend in the city before travelling back to Paris for the summer.

Escort duty was one of Madge Bettany’s largest headaches, but for once it had worked out smoothly. Now she, Joey, Juliet and the Robin, having waved until the steamer had almost reached Buchau, turned and went back into the Chalet to finish tidying everything away before Mittagessen. Then the Chalet would be locked and the family four, together with Captain Humphries, who had gone to the Kron Prinz Karl for the night after the pageant, would climb up to the Sonnalpe and spend the first week of the holidays at the new hotel which had been built there to accommodate the families of the patients of the Sanatorium, although as yet it was empty other than for those overseeing the building works.

The Sanatorium itself was completed, although not yet equipped, and the chalet that Jem Russell was building for his wife at the other end of the shelf nearly ready. It was the first time that any of the girls had been up there, although Madge had walked up one weekend to see her future home, so all three were excited.

After that they were to spend a week in the Mensches flat in Innsbruck to explore the surrounding towns and countryside. Frau Mensch and her daughters were, of course, at the Tiernsee, but Tante Luise and die Grossmutter were in Innsbruck, and had invited the Bettany girls to use the flat as a base for their explorations. Old Frau Mensch was very fond of both Joey and the Robin and so Madge had accepted what might otherwise have seemed to be an imposition.

After that they were to travel on to Vienna to stay for a week with Wanda and Marie and their family. Then they would return to the Tiernsee for the final part of the holiday. They had been back to England at Easter and Madge saw no reason to go again for the month that would be left to them. The Mensches and Maranis were at the Tiernsee for the summer so there would be plenty of company for the girls and the headmistress looked forward to a well-earned rest. So the wild chatter of the girls was hardly unexpected, although Robin hardly understood what it all meant. Still, she was to be with both her father and Tante Marguerite, so her baby soul rejoiced and she joined in the chatter eagerly.

Fruhstuck had been a heartier meal than usual, since many of the girls had had long journeys ahead of them, so Mittagessen consisted of iced soup and a cold meat salad and was soon disposed of. The washing up done, Marie and Eigen set off for home, and then Captain Humphries was there, seizing two of the light cases which were all they were taking with them in one hand and his little daughter’s hand in the other. Madge took the third case and, with Joey by her side, locked the doors of the Chalet firmly behind her. The summer holidays had begun.

 

#393:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Feb 27, 2005 8:26 pm

Beautiful Nicky, absolutely lovely. Thank you so much for a perfect story. In my opinion this should be published.

 

#394:  Author: Ann, Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, England PostPosted: Sun Feb 27, 2005 8:30 pm

Thank you Nicky, this story has been wonderful. It's so EBDish both in language and tone that I'm going to consider it canon whether it's published or not.

 

#395:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Sun Feb 27, 2005 10:30 pm

this is a brilliant story! thank you so much for posting this - it's now definitely canon for me. It MUST have happened that way

 

#396:  Author: Susan, Location: Carlisle PostPosted: Sun Feb 27, 2005 11:41 pm

Thank you nicky a wonderful story.

 

#397:  Author: Nell, Location: London, England PostPosted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 10:42 am

Thank you Nicky, truly wonderful!

 

#398:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 11:01 am

Very Happy Been looking forward to this last post!Thanks Nicky, it was wonderful.Certainly canon in my mind.

 

#399:  Author: Ellie, Location: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Mon Feb 28, 2005 8:23 pm

Phew. I was looking all over for this drabble the other night, and couldn't find it anywhere. I'm really pleased to see it again, a magnificent story, thank you Nikcy.

 

#400:  Author: Dawn, Location: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 1:47 am

Absolutely wonderful Nicky - really sad that it's the end of term though as I've enjoyed reading it so much

 

#401:  Author: Guest,  PostPosted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 9:00 am

Thanks for all the lovely things you've all said guys - the comments about thinking of it as canon are the biggest compliment you could have given me! Fraid if you want to see it in print you'll have to petition GGBP yourselves though! Glad you've enjoyed it so much anyway. There is a sequel in progress but since I've only written two full chapters of it (neither of them the first one!) and a few odd bits it could be a while before it sees the light of day Thanks again Nicki

 

#402:  Author: Kathy_S, Location: midwestern US PostPosted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 3:56 pm

Thanks again, Nicki. And you could talk with Lesley's publisher.

 

#403:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Tue Mar 01, 2005 11:40 pm

A sequel! Whopeee!!! Thanks Nicki, that was all so beautiful and so EBDish. A lovely term. Liz

 

#404:  Author: Carolyn P, Location: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Fri Mar 04, 2005 9:17 pm

This has been lovely Nicki, thanks. Razz

 

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