Thanks so much for sharing this
.
| The CBB http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/ | |
| Miss Wilson Makes Good http://www.the-cbb.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=9138 |
|
| Author: | Caroline [ Thu Feb 24, 2011 12:02 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Author's Note: This story takes place in the same term as Juliet of the Chalet School, when Miss Wilson is a new mistress and Grizel Cochrane has just been promoted to be Games Prefect. It consists of some out-takes from Juliet and some sections that did make it into the finished book. Posted following the recent Formal Discussions of Juliet and Jane Berry's Guides of the Chalet School. ‘May I speak to you for a moment, Miss Maynard?’ ‘Of course!’ said ‘Maynie’ with a friendly grin. ‘You looked worried! Is there anything wrong?’ Miss Wilson glanced around the staffroom, but the only other occupant—Miss Carthew—was fathoms deep in one of Mr Kipling’s tales of Stalky. ‘Not wrong exactly but, well, I wish to ask your advice.’ Miss Maynard’s eyes twinkled—the new mistress could be absurdly serious at times. She said nothing of her amusement, however, for during the half a term Miss Wilson had been at the Chalet School it had become abundantly clear to all in the staffroom that she did not enjoy the friendly, teasing atmosphere which prevailed amongst them. So, the Senior Mistress restricted herself to a friendly smile, saying, ‘Pull up a chair—shall we gather round the stove? It’s bitterly cold today, even for November.’ In this she spoke no more than the truth. A series of ferocious blizzards had gripped the Austrian Tyrol for the past few weeks, and the inhabitants of Briesau, where the Chalet School was situated, now found their various chalets, farms and meadows covered with a thick blanket of white snow. Vicious winds whistled down the Tiern Pass and howled around the Chalet School, and the dizzying, whirling flakes and thick drifts made veritable prisoners of them all. At present, the girls of the Chalet School were working off their excess energy with a Saturday afternoon of folk-dancing in the big school-room under the instruction of Miss Durrant and the rest of the staff were free to amuse themselves. Miss Wilson and Miss Maynard settled down in comfortable basket chairs next to the great porcelain stove. As they did so a tap at the door heralded the appearance of one the maids and the prompt departure of Miss Carthew, thus summoned to discuss the history curriculum with the Head, and they were left alone. ‘So, what can I help you with?’ Miss Maynard tucked her feet under her skirts, rather in the manner of one of her young charges, and regarded Miss Wilson curiously. ‘What should one do,’ said her colleague deliberately, ‘if one has a problem with a prefect? Should one refer things straight to Madame?’ Miss Maynard goggled at her, before exclaiming: ‘Which prefect? And what kind of problem?’ ‘I’d really rather not say.’ ‘Why ever not?’ ‘It’s—it’s complicated,’ said Miss Wilson, reluctant to confess what she knew to be her own mismanagement of an admittedly difficult girl. ‘If you’d like my advice, I’ll have to know, surely!’ Miss Wilson thought for a moment, and then nodded. ‘I daresay you’re right. Very well, then—it’s Grizel Cochrane. Has she always been so—so—well, beastly to everybody?’ ‘What language!’ said Miss Maynard, with a laugh. ‘And you a mistress!’ ‘It’s the only way to describe her behaviour on occasion,’ said Miss Wilson defensively. ‘Oh, that I don’t doubt—I’ve seen and heard evidence of it myself, now you mention it—and I was only joking, there’s no need to take offence.’ ‘None taken, I’m sure,’ said Miss Wilson courteously, and Miss Maynard heaved a sigh. Although everyone in the staffroom had the utmost respect for the new mistress, it would be fair to say that, after almost two months’ close acquaintance, they knew her little better now than they had on that first day back in September. She was friendly enough with the girls—only the other day, Miss Maynard had overheard Frieda Mensch refer to her as ‘an awfully decent sort’—but the staff had yet to penetrate the wall of reserve she had constructed around herself, and the Senior Mistress was beginning to run out of ideas, tired of having her friendly advances politely rebuffed time and again. Today’s request for help, though, provided a chink in the armour. Maybe she could capitalise on it. |
|
| Author: | marni [ Thu Feb 24, 2011 12:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks for posting this Caroline, I'm looking forward to reading more about Miss Wilson's back story. |
|
| Author: | jayj [ Thu Feb 24, 2011 1:08 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
This looks really very interesting! Looking forward to more. Thanks! |
|
| Author: | PaulineS [ Thu Feb 24, 2011 1:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks for posting the out-takes. |
|
| Author: | Alison H [ Thu Feb 24, 2011 2:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks so much for sharing this .
|
|
| Author: | keren [ Thu Feb 24, 2011 3:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks for giving us a chance to read some more of your writing |
|
| Author: | seven [ Thu Feb 24, 2011 4:06 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
So pleased you are letting us see what had to be cut out about the Miss Wilson/Grizel story. I loved your treatment of Nell with her uncertainty in dealing with the problem but she obviously learns the lesson well as in later books she has more understanding. Her reticence in talking about her home life is understandable to me at least and I'm not sure she really does say much about it in other books except to Hilda. Looking forward to the rest. |
|
| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Feb 24, 2011 5:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thankyou for sharing this! I have so many questions already, and I can't wait to see where this goes next
|
|
| Author: | Pat [ Thu Feb 24, 2011 7:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thank you for posting this. Looking forward to more. |
|
| Author: | Abi [ Thu Feb 24, 2011 9:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks for posting this, Caroline - it's very interesting. |
|
| Author: | Sugar [ Fri Feb 25, 2011 1:39 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks for posting. Looking forward to seeing where it goes |
|
| Author: | Caroline [ Fri Feb 25, 2011 7:42 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks, everyone. Here's some more. ‘I say—do you mind if I ask you something? It’s rather personal.’ ‘No-o, I suppose not,’ said ‘Bill’ slowly, ‘but I reserve the right not to answer.’ ‘Fair enough. I just wondered if—if you’re happy here? Do you like teaching, even? I do—I love the girls and Madame, and teaching is splendid fun, although I miss Mother and Daddy at home in the New Forest. But I’ve no idea whether you’re happy here or not, for you don’t ever talk to us! We—we’re quite decent folk when you get to know us but, frankly, you don’t seem to want to—get to know us, that is,’ and Miss Maynard stopped abruptly, intensely embarrassed. In the adjacent chair Miss Wilson, somewhat taken aback by this outburst, sat in silence. Was it true—did she seem standoffish to the other mistresses? Upon reflection she supposed perhaps she did, but she wasn’t sure quite how to be friends with these girls; much of their chatter and gossip seemed so inconsequential—trivial, even—and she couldn’t imagine herself joining in. She heaved a sigh—a naturally private woman, various events in her life had conspired to exacerbate her reserve and the idea of discussing her feelings publicly in this way was abhorrent to her. Still, it was a well-meaning enquiry and, in all fairness, probably deserved an answer. Sensing the Senior Mistress inspecting her anxiously, she gave in to the inevitable. ‘My dear Miss Maynard,’ she began lightly, ‘do stop looking at me as if midnight has struck and you’re afraid I shall turn into an pumpkin! I’m perfectly all right!’ ‘Thank goodness! I thought perhaps I’d offended you!’ ‘Not at all—I’m made of sterner stuff than that, I hope. I’ll admit such tête-à-têtes don’t come easily to me but I shall forgive you in the circumstances and I fear I must apologise for appearing so distant and unsociable.’ ‘Oh, there’s no need for that. I was just concerned about you—that’s all.’ ‘There is every need,’ said Miss Wilson firmly. ‘You have pointed out what I have failed to realise—that I’ve held you all at arm’s length these past weeks, and haven’t made anything like as much effort as I ought—as I had honestly intended—to make friends. I’m rather afraid that it’s my besetting sin these days,’ she said, with another attempt at light-heartedness. ‘I won’t go that far,’ demurred Miss Maynard. ‘You aren’t unfriendly, it’s just that you’ve seemed so much older than us—so very serious!—and you aren’t, not in years, anyhow. When we’re having a jolly old time in the staffroom, you sit there, quietly, looking so stern and disapproving! Why don’t you come and be one of us rather than “the cat that walked”?’ ‘I want to—I do, word of honour—but it’s just not as easy as all that. Oh, you don’t understand!’ cried ‘Bill’, suddenly exasperated. ‘I’m just not accustomed to being around people or making friends any more—I’ve done all I possibly could to keep folks at a distance for these past four years—for if I made a friend I would have had to explain—and—and I—I couldn’t—I didn’t know how!’ ‘Explain? What have you to explain?’ asked Miss Maynard in some confusion, although she was inwardly thrilled to see the new mistress’s almost unnatural self-control finally slip, for whilst she had a healthy dislike of those who wallowed in their own emotions, she was also convinced such rigid self-discipline was thoroughly bad for a person. ‘H-how it is that I don’t have a family these days, why I am alone—an orphan,’ said Miss Wilson, the words coming in a rush now she had taken the first steps. ‘I would rather do anything than have to explain—people mean well, but it—it hurts too much! So, rather than face up to it all, I hid away—refused to talk about it, to anyone. Meeting people—making new friends, or even meeting old friends—meant explaining, and how could I possibly go on with my life and pretend nothing had happened if I was forever having to explain that by the time I was your age—just twenty-two—I had l-lost them all, my parents and Cherry, my little sister, within a year!’ |
|
| Author: | Alison H [ Fri Feb 25, 2011 7:49 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Oh, poor Nell - it must be so hard for her to talk about it, and people never know what to say in response to something like that. |
|
| Author: | PaulineS [ Fri Feb 25, 2011 6:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks, i hope Mollie can help her. It is good to see the bits you had to cut to fit the book size. When i reread Juliet it will add to the enjoyment to know more about the characters. |
|
| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Fri Feb 25, 2011 8:18 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thankyou, I do hope that Nell can find peace and happiness at the school now
|
|
| Author: | jayj [ Fri Feb 25, 2011 9:11 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Poor Nell! I'm interested to see how Mollie's going to respond... thanks! |
|
| Author: | Abi [ Fri Feb 25, 2011 9:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Can understand Nell's difficulty. Thanks Caroline, this is fascinating! |
|
| Author: | Sugar [ Sat Feb 26, 2011 1:51 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Poor Nell. It is so very difficult when you've lost close family to have to explain it to new folk. I know I often keep those things back for a very long time and ?I can totally see how she'd feel. |
|
| Author: | Miss Di [ Sun Feb 27, 2011 4:52 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks for posting your out-takes Caroline. Golly the CBD is just like an easter egg! |
|
| Author: | seven [ Sun Feb 27, 2011 6:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
How difficult this must be for Nell as she is so reserved. Is she afraid she will break down in front of others? I wish this could have gone in the book, Caroline, so thank you for letting us read it now. |
|
| Author: | Liane [ Sun Feb 27, 2011 7:48 pm ] |
| Post subject: | |
Thanks so much for sharing this Caroline. |
|
| Author: | Caroline [ Mon Feb 28, 2011 7:30 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks, everyone! Here's the next bit... ‘Oh, my dear!’ cried Miss Maynard. ‘How dreadful—whatever happened?’ Miss Wilson paused, before saying rather unevenly, for reaction was coming fast now that the rush of confession was over: ‘Madame—Madame will tell you all about it, if you ask her—she knows, and so does Mademoiselle—for I’d like you to understand, since you’ve been decent enough to be bothered about me. I—I just can’t tell you myself.’ She paused again to compose herself, grateful for the hand Miss Maynard had thrust impulsively into hers. ‘I’m not even sure why I told them—I—I didn’t mean to when I set out for the interview—but they were so decent, so kind, I couldn’t not tell them, somehow—it would have been dishonest—I should have been here under false pretences.’ ‘Madame is kindness itself, isn’t she,’ agreed ‘Maynie’. ‘I shall ask her, if I may, for I should like to understand. I’m so sorry, though—I had no idea what was wrong!—and I certainly didn’t mean to pry! I just thought perhaps you were homesick and I wanted to help.’ ‘I think perhaps I’ve been homesick ever since Father died,’ Miss Wilson said in low tones. ‘And don’t be sorry, for I’m not. I had supposed I was making a decent fist of joining in and making friends here, and you’ve made me realise how far I’ve still got to go.’ ‘What rubbish!’ said Miss Maynard, crimson with embarrassment. ‘You would have realised soon enough and done something about it yourself, I’m certain.’ ‘Perhaps,’ said Miss Wilson, shaking her head; she wasn’t so sure. ‘I thank you anyway—I believe I shall go on better now.’ ‘If that’s true then I’m glad, but don’t thank me—it’s Madame, Madame and the Chalet School,’ said Miss Maynard, all of a sudden. ‘She always tries to understand others, to help whenever she can, and she encourages us to do the same—girls and staff! So if anyone has helped you, it’s her. I’m just the—the instrument!’ Miss Wilson laughed tremulously. ‘Now that I can believe. I was certain, when I met Madame that day last summer, that I wanted to come here. She told me her school would be a home for me—and she was right, for I felt welcome immediately, though I mayn’t have shown it. The trouble was,’ she said, thinking it out as she spoke, ‘I didn’t know how to respond. I’d forgotten, I suppose, how to be chums with anyone. As I said, I rather kept away from what friends I had—there was no-one I really felt I could confide in, and besides, none of them really understood what it was like—how lonely—how isolating it is to loose one’s entire family by the age of twenty-two.’ Miss Maynard nodded sympathetically. ‘Madame does, of course—Joey was only a baby when their parents died, I believe. I do too, in some ways. Oh, not my entire family,’ she explained hastily, as Miss Wilson looked taken aback, ‘but two of my brothers died from typhoid at their prep school when I was a baby and my only sister lived for just a month or so, although that was before I was born. I—I might not remember Steve or Charlie or Dorothy myself, but I know what their loss did to Mother—I don’t believe she has ever really recovered.’ Miss Wilson opened her mouth to reply but as she did so the bell rang for Kaffee und Kuchen and Luise’s arrival with a laden tray was swiftly followed by that of Miss Durrant and Miss Carthew, eager for refreshment, and both women retreated into thoughtful silence. Suddenly, as the two younger mistresses helped themselves to coffee and cakes, Miss Maynard sat up and swung her feet to the floor, a decision made. ‘I say, enlighten me—what has our one and only Grizel done to worry you so much? Miss Wilson grimaced. ‘All manner of things—mainly, been beastly and overbearing to the Middles. In particular? Shouting at Evadne Lannis in prep, for one, and reducing Ilonka Barkocz to tears, for another. And that’s just recently—I had to speak to her on the Tiernkirche trip, too.’ ‘What did she do there? Actually, no, don’t tell me. You were right in the first place: we ought to report this to Madame.’ ‘Must we?’ Miss Wilson was dismayed on Grizel’s account as well as her own. ‘Yes,’ said Miss Maynard. ‘I’ve heard a good deal about Grizel’s behaviour recently and it’s about time she was brought up short. Don’t worry about her—Madame won’t be unjust, and she’s far more experienced than either of us, of course. Come along, there’s no time like the present!’ And she held out her hand to her colleague, pulling her up from the low basket chair. |
|
| Author: | Alison H [ Mon Feb 28, 2011 7:49 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Of course, Madge would have some idea of how she felt. Thanks Caroline: I'm sorry they wouldn't let you put this in the book, but thanks for sharing it here. |
|
| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Mon Feb 28, 2011 8:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks Caroline, am really glad we get to see this here at least. i wish they had of included it in the book |
|
| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Mon Feb 28, 2011 6:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Ooh, I do hope that Madge can help with the situation! Thankyou for another update, it's lovely to see Miss Wilson start to shake down and open up a little. |
|
| Author: | roversgirl [ Mon Feb 28, 2011 7:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Just found this and, although I haven't read the book, I am enjoying seeing Miss Wilson's back-story. Thanks 
|
|
| Author: | PaulineS [ Mon Feb 28, 2011 8:37 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks for the updates. When this is complete I am going to reread Juliet and and put your sections in place in the book. |
|
| Author: | Abi [ Mon Feb 28, 2011 9:40 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks Caroline. Juliet's one of the fill-ins I haven't managed to acquire yet, but I'm still enjoying reading this. |
|
| Author: | mohini [ Tue Mar 01, 2011 4:51 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks. Hope everything works well for Bill. |
|
| Author: | jmc [ Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:54 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks for sharing this Caroline. I wish they had included it in the book. |
|
| Author: | Caroline [ Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:38 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
A little more - thanks for the kind words, everyone. I can understand (now) why GGBP didn't include this in the book - we don't really see much of the "real life" of the mistresses at this stage of the series. But it's nice to be appreciated here!! In the study, a pretty room that was both office and sitting-room for the Head of the Chalet School, Miss Bettany and Mademoiselle La Pâttre were enjoying English tea—a rare treat in Tyrol. A tap on the door proclaimed the arrival of the Senior Mistress and the newest addition to the staff, and Miss Bettany looked up in surprise. ‘Hello, you people! To what do I owe this pleasure?’ she said, with a merry laugh, which faded as she took in the serious faces of the two mistresses. ‘Tell me quickly! Is anything wrong?’ Miss Maynard shook her head, smiling gravely. ‘Not wrong exactly, Madame, but—well, that’s for Miss Wilson to explain. We’ve come to report to you—about Grizel.’ ‘Oh dear—must you?’ Miss Wilson nodded. ‘Oh dear,’ said Madge again. ‘You had better sit down and tell us all about it, then.’ Grizel’s indiscretions were debated for some time, until at last a plan of attack was agreed. That much accomplished, Miss Maynard and Mademoiselle departed about their lawful occasions, leaving the new mistress with the Head. Madge Bettany took a turn around the study, a worried frown creasing her brow. ‘Madame?’ said Miss Wilson, still seated on the sofa. ‘Madame, I must apologise—I’ve made a—a dreadful hash of things with Grizel!’ ‘You’re being too hard on yourself,’ said Madge, rousing herself from her reverie and casting a quizzical smile at the new mistress and her sudden, uncharacteristic lapse into school-girl slang. ‘She’s a difficult girl and you’re new to teaching; it’s only to be expected that you’ll make mistakes at the beginning. It isn’t a disaster, either, so don’t fret about it too much.’ ‘It isn’t the only mistake I’ve made, though.’ ‘How do you mean?’ ‘I—I’ve been hiding from you all,’ said ‘Bill’ shamefacedly. ‘Holding everyone at arm’s length. If I’d been more friendly with Miss Maynard and the others, I might have known all about Grizel’s failings and not have made such as mess of things.’ She thought for a moment, before saying, with obvious effort: ‘I—I honestly believed it would be easy to put everything behind me and start afresh here, but—but it wasn’t, it wasn’t at all.’ ‘You had the most dreadful shock—you don’t get over that in a few months,’ said Madge, her face alight with sympathy. ‘No, but it’s been almost four years and that’s long enough to recover by anyone’s standards.’ Miss Bettany shook her head—she knew from personal experience that, although time would salve the wound, such an injury would never heal entirely. ‘Wasn’t there anywhere you could turn for help?’ ‘Not really—I didn’t have many friends in those days. But to tell you the truth, I didn’t want help, I wanted to pretend nothing had happened and I hid from the friends I did have, rather than face up to the—the reality of it all. I’m not sure they could have helped anyway—even the best of good friends aren’t the same as—as—’ ‘That wasn’t what I meant,’ said Madge quietly. ‘There are better, finer places to turn to for help than even the closest of friends.’ ‘Oh!’ said Miss Wilson. ‘Oh, I see what you mean. No—not at that time. Now—now things are different. Ever since I met you and Mademoiselle that day in London, things have been different. Thank you—for bringing me here,’ she added abruptly. ‘I really do believe I would have been badly ill if I had stayed in London.’ Madge nodded gravely. ‘You’d have broken down eventually, of course—bottling up your feelings in that way is never healthy. If we’ve saved you from that, then I’m glad, for we’re very pleased to have you here for your own sake.’ ‘And I love being here,’ returned Miss Wilson, but her own innate honesty compelled her to add: ‘But for all that I’m here amongst you all, I haven’t given those jolly girls in the staffroom a chance to get to know me.’ ‘But you can change that, and they want to know you—they’ll meet you more than half way. And never forget—I promised you in London that the Chalet School would be a home for you for as long as you wanted it, and I meant it, every word. This is your home now. It’s up to you to do the rest. And,’ she added shyly, ‘the only thing you can do for your family now is to look after yourself, and make the most of your life. They loved you as dearly as you love them, and they would be distressed to learn that you were hiding from everything for, as you say, that’s what you have done for the last few years.’ Miss Wilson found a lump rising in her throat. ‘I—I will make the effort, Madame—that much I can promise you. I shan’t run away any more.’ |
|
| Author: | Alison H [ Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks, Caroline. When you move away to somewhere where no-one knows you, you do think you can start again and that no-one needs to know anything about what's gone before, but it's not that easy. |
|
| Author: | cal562301 [ Tue Mar 01, 2011 12:49 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
This is so true to life. Especially since you can try to run away from difficult situations, but you always take your biggest problem, yourself with you. Thanks Caroline. It's lovely to see another side of Bill that we don't see in the books. |
|
| Author: | Pat [ Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:39 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks Caroline. I can see why GGB asked you to cut this, but I'm really glad that you're posting it here. It really gives extra depth to Bill's character. |
|
| Author: | roversgirl [ Tue Mar 01, 2011 7:50 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
That was lovely. Thanks
|
|
| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Tue Mar 01, 2011 8:34 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Poor Bill, she's having to learn so many lessons - it's very odd seeing this side to her when one is so used to reading her as a tough, strong old-hand. Thankyou! |
|
| Author: | Abi [ Tue Mar 01, 2011 9:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks Caroline. It's interesting seeing Miss Wilson as a young, inexperienced teacher. I'm glad to be able to read this! |
|
| Author: | Caroline [ Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:45 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Not much more to go now... I think that rather more of this section made it into the book, but it needs that bit of context to make the Bill bits work... The rest of the term passed quietly and quickly. The School busied itself with hobbies, folk-dancing and winter sports—when the weather allowed—as was customary during the winter at Briesau-am-Tiern See, and exam week came and went, with the girls suffering durance vile in the form rooms in the mornings, followed by singing practices and Christmas Play rehearsals in the afternoons. With the conclusion of the exams, it remained for the staff to mark the papers and write their reports. The former they did each afternoon as the girls sang for ‘Plato’; the latter they did with much time for gossip, over coffee and cakes on the last Saturday afternoon of term. ‘What can one say about Suzanne Mercier?’ demanded Miss Carthew of the room in general. ‘She’s a decent enough child, but so quiet I sometimes forget she’s there at all! I can’t write that on a report!’ Miss Maynard laughed. ‘I should think not—how about: “Suzanne is a pleasant member of the form. Her conduct and standard of work is good, but she ought to assert herself more in class”?’ ‘Masterly,’ said ‘Carty’, scribbling away. ‘Botheration—this pen is really trying my patience!’ And she screwed up another blotted report form. ‘Poor old thing!’ said Miss Durrant, looking up from her own reports. ‘But you should try writing about the Juniors! I’m sadly lacking in inspiration today and I can’t find much to say about any of my babies—I’ve no infant prodigies but no miniature demons either.’ ‘Vraiment,’ said Mademoiselle reflectively, before adding, apropos of nothing: ‘It has been a good term on the whole, has it not, mes amies?’ ‘I think so,’ agreed ‘Maynie’. ‘No epidemics, no natural disasters and only one bad illness—and even that hasn’t had too many repercussions. Juliet has made a splendid Head Girl and, thanks to Madame, Grizel has calmed down after the alarums and excursions of six weeks ago.’ ‘And the new forms have found their feet nicely,’ put in Miss Durrant. ‘I do think we might congratulate ourselves on a job well done!’ ‘Here, here! I should like to propose a toast, ladies—to the staff of the Chalet School, as fine a set of mistresses as the Tiern See has ever seen!’ And Miss Maynard bounded to her feet waving her coffee cup in the air. ‘Tu est un bébé,’ exclaimed Mademoiselle, laughing, as the rest of the staff raised their own cups in the direction of the Senior Mistress. Miss Wilson joined in the toast with enthusiasm, and then sat back, a frown creasing her brow. Would she be one of those ‘fine mistresses’ next term? Next year? She sincerely hoped so, for despite her early troubles, she was happier here at the Chalet School than she had been for many a long year. She was to find out the very next day when, after shooing Joey away, Miss Bettany invited the new mistress to the study for Sunday afternoon Kaffee und Kuchen. ‘I wanted to speak to you before we all get too caught up in the concert and other end of term happenings,’ said Madge as she poured their coffee. ‘You’ve been with us for a term now. How do you like it?’ ‘Very much,’ said Miss Wilson promptly. ‘The girls are dears, and so are the older girls—those in the staff room! Thank you so much for bringing me here.’ ‘I’m glad,’ said Madge, ‘for you should know Mademoiselle and I agree you’ve come through this term very well, and we will be happy to welcome you back after Christmas.’ Colour suffused Miss Wilson’s normally pale cheeks. ‘I have tried! But I’ve made some dreadful mistakes, you know—particularly with Grizel.’ ‘I thought we had agreed that that was over and done with,’ said Madge, smiling. ‘But since you bring it up, I will say this: it’s by our mistakes we find out if we’ve anything in us. And it’s the people who can make mistakes, admit to them and try to learn from them who have most sympathy with other folks.’ ‘That’s true, I suppose,’ said ‘Bill’ thoughtfully. ‘I should simply hate to think I couldn’t learn from a mistake—or own up to one. I’d hate to be so—so stubborn and dogmatic!’ Madge laughed. ‘Some people can’t—it’s all part of their make-up. You know,’ she said thoughtfully, ‘for all you might regret it, in many ways your mishandling of Grizel was all for the good. Yes, really!’ she said, with another laugh, as Miss Wilson stared at her in blank amazement. ‘It brought her up short and it opened your eyes to very many things. You have done so much better and tried so much harder since then that it was worth all the upset at the time, I believe.’ ‘It did shake me up rather,’ agreed the new mistress. ‘I had supposed I was doing so well, and then—’ |
|
| Author: | Alison H [ Wed Mar 02, 2011 9:01 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Good to see that she's settling in. |
|
| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Wed Mar 02, 2011 9:35 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks, really glad Madame was able to help Nell, as she did Grizel. Thanks Caroline |
|
| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Wed Mar 02, 2011 6:28 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
I love all the staffroom scenes, and you've captured it perfectly. Thankyou! |
|
| Author: | roversgirl [ Wed Mar 02, 2011 7:01 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
It's so interesting to see staff-room scenes. Thanks
|
|
| Author: | PaulineS [ Wed Mar 02, 2011 8:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks for the update. |
|
| Author: | Abi [ Wed Mar 02, 2011 9:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
It's nice to see Miss Wilson settling in properly. |
|
| Author: | Caroline [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:47 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Final section - thanks for the kind words, everyone. Glad you've enjoyed it! ‘And then you realised how far you still had to go,’ finished Miss Bettany. ‘You’ve made big strides since then—just go on as you’ve been doing and I know you’ll be all right.’ ‘I certainly feel very much better now than I did a few months ago,’ said Miss Wilson in some surprise, as if this thought had caught her unawares. ‘You know, I’m actually looking forward to going home for the holidays, and I couldn’t have imagined that at the beginning of term. I might even be able to tackle selling the house and buying myself a little cottage somewhere, perhaps—just as a base, of course.’ Madge, with her intuitive understanding of others, nodded thoughtfully. ‘You’ve regained your equilibrium, I expect. Distance—in miles, as well as in years—can do that. You’ve had a real change, away from everything that was familiar, with plenty of new things to think about; it’s given you perspective—balance, where you were unbalanced before.’ ‘You may be right! I feel—lighter, somehow. As if a great weight had been lifted.’ ‘And younger, most probably,’ said Madge, smiling warmly. ‘You certainly look very much younger than the careworn, aged lady Mademoiselle and I interviewed last summer. You never know, after another term we may find you positively girlish!’ Miss Wilson laughed. ‘I wouldn’t go that far. As you say, though, I can see now that I had got everything rather out of proportion—I was so overwhelmed by what had happened to me, there wasn’t any room in my mind for anything else.’ ‘And now there is.’ ‘Yes. I have finally come to realise, for instance, that I’m not so very badly off, compared to some people. Take Grizel, for example, or—or, no, take Juliet! She lost both her parents at the age of fifteen, and has coped far better than I, and I was seven years her senior when—when Mother and Father died.’ ‘She has struggled very much,’ said Madge quietly. ‘We don’t talk of it much now, but she has. And you are even more fortunate than you can know. You will always have the comfort of knowing your parents loved you—Juliet cannot say that, for she knows very well her parents saw her as an encumbrance. They abandoned her twice before they died, you know, once here and also at a school in India. You may think she would mourn them less in consequence, but in actual fact she had been mourning the loss of their love for years before they died and she will carry the pain of their rejection for many years to come—probably until she has a home and a family of her own—for all the affection in the world from friends cannot be the same as the love of your own parents.’ ‘I—I had no idea! The poor child!’ Miss Wilson’s voice was warm with sympathy. ‘Has she any other family?’ ‘No—she’s completely alone, so far as relations go, but she is loved and wanted and she will always have a home here with us,’ said Madge gravely, and they were silent for a moment, before the young Headmistress said suddenly, ‘I’m more than glad you have started to think of others, by the by. If one consequence of your being here has been to help to turn your thoughts outward rather than inward, then we have achieved a lot. The ability to understand others, really to know them—to have true compassion—is not a skill everyone is capable of acquiring, but once you have it, it will never leave you and you will make a better mistress because of it.’ ‘I hope so—I can see how much it helps already, and I do want to be the best I can be.’ ‘Go on as you have done, and you’ll make a fine senior mistress one day, I expect. I do hope that will be here, with us at the Chalet School—for if you carry on as you have been doing, the school will be better for your presence. I shan’t be here for ever,’ said Madge abruptly. ‘Dr Russell and I shall marry before very long, and when we do, I should like to know Mademoiselle has a strong staff to help her and that you will be among them.’ ‘Thank you, Madame,’ said Miss Wilson, a lump rising in her throat. ‘I hope I shall be here for many years to come.’ The End |
|
| Author: | PaulineS [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 10:58 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thank you Caroline. It shows how the Chalet School could help staff as well as the girls. |
|
| Author: | Alison H [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 11:00 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks, Caroline. |
|
| Author: | Elbee [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 4:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks, Caroline. Great to read these extra scenes. |
|
| Author: | Sarah_G-G [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 4:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thank you for posting these, Caroline. I can see why GGBP would think that EBD wouldn't have gone into such details about a mistress at this point in the series but these scenes are so well thought-out and well written that I'm glad we got to see them, even if they couldn't be published with the rest of the book. |
|
| Author: | cestina [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 4:45 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
That was lovely Caroline, thank you so much I think it's a shame really that GGBP don't release their grip a little. I'm very much enjoying Deira, for example, but would have welcomed more of the sort of staff background you have posted here. Perhaps I am spoiled now by how much of it we see and enjoy on CBB - or maybe I am at last, at the princely age of almost 70, finally growing out of straight school stories
|
|
| Author: | Alison H [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 4:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
I'd say the same. I have great admiration for everyone who produces the fill-ins under the constraints of someone else's opinion of what another author would or would have written, if that makes sense! I fully understand that they don't want to publish books about the school being invaded by aliens or Joey leaving Jack and running away with the milkman, but I think something like this would work very well. Thanks again for sharing, Caroline .
|
|
| Author: | whitequeen [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 6:04 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks - it was great to read that, & see how the book would have been if not for the Rules! Yours are my favourites of the fill-ins I've read, so even extra snippets are welcome.
|
|
| Author: | roversgirl [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
That was really lovely, thanks
|
|
| Author: | janetbrown23 [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
I enjoyed this so much I really must try and get hold of your books Caroline. |
|
| Author: | ChubbyMonkey [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
That was a beautiful ending and I've really enjoyed reading even just a snippet of your work. Thankyou! |
|
| Author: | Abi [ Thu Mar 03, 2011 9:52 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks Caroline; that was a really interesting read. |
|
| Author: | jmc [ Fri Mar 04, 2011 7:38 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks Caroline. It was interesting to see Miss Wilson so unsure of herself rather than the sarcastic mistress we are al so familiar with. |
|
| Author: | JS [ Fri Mar 04, 2011 8:45 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks Caroline, I enjoyed that. |
|
| Author: | Fiona Mc [ Sun Mar 06, 2011 4:16 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks Caroline, that was beautiful |
|
| Author: | Pat [ Sun Mar 06, 2011 12:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thank you for posting these Caroline. I've loved reading them. |
|
| Author: | Elder in Ontario [ Sun Mar 06, 2011 4:41 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thank you, Caroline - I have really enjoyed reading these pieces. |
|
| Author: | Sugar [ Mon Mar 07, 2011 7:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks for posting, Caroline |
|
| Author: | chris84 [ Tue Mar 08, 2011 8:44 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thank you, i really enjoyed this.
|
|
| Author: | Jools [ Fri Mar 11, 2011 8:29 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thank you for posting Caroline, I really enjoyed this and I loved the back story. |
|
| Author: | Caroline [ Sat Mar 12, 2011 1:13 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks for the kind words, everyone - really nice to read and I'm glad you all enjoyed the story.  Caroline. |
|
| Author: | Nightwing [ Mon Mar 14, 2011 11:03 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
That was fab, Caroline - I really love your writing! I'll have to try and hunt down a copy of Juliet now, for sure. |
|
| Author: | mell [ Thu Mar 17, 2011 2:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thank you, I really loved this. |
|
| Author: | Millie [ Wed Mar 30, 2011 3:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks so much for posting this Caroline. |
|
| Author: | Elle [ Sat Apr 02, 2011 6:09 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks for sharing this with us Caroline, I am going to go and read "Juliet" in bed tonight and see where it would all fit in. |
|
| Author: | Kathy_S [ Wed Apr 13, 2011 12:54 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thank you, Caroline. I'll have to remember this the next time I read Juliet.... |
|
| Author: | Dawn [ Thu Apr 14, 2011 5:38 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Just finished reading Juliet and thankyou very much Caroline for letting us have these extra scenes. |
|
| Author: | chris84 [ Sun Apr 24, 2011 11:57 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thank you, just found this and really enjoyed it, really liked MissWilson in this.
|
|
| Author: | Chair [ Tue May 17, 2011 6:35 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: Miss Wilson Makes Good |
Thanks, Caroline. I have just read this through and it provides a side to Miss Wilson that makes a lot of sense. |
|
| All times are UTC | |
| Powered by phpBB © 2000, 2002, 2005, 2007 phpBB Group http://www.phpbb.com/ | |