That evening, Hall was full of excited girls milling around in groups, dressed in a wide variety of costumes. There was a cat, a nun, a tennis player, several ghosts and angels and even more snowballs as well as a whole host of other, imaginative dresses. Even the mistresses had dressed up and joined in the fun. Only Jessica had not arrived. She was hovering around in the corridor feeling nervous. It was too late now to change her track and wear a sheets and pillowcase dress after all. She peeked into Hall and saw that, she had guessed, she would be the only one not dressed up. Some of Jessica’s bravado deserted her. How awful it was going to be walking through those doors with everyone staring at her! Why had she ever thought this was a clever idea?

Jessica took a deep breath. She was not a funk at any rate and, having set herself on a course, determined to see it through to the end. She stepped forward and threw the doors to Hall open as widely as she could, nearly braining Jean Ackroyd and Carola Johnstone as she did so. These two were on welcome duty and had just been about to abandon their post and join in the fun when Jessica waltzed into the room, pretending a nonchalance she did not feel. The two prefects gave a gasp of amazement as they took in Jessica’s appearance, attired as for a normal Saturday evening in her blue velveteen.

Two other people had noticed Jessica’s arrival straightaway. These were Miss Annerlsey and Mlle de Lachennais who had been standing close to Jean and Carola, assisting them in their welcome duty. The two mistresses glanced at each other, and an understanding passed between them. Each knew why Jessica had done this and the look that went between them meant that they would both ensure Jessica’s plans were scuppered.

As Miss Annersley and Mlle walked over to Jessica, others in the room had begun to notice her. She was standing dumbly beside the two prefects, not entirely sure what she should do next. She was aware of the increasing pairs of eyes that were being turned on her and of the silence that was slowly descending on the room. Her face began to burn and, if Miss Annersley hadn’t spoken, she would have turned and bolted from the room.

“Good evening, Jessica,” she said, calmly, ignoring the girl’s dress and pretending that nothing was amiss. “Welcome to the fun,”

“Ah, Jessica,” Mlle continued, “why don’t you go and join your friends. Look, there is Mary Lou and the little Prunella just over there. I am sure they will welcome you to their group.”

“I…er…” Jessica stuttered. Wasn’t she to be asked to leave?

“Off you,” Miss Annersley instructed. “We’re just about to begin the evening. I’m sure you’ll have a lovely time.”

Mlle gave Jessica a little push and she found herself joining the thunderous faces of Mary Lou and co. They could not believe the audacity of this girl and Mary Lou now realised why Jessica had said she did not help with her costume.

“Drat and drabbit,” she thought fervently. “Why wasn’t I more insistent? Now the little moke’s gone and made a complete idiot of herself.”

Aloud, Mary Lou said in her usual breezy manner, “Hello, Jessica, come and join our merry throng. I think we’re about to begin with dancing.”

The others of the gang looked at Mary Lou in wonder. What on earth was she doing? They would rather have left Jessica to stew in her own juices. Mary Lou knew what she was doing, however, and even took Jessica as her partner for the first folk dance of the evening which Jessica joined in unwillingly. She had been quite convinced she’d have been sent straight back up to her dormitory for the rest of the evening.

After ten minutes or so, the girls became so engrossed in the sheets and pillowcase party that they ceased to notice Jessica in her unorthodox attire. They were far too busy enjoying themselves. Jessica noticed this and began to relax. She had been sure she would not enjoy the evening and had danced the first two sets halfheartedly. But then a few rousing dances later, she found that she had really enjoyed them. She was red and breathless and suddenly even she forgot what she was wearing. After some intriguing paper games, a round of subject and object and some very clever tableaux, Jessica realised that she had enjoyed the evening and was glad Miss Annersley and Mlle de Lachennais had made her stay.

Mary Lou kept a beady eye on Jessica throughout the evening, convinced that the girl would try and escape somehow. But she relaxed as she saw that Jessica seemed to having fun and entering into the spirit of the evening, even asking some intelligent questions during subject and object.

At the end of the evening, Miss Annersley stood at the bottom of the stairs to wish each girl goodnight. Jessica trembled as her turn came near, certain that she would summoned to the study on the morrow. She wished more than anything that she had not worn her velveteen. It had attracted far too much attention to her and she had not got her own way after all. It would have been far better for her to accept Mary Lou’s offer of help in making a costume and turned up looking like everyone else.

Miss Annersley’s voice was very kind as she spoke to the confused girl, but there was also a hint of disappointment in it which Jessica heard and rightly interpreted. It made the girl turn pink and cast her eyes downwards.

“Well, Jessica,” the Head Mistress said, “how did you enjoy your first prefects’ party?”

“Ve…very well,” Jessica mumbled, but the Head could tell that she meant what she said. “And, I…” here Jessica stopped, not quite able to get out the all important words.

“Yes?” Miss Annersley prompted gently.

“I’m sorry!” Jessica’s tones were so low that they were barely discernible, but Miss Annersley heard and a smile crossed her face.

“I’m glad,” she said. “Remember, Jessica, only you can make yourself happy here.”

Jessica’s eyes glinted with tears. She was beginning to understand the wisdom of these words. She was unhappy because she continually did things which made her unhappy. It was no-one else’s fault.

“I’ll try,” she whispered.

Miss Annersley’s smile deepened. “Good night, Jessica. I think you will sleep well tonight.”

And she did. Jessica dropped off to sleep almost immediately, feeling happier than she had done in a long while, though she still had fences to climb.

The next morning, Mary Lou bagged Jessica as a partner for the walk to Church. Jessica was surprised. She had expected her form to have little to do with her after she had called so much attention to herself at the prefects’ evening. True, some folk did send the odd disparaging glance her way, but no-one actually mentioned it. Again, Jessica expected Mary Lou to deliver a long lecture on the virtues of behaving oneself at an “evening”, but Mary Lou just chatted generally about the evening and the expedition they’d had to Zurich. Jessica began to relax and, when it was announced that there was to be a ramble that day, she even began to look forward to it. She had missed the long walks that she used to take with Spud and there had been few real rambles so far this term. This time, they were to make for the Auberge and, so far, Jessica had been unable to work out its secret and why it was such a favourite place of the girls.

Once the girls were away from the school and heading towards the Auberge, they broke up into little groups of twos and threes. Jessica hung back as usual, expecting that someone noticing she was alone would reluctantly invite her to join their group. Today, however, Mary Lou took Jessica’s arm in a chummy fashion as soon as ranks began to break and then drew Jessica back a little to allow the other groups to go ahead. At first, it was hard going for Mary Lou. Jessica did not seem to want to talk, but the form prefect persisted. She had promised Joey Maynard, after all, that she would try to help Jessica, and it was about time she made good on that promise.

“You know, Jessica, we really are awfully lucky in some ways – in lots of ways, in fact.”

“Yes, I suppose so! I know that none of my other schools would have let even the prefects go for walks by themselves. Not real walks like this, anyway. It was alright if they just wanted to go to the shops to get some stamps or sweets. We always had an escort mistress with us.” Jessica seemed to have decided to spread herself a little and, besides, the mystery of the Auberge was intriguing her. “What is this echo that you and the others were talking about?”

“Oh, a most gorgeous one!” Mary Lou enthused, but she added maddeningly, “You’ll see when we reach the Auberge. It’s directly in front of it and you get the whole mountain wall to fling it back at you.”

Jessica thought that, on the whole, an echo was a rather rotten secret. She had thought it would something much more exciting. She allowed Mary Lou to take her arm at this point and steer her across the railway. Jessica wished that she could break her self-imposed vow of silence and talk to Mary Lou about the way she was feeling and the problems she had at home. She could see Mary Lou watching her from time to time as they walked on, and wondered if the prefect was waiting on her to talk. Jessica had a feeling that Mary Lou would understand her thoughts and fears and be able to talk to her sensibly about them, but Jessica wasn’t sure how to begin. She knew one thing, however, and that was that, hard as it was to admit, she liked the Chalet School and wanted to stay there, but she didn’t think she could stay unless she could empty her mind of her misery and jealousy and start again.

Mary Lou was surreptitiously watching Jessica’s face and she could see the emotions that were flickering across it. The new girl was clearly involved in some great fight against herself in her mind. Mary Lou set out to help, plunging in as usual with both feet.

“You know, Jessica, you really ought to be happy here. It’s a simply smash – er, marvellous school. I’ve been here for five years now and I know what I’m talking about. I’ve loved every minute of my time. The others would say the same if you asked them. Why don’t you try to cheer up a little. Are you thinking of the Plato row? Forget it! It’s over and done with. No-one’s going to reap it up again. Of course,” she added with her usual insouciance, “I don’t mean that it won’t be talked about. After all, it’s given us another legend. But then, it’s only what dozens of other folk have done. Did you ever hear of the lovely barney my sister – I mean Verity Carey – had with Plato her first term at school? And Aunt Joey – Mrs Maynard at Freudesheim, you know – had an even lovelier one with Herr Laubach when she was a Senior. The yarn goes that he wound up by chucking all her drawing things at her head before he flung her out of art for keeps!”

Jessica bit back a laugh at this image of the matronly Mrs Maynard being treated in such a fashion by the old art master, but she said nothing. But Mary Lou’s mention of Verity – her sister by marriage as the girls insisted on calling their relationship – had given Jessica the cue she needed. After satisfying herself that there was no-one else within earshot, she ventured shyly,

“I – I wanted to talk to you about – about that… Verity Carey, I mean.”

Paying no heed to the little thrill of excitement that ran through her, telling her that Jessica could be about to get things out of her system at last, Mary Lou replied, “What about young Verity? She isn’t actually any relation to me – except a connection by marriage. But you knew that, didn’t you?” Mary Lou went on to explain how it had come to pass that her mother had married Commander Carey, Verity’ father. It was quite a sad story, and Commander Carey was still far from well following his adventures on the Murray Cameron expedition.

Jessica was sufficiently taken out of herself by the story to gasp, “But he’s alright now, isn’t he?”

Mary Lou explained that Commander Carey was lame in one leg and still limped badly. He would never be able to go exploring again and Jessica thought how awful that must be – to be denied the thing you enjoyed doing the most and that had always been your life.

Jessica was thoughtful for a moment or so. Presently, she said,

“Tell me this. When did Mr – no; didn’t you say he was Commander? – Carey marry your mother?”

“Rather more than a year ago,” Mary Lou replied. Her voice was perfectly calm but inwardly she was wondering if this was the moment when Jessica was really going to open up.

Jessica asked slowly, “And – and – how did you feel about it? I mean, didn’t you mind, awfully? You don’t mind my asking?” she added hastily.

“I don’t mind in the least. Why should I? I don’t know that I felt very much about it one way or the other. You see, I never really knew my own father. I was just a small kid the last time he was at home. He got only short leaves and, as I told you, I was only just ten when he was killed.”

“I don’t remember my father, either,” Jessica vouchsafed. “He died when I was little more than a baby. Sometimes, I miss him dreadfully. But,” she carried on,, casting away images of her father and her mother as they were in the picture of their wedding day, “it meant having Verity to live with you. You had to share your mother with her. Surely you hated that?”

Jessica could see that her question had thrown Mary Lou and that her usual insouciance had deserted her. But then Mary Lou gave a grave little smile and turned to Jessica. “No, Jessica, I didn’t. You see, if your love is to be worth anything it must be big enough for you to be glad if the people you love have other friends and – and people besides you. You’ve got to share and be glad to share. If it’s worth having at all, you will share.” .” It was obvious to Mary Lou that Jessica was struggling to digest this, though it was not something she had never heard before. Older and wiser people than Mary Lou had tried to explain this to the troubled girl, but Jessica had never felt it was worth listening to before. Mary Lou plainly meant and believed every word she said as she went on, “Listen, Jessica! I’ll try to show you what I mean. Go right back – to Bible times. When St Andrew first met Our Blessed Lord, what was his first idea? He asked to be excused and rushed off home to fetch his brother along, too. He felt that this new friend was Someone so – so wonderful and so – so big that he just had to share Him. And then when Christ made friends all round with everyone who would have His friendship, did the Apostles go sulking round about it and say and think the He ought to be satisfied with them? I don’t think so. We never hear anything about it, anyhow. It seems to have worked the other way round and they were maddest with the people who wouldn’t have anything to do with Him – like those Samaritans that James and John wanted to call down fire from Heaven on.”

“But that was different,” Jessica said. “What happened in those times can’t be the same as now.”

“It’s exactly the same. They were human beings like you and me. Don’t you think anything different.”

“But – but,” Jessica stuttered, struggling to come to terms with this new way of thinking and Mary Lou’s calm assurance that she was right, “it was Him they had for a friend. That would make it different.”

“I don’t think so – not if they hadn’t it in them to be willing to share. God doesn’t force us to do anything. We’ve got to choose.”

“But you can’t say that sharing a friend is the same as sharing your mother,” Jessica insisted. “Your friend’s just that – a friend. A mother is different.”

“I don’t know,” Mary Lou said honestly, “In some way, I believe it may be even harder. You do rely completely on your mother; but often you can’t be absolutely sure of your friends.” .” Mary Lou pulled Jessica over to a tree trunk which had fallen at one side of the path and the pair sat down. Both were glad of the rest and Jessica continued to try to digest this new way of thinking that Mary Lou was trying to impart to her. Mary Lou was quiet while Jessica struggled with her thoughts.

“I’d like to say something,” Jessica said eventually.

“Go ahead.”

“Well – I – that is –,” Jessica was finding it hard to make a start, but then suddenly bust forth, “Did you know that I’m like you? I mean, my mother has married again – and a man with a daughter. I – I’ve got a sister-by-marriage – and I simply loathe her!”

“What on earth for?” Mary Lou’s matter of fact tones almost floored Jessica, but then the torrent suddenly broke bounds and the barriers were swept away.

“Don’t you see? Mother and I were together always. I already told you my father was killed when I was even younger than you – just a baby. We did everything together – almost like sisters. She’s – she’s an awfully young mother! Then she went and married Mr Sefton and his girl Rosamund is an invalid and Mother’s always with her now, running around after her and doing things for her and she has no time for me. They don’t want me at home and I was bunged off to boarding school to get me out of the way. Rosamund’s taken my place! Mother doesn’t love me anymore – not as she used!”

“Who says so?”Mary Lou demanded. “Has she told you so?”

“Not exactly,” Jessica admitted, not liking Mary Lou’s judicial pose. “But she’s acted like it.”

“What’s wrong with Rosamund, anyhow? How is she an invalid?”

“She can’t walk. There’s something wrong with her back and she’s always either in bed or on her invalid couch. Mother sits beside her for hours at a time and plays games with her and shows her how to do embroidery and knitting and things like that. She used to give me all her spare time, but she hasn’t any use for me now. Rosamund’s everything and I’m nothing.”

When Mary Lou spoke, her voice was very gentle. “But don’t you see that you are strong and well. You can play games and go for walks and run about and garden and everything like that. You have all the fun of school and meeting new people and making fresh friends. You can go to the shops and choose your own materials for embroidery and knitting and – and raffia work. You can pick your own books and visit the cinema – if you like cinemas and they let you go – and do everything like that. You have such lots, Jessica. But Rosamund has to depend on other people for every blessed thing. She can have very little choice. How would you like it yourself?”

It was far from the first time Jessica had heard this speech. Lucia Gordon had spoken to her in much the same vein at Adam’s and Emily’s wedding. Miss Winter had tried to talk sense to the girl on numerous occasions. Adam and Emily themselves had also spoken with her, trying to get her to understand just how tough things were for Rosamund, but never had Jessica given any thought to it. She was so sure that she was right, that she was being wrong by that there was no time to give thought to poor Rosamund. Perhaps because these words were now coming from Mary Lou, a girl her own age and who also had a step-family, Jessica began to see things from Rosamund’s point of view.

“Well – I suppose I should hate it, really,” she said uncertainly.

“You suppose! You jolly well know!” Mary Lou retorted forcibly. “Of course you’d hate it. You wouldn’t be natural if you didn’t.”

Jessica was silent; but for the first time, she felt a sense of shame over her own behaviour. She had been so taken up with her own grievances, that she had refused to see how things must be for Rosamund. She remembered with a sudden stab that the other girl had never grumbled in her hearing. Certain wistful looks she had caught came to her memory to torment her. Even if she hadn’t liked the new arrangements, she could have been kinder to Rosamund. Jessica’s face contorted as she remembered the time she had slapped Rosamund for no reason other than her own temper and her face flamed red.

“How old is she?” Mary Lou asked.

“Fourteen – fifteen next month.”

“Just around our age, then. Is there any hope that she can ever be better?”

“I don’t know. I think not. She had an operation, but it went wrong and she nearly died. She’s not strong enough for another one.” Jessica’s voice was very low.

“Oh, Jessica! And you’ve been silly and jealous and horrid to her just because your mother’s tried to make up a little of what she’s missing all the time! How could you?”

“I felt she was taking Mother away from me,” Jessica muttered, but Mary Lou’s tone made her smart and she was beginning to feel thoroughly ashamed.

“That’s complete rot!” Mary Lou told her in no uncertain terms. “Your mother’s your mother! What she feels for you – her own child – is quite different from what she feels for Rosamund. I know that by Verity and me. Mother loves Verity all right – I do myself, so far as that goes! – but it’s a different kind of love. It’ll be the same with Mrs Sefton and you. She loves Rosamund because she’s so tied and so helpless, poor kid! She loves you because you’re her very own. You see, you’re a part of her and a part of your father. Rosamund isn’t any part of either of them. It’s bound to make a difference – couldn’t help it.”

Jessica was beginning to see, and with that was coming a realisation of how awful her own behaviour had been. “Yes, perhaps you are right. But – oh, can’t you guess how miserable it’s al been made for me?”

“I can guess – some of it, anyhow. No girl who wasn’t utterly wretched would go on as you’ve been doing. And I think you know that a lot of your misery is your own fault. But you do feel better now you’ve stopped bottling it all up inside you and told someone, don’t you?”

“Do you know, you’re quite right,” Jessica sounded surprised. “I did want to say something to you, especially after you were so decent to me over the row in the song room. I did think it might help me, but I never guessed it would make so much difference. I feel – I feel as if I’d had a sort of bath in my mind and it was all scrubbed and clean and fresh.”

“When I was a little girl,” Mary Lou said in her most grandmotherly way, “I used to think when I’d been naughty, that my soul was a little room and being naughty made it all dirty and messy. Once I was sorry and told Mother, I used to think I’d been having a spring-cleaning. I expect that’s how it feels to you. Well, that’s all right. Shall we go on and catch up with the others?”

“One moment,” Jessica begged. . It was true – she did feel better and she could see things much more clearly. But she had made an awful mess of things and had made things so much worse her mother and Adam than they need have been. She had behaved appallingly to Rosamund and she couldn’t for the life of her see how she was to put things right. “Mary Lou, you have made me feel different. I can see straighter now. But – oh, you don’t know how awful I’ve been at home. How on earth can I put things right?”

“I can’t tell you that - or not yet, anyhow. You must give me time. And you ought to think it out for yourself, too. If you can manage it alone, it’ll be a lot better than if you just do something because someone else has told you. But I promise you to do what I can. Meantime, suppose you stop being the original muzzled bear and try to pal up a bit with other people. We’re quite a decent crowd when you come to know us!” Mary Lou finished with a gay laugh. Even a few days ago, Jessica would have taken offence at this speech of Mary Lou’s and it would have been the excuse for grumps and sulks, but now she joined in Mary Lou’s laugh and allowed the other girl to pull her to her feet. “Come on,” Mary Lou said, “don’t you want to try to echo out?”

Jessica had forgotten all about the purpose for the ramble as she had opened her heart to the prefect. Now she began to think that the echo might be something special after all, and eagerly went after Mary Lou.

The rest of the form had arrived at the Auberge some time earlier and Vi and Barbara had been muttering to each other about the whereabouts of Mary Lou and the form’s stormy petrel. They were both amazed when they saw Mary Lou and Jessica scurrying along together, their arms interlinked and – what was more – Jessica was wearing something that could actually pass for a smile! Mary Lou ignored the enquiring glances that were sent her way, whilst Jessica looked shy as Verity, who possessed the best singing voice in the school and was the delight of Plato, lifted up her silvery voice and sang the first lines of “Hark, Hark, The Lark”.

Jessica had never heard anything like the hauntingly beautiful notes that floated back as Verity’s tones echoed across the mountain wall. Unmusical as she may have been, Jessica had always been able to appreciate the beauty of other’s folks creations, and she stood spellbound as the fairy notes began to die away.

“Come on, folk!” Vi Lucy cried to them. Jessica had been holding back as usual, too shy to enter the bosom of the form, but Mary Lou jerked on her arm and pulled her towards the crowd. “Buck up, Jessca! Come and make a noise – any noise! – and see what happens to it!”

Encouraged by Vi's friendly tones, Jesica came to join the group. The other girls joined in Vi’s coaxing. They always loved the reactions of new comers to this glorious echo. Jessica was still unsure, however, and it took Mary Lou climbing up on the wall and giving a long, melodious yodel - which came back time and again, growing fainter each time – to encourage her to try.

Jessica scrambled up onto the wall. Standing erect, she put her fingers into the corners of her mouth and emitted an ear-piercing whistle that made those nearest put their hands over their ears with cries of protest. But even this outrageous noise – which had been forbidden to Jessica at home for obvious reasons – returned to them, soft and sweet as the echoes caught it and whirled it back at them.

“What a ghastly din!” Hilary cried. Then she added, “But I wish you’d show me how you do it, Jessica. I’ve often tried but got no further.”

Jessica thrilled at this spontaneous show of friendship and said, “It’s easy.” She gave Hilary an impish smile and added, “Put your fingers into your mouth like this. Now blow hard!”

But it was not to be, for Ruth Barnes had been checking her watch and realised that it was time they were heading back to school. Jessica was disappointed as she had wanted to give the echoes another go and felt ashamed that she had previously thought of the echo as a silly secret. Mary Lou took charge and began to bundle everyone into small groups for the walk back to school. Jessica found her arm taken chummily by Mary Lou and was delighted. The girls set off at their best pace for they had taken far longer at the Auberge than they had intended and were bound to be late unless they ran. They were all breathless by the time they mounted the path by the railway and reached the Platz. There they met Dr Graves, husband of pretty Hilary Graves who had once been Games Mistress at the school. He had his convertible and seeing the girls breathless and perspiring, with their rush, he pulled up and turned around.

“Bundle in!” he called. “I’ve just time to run you back to school before lunch. It’ll mean close sitting, but you can all pack in if you try.”

It was a tight squeeze, but the girls were glad of the chance to rest their weary legs and so did not mind at all being squashed up together. Indeed, Jessica found Verity sitting on her lap and, for a wonder, made a joke about Verity being so light that she barely noticed there was anyone on her knee. Verity was so taken aback that she was stunned into silence but the others who noticed were pleased that Jessica seemed to be so happy. They made it back to school just in time for Mitagessen and were spared the lecture they would have been subject to had Dr Graves not been so kind.

After her talk with Mary Lou, Jessica found it almost easy to settle down into the ways of the Chalet School. Too much had happened for her to become a real Chalet School girl overnight, but the improvement in her was so marked that even the mistresses and prefects remarked on it. She remained friendly with Mary Lou who still kept a weather eye on her, and she grew closer to Clare Kennedy. Ashamed of her previous treatment of poor Prunella, Jessica made several shy overtures of friendship which were gladly accepted and that pair grew steadily more chummy. Jessica’s work improved, too, and she began to pay attention in class. She soon learned that lessons at the Chalet School were vastly different to those at Cor Lan and Redferne and that the girls were expect to take part. This was much more interesting that simply being lectured at and Jessica found her understanding of even her worst subjects improving. She had a lot to catch up on and so her place in form did not drastically alter immediately, but every mistress had cause to praise her for her effort and attention in class and Jessica glowed inwardly.

The “Great Famine” which affected the school caused by days of roaring winds and torrential rain was greeted by Jessica with the same acceptance as the other girls, though previously she would have moaned and groaned at the plain fare they were served and the incarceration that was a direct result of the awful weather. She, too, made the best of it along with everyone else and discovered that it was far easier to cope with adversity as part of a team than standing alone. She thoroughly enjoyed the impromptu “evening” that was a result of the bad weather – the evening planned by the St Mildred’s girls having to be postponed – and entered into the spirit of things as she had never done before.

The staff and prefects discussed Jessica among themselves, pleased to see the amazing change that was taking place in her. The staff, at any rate, had cause to be thankful to Mary Lou. The prefects only suspected that she would have had something to do with the new Jessica and were grateful, also. They, being close in age to Jessica than the mistresses, also understood just how much it would be costing Jessica’s pride to admit she had been wrong and to change her ways.

Jessica also thoroughly enjoyed the entertainment that was mounted to celebrate the Feast of St Nicholas. Never before had she attended such an evening, and she wondered why, in the past, she had mocked the Chalet girls for the simple, fun things the got up to at night. Previously, she would have mocked the St Nicholas evening as “babyish” and refused to attend, but she threw her heart and soul into the entertainment and was thrilled with the little prize she received. She joined in with the rest of the form as they laughed at Mary Lou for marooning herself on top of a wardrobe and having to be rescued.

Jessica went to bed that evening feeling happier than she had done since her mother had announced her wedding plans. There was just one thing that was still bothering her, and that was how on earth she was to make amends to her mother, Adam and Rosamund for her awful behaviour. Now that she had admitted herself to being in the wrong, Jessica could see just how badly she had behaved and was thoroughly ashamed of herself. She often awoke in the night with her face flaming red as her antics came back to her in the form of dreams. She was especially sorry for the way she had treated Rosamund, having never before appreciated just how tough life was for the younger girl. Rosamund had tried so hard to make friends, and she was such a lonely little girl. It would have made all the difference to her if Jessica had reacted to her friendly overtures instead of treating them with disdain.

If only she could think of some way of making things up to her family – and it shows just how far Jessica had come in a short space of time that she was thinking of the Seftons as her family. Mary Lou had said she would help her, but had so far been waiting to see if Jessica could think of something by herself. Jessica was stymied, however, and, as a result, she was rather dreading the holidays when she must face her family again. She often lay awake at night, thinking what could be done to right the wrongs. She must apologise, of course, and this would cost her dear as she was a proud girl who did not like to admit to her mistakes. If only she could do it before she went home, it would not be such a trauma to see the Seftons again. Perhaps Miss Dene would let her telephone? Jessica sighed to herself. She must ask Mary Lou for her advice.

Unfortunately, something was to happen that meant that Jessica must think things through for herself.

Mary Lou met with a terrible accident. End of term examinations were under and, on the Thursday of exam week, they had a heavy fall of snow that lasted all day. At night it ended, but there was a hard frost so that the ground was in splendid form next day. Miss Annersley announced after Prayers that morning that unless snow came on again, everyone should spend the afternoon in the garden; the others might take their toboggans and go on skis to the meadows. Darkness came down about half past fifteen, but they would have a good hour and a half’s fun before they needed to go back.

Needless to say, the girls were thrilled and Jessica was no exception. This was her first experience of winter sporting and she was thrilled to the teeth at the prospect. She watched the Gang go off on their skis as all were relatively experienced in winter sports while she stayed behind with the rest of the tyros. Jessica had a glorious afternoon, though she stopped from time to time to think of Rosamund, who never know what fun sporting in the snow was.

Towards the end of the afternoon, Jessica looked up from her efforts and saw lines of girls heading back towards the school. She was surprised, as it was still light and no-one had told the tyros that they must start to head back. As the girls drew nearer, she realised that something was wrong. The girls skied in pairs and they all looked downcast. In fact, several were crying. The mistresses acting as whippers-in told the tyros shortly to join the line and make their way back to the school where they should head for the Splasheries and then go for an early Kaffee und Kuchen. In confusion, Jessica and the others joined the lines. No-one spoke and her attempt at asking Clare Kennedy what the matter was was met with a sniff and a shake of the head.

It was not until the girls were in the Speisesaal taking their Kaffee und Kuchen that Jessica learned the reason for their early return. Miss Annersley arrived in the Speisesaal and pinged the bell at her table. All faces were turned towards her. Some of the girls knew what had happened, but some had merely been bundled back to school as quickly as possible.

“Girls,” Miss Annersley began, and her beautiful voice was grave indeed, “I am sorry to have to tell you that Mary Lou Trelawney has met with a bad accident.”

At this, Jessica gave a horrified gasp. She had realised that Mary Lou was missing but had never imagined that something awful had happened to her.

Miss Annersley heard the gasp and glanced kindly at Jessica before continuing. “There was an accident with a toboggan and Mary Lou has been badly hurt. She was flung back against a tree and is unconscious. She is being taken to the San where she can be looked after properly. I will let you know as soon as we have any news on her.”

The decision had been taken at this point that the girls should not yet know the true cause of Mary Lou’s accident, though it was inevitable that the truth should come out eventually. Miss Annersley felt that the very fact of Mary Lou’s accident was enough for them to take in at present.

The girls looked from one to another, shocked. The elder girls, especially, knew how serious this could be, as did those who had actually witnessed the accident.

Jessica, unable to contain herself and surprising herself as she did so, jumped to her feet.

“Oh, please, Miss Annersley, may we visit her?”

Miss Annersley smiled gravely at the girl. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible for some time to come, Jessica, not until she has regained consciousness at any rate. But, “ she continued as she saw Jessica’s downcast face, “there is something you can all do for Mary Lou. Remember her in your prayers, girls.”

Jessica, tears smarting at the back of her eyes, nodded and sat back down. Clare, who was sitting beside her, took her hand in arms and the comfort of the touch of another human being helped Jessica. She felt desperately sorry for Mary Lou who had been so good to her. Jessica wished there was something practical she could do to help, but the girls were forbidden from the San and they had to make do with the snippets of information that were given to them. Jessica remembered the Head’s words about remembering Mary Lou in her prayers and, though Jessica had previously only prayed because she must, spent every spare moment in asking God to spare her friend.

News soon came through that Mary Lou was suffering from severe concussion, caused by being flung back against the tree. It was a serious injury and there was also some fear that she might have damaged her spine.

The Chalet girls took the news badly. Mary Lou was known to all and, though she may not have been loved by all – her forthright manner had often put folks’ backs up – she was still a Chalet girl. The Seniors, particularly, realised how serious her injuries could be and were very concerned about her. The younger girls knew all about her injuries as the authorities did not agree with shielding girls from the nastier points of life, but they just assumed that the marvellous doctors at the sanatorium would be able to work their magic and Mary Lou would be back with them, hale and hearty, next term. Though the Seniors, prefects and staff looked grave and were quieter than usual, they went through the motions of carrying on as normal. It was important for the younger girls not to be disrupted. Besides, Mary Lou herself would have scoffed at anyone who had let her illness be a reason or excuse for slacking off. The atmosphere the school was sombre, but lessons, exams and extra-curricular activities continued, though there were those who did not feel like participating, especially the Gang and someone rather more unexpected.

At the news of Mary Lou’s concussion and back injury, Jessica began to fear the worst and wondered how Mary Lou would cope if she was unable to walk again. Despite all her original bad feelings about the form prefect, Mary Lou now held a special place in Jessica’s previously stoney heart. Mary Lou had helped her out of a very dark place, and Jessica would always feel that she owed the other girl for this. Jessica did not realise that, although Mary Lou had helped her, she had already made great progress in working things out for herself and the happy, friendly atmosphere of the Chalet School had already begun to make a difference even before Mary Lou got involved.

Jessica worried about Mary Lou, but kept it to herself and grew pale and wan as a result. Matron noticed this and kept an eye on her, hauling Jessica to one side after she had sent her Mitagessen back uneaten.

“Are you ill, Jessica?” the domestic tyrant demanded, feeling Jessica’s forehead with her hand. There was no temperature.

“No,” Jessica said listlessly.

”Then what’s the matter with you? You’ve been off your food for a few days and I know you’ve not been sleeping well.”

Jessica looked down at Matron and wondered whether she should tell Matron he fears about Mary Lou. Suddenly, Jessica couldn’t help it and she burst into tears. Matron acted promptly and marched Jessica to San where she handed her a clean hanky and told her to pull herself together. Jessica did so and, at the same time, poured out her worries about Mary Lou.

“She – she was so good to me and helped me. It’s not fair that this has happened to her.”

“It’s not fair,” Matron said briskly, “but it has happened and we must all make the best of it. Our first thoughts must be with Mary Lou now, not with ourselves. How do you think she would feel if she knew you were worrying yourself into an illness over her? Now, let me tell you something. Word has just come from the Sanatorium. Mary Lou has woken up. She’s very groggy but she was able to move her arms and legs. The doctors think that her spine is badly bruised, but that it will heal in time.”

“So,” Jessica gasped, unable to take the news in, “Mary Lou will be all right?”

“In time,” Matron told her. “She has a long way to go, but the doctors are hopeful that she will make a full recovery.”

“Oh, I’m so glad!” Jessica cried fervently. “Can I tell the others?”

“You may tell the Gang, but no-one else. Miss Annersley will be making an announcement shortly, so keep the news amongst yourselves at present.”

Jessica went off, much happier than before, to report the good news to the Gang. Everyone had been worried about their leader and there were a few tears when Jessica broke the news. They were all sensible girls, however, and were able to contain their excitement, though inwardly they were thrilled. They knew that no-one could sustain such injuries and be back to normal overnight.

Mary Lou went from strength to strength and was soon well on the way to recovery at a speed that amazed her doctors. She was demanding real food and visitors and was likely to be well enough to be back at school next term.

In the meantime, Jessica had come up with her own solution to her problem. She knew she had to make amends for her treatment of Rosamund and the Seftons and had decided to write to them. Previously, she had written to her mother because she had to, but the letters had been short and mainly to do with the vagaries of the weather in Switzerland. The idea of writing to them had come to her the same day as Mary Lou met with her accident and, being Jessica, she decided to get straight down to it. She knew that, not only would it make her feel better about the folk back home, but it would also take her mind off Mary Lou. She would write one letter to her mother and step-father and another letter, just for Rosamund.

It was very difficult, as Jessica had known it would be. How should she start? She had been against them for so long now that it was difficult to know how to write a normal, school girl letter. Several attempts ended up in the bin, but eventually she managed something that was warm and informative and also conveyed her apologies without actually saying in so in as many words. Rosamund’s letter was, surprisingly, somewhat easier. Jessica filled five or six pages with school gossip and news about Mary Lou’s accident quite easily. She didn’t mention her previous behaviour feeling it better not to draw attention to it, but she knew that it would be easier to ask forgiveness in person after this letter. Jessica sent the letters off in the post and waited for the replies, as she waited for news about Mary Lou.

Back at Moorlands, Emily took possession of the post and looked in surprise at the fat envelope that was addressed to herself in Adam in Jessica’s handwriting. Even more surprising was the equally fat envelope addressed in the same handwriting to Rosamund. At breakfast, Emily read out her letter to Adam and the pair was amazed at the change in Jessica. Her letter was full of lessons, marks, Mary Lou, her extra singing lessons – there was not one mention of the weather as a space filler! Emily finished the letter and looked across at Adam, who was smiling.

“I can hardly believe this letter is from Jessica!” she exclaimed, happily.

“What a difference in her!” Adam remarked, skimming through the letter again for himself. “She seems almost happy – and normal. She’s really worried about this Mary Lou girl.”

“Yes, I hope she’ll be all right,” Emily said. “I like the last part of the letter the best. Read it out again.”

Adam sought and found the last paragraph.

“I’m so glad you sent me to the Chalet School, mother. It’s a great school, and I can see that now I’ve had time to settle in. I like the girls and I think I’m going to make some good friends. They play netball here, too, and Kat Gordon says I might make the reserve list next term. I’m looking forward to seeing you all again at Christmas. I’ve missed you a lot. Lots of love, Jessica.”

He looked up at Emily smiling, “And you say there’s a letter for Rosamund, too?”

“Yes,” Emily indicated the thick envelope lying beside her plate. “She’ll be thrilled to get it. I’ll wake her up with it now.”

Rosamund, who had passed a restless night, was still dozing when Emily went into get her up. Emily carried a breakfast tray containing a light meal and the envelope was also perched on the tray. Rosamund’s eyes were dark with lack of sleep and Emily guessed that the girl would be spending most of the day in bed. She had been suffering a lot of back pain recently due to a growth spurt and the doctors were about to try her on some new and stronger painkillers. Emily hoped that they would begin to work as the pain and stress was beginning to tell on Rosamund and she was seriously lacking in energy.

Emily woke her up by the simple method of pulling back the curtains to allow the winter sunlight into the room. Rosamund stretched and yawned, and gave a little smile as she saw Emily. No matter how much Rosamund suffered, she never moaned and never took her pain out on Emily.

“I have a surprise for you,” Emily said after bidding her step daughter good morning.

“Really?” Rosamund asked curiously. “What could it be?”

For reply, Emily placed the breakfast tray on the bed and pointed to the fat envelope.

“Oh, goody, a letter for me!” Rosamund loved getting letters, though few were the occasions when one actually arrived for her. “Who’s it from?” she wondered, picking it up and examining it. When she saw the Swiss postmark, and Jessica’s name and address on the back, she turned to Emily in wonder. “From Jessica?” she asked uncertainly.

Emily nodded. “Yes. We’ve had a lovely long letter from her, telling us all her news. She seems to be very happy. I’ll leave you to read it, Rosamund, but eat your toast and porridge before they get cold.”

Emily left the room and Rosamund obediently ate her breakfast before turning back to the letter. She opened it somewhat apprehensively. Jessica had been so awful to her before her departure for the Chalet that Rosamund found it hard to believe that this letter could be something friendly.

When she eventually opened it, Rosamund found that the letter was exactly what it seemed to be. A very long, chummy letter from Jessica such as she had always longed to receive. Jessica had gone right back to basics and explained all the ins and outs of the Chalet School, from the cold baths to the compulsory hockey. Rosamund felt she could actually see the dormitories and the class rooms and Jessica had managed to describe Clare Kennedy so vividly that Rosamund could almost Clare’s Irish accent. Jessica went on to talk about her extra singing lessons with Miss Lawrence and Rosamund knew how much it meant to Jessica to at least be able to hold a tune. She talked at length about the expedition to Zurich and the secret of the Auberge, and Rosamund found herself wishing she too could see these places. As she knew that was an impossibility, Jessica’s descriptions were the next best thing.

Then Rosamund came to the paragraphs that described Mary Lou’s accident. This letter had been written before the news had come that Mary Lou would make a full recovery. Jessica was obviously downcast about the accident and the prognosis and Rosamund instantly felt her pain. Jessica must think an awful lot of this form prefect. Rosamund also felt immensely sorry for the other girl. She had never been able to walk and so, in a sense, could not miss it, but how awful for Mary Lou if she was tied to an invalid couch for the rest of her days!

Emily came back in to collect Rosamund’s breakfast tray half an hour later and was half expecting to find the girl dozing again, to catch up on her sleep. Far from feeling sleepy, however, Rosamund was sitting up alertly, re-reading Jessica’s letter.

“Oh,” she said as Emily took the tray from her, “could you bring me my writing case? I want to write back to Jessica straight away.”

Emily grinned. “Yes, you can have your writing case. I think Jessica will be very happy to hear from you. But you mustn’t write for long. She’ll understand if it’s just a short letter.”

And, a few days later, Jessica did understand and was just as delighted to receive the two pages written by Rosamund as she was to get the longer letter from her mother and Adam. Rosamund, thoughtful as usual, had enclosed a card for Mary Lou which she had made and decorated herself and asked Jessica to pass it on for her.

Mary Lou had been making such good headway that it was not long before the doctors agreed to allow her to have visitors. She asked for Jessica, amongst others, and, one day, the new girl arrived at the San after break, having been brought there by Miss Annersley in the car. Miss Annersley left them alone together and Jessica’s initial shyness was quickly replaced by amazement. She had known, of course, that Mary Lou’s hair had had to be cut because of the head injury, but Jessica had not really prepared herself for such a drastic change.

“Goodness!” she gasped, because she simply could not help herself. Then she pulled herself together. “I say, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend you. It’s just that you look such heaps different.”

“Oh, I know,” Mary Lou said cheerily. “Everyone tells me so, and I can see it myself. I was raging mad at first, but Uncle Jack explained why they had to do it. There’s no point in me moping over it. It will soon grow back. I think it looks quite nifty myself.”

“It suits you,” Jessica agreed, for Mary Lou’s head was already covered with a fuzz of hair that looked as if it might even turn out curly!

Mary Lou’s breezy manner deserted her as she stared intently at Jessica, examining the other girl for signs of unhappiness. To her surprise, Jessica looked quite happy. Her lips and eyes were smiling and there was none of that discontent about her face that had defined it earlier in the term.

“Do you know, when I get home I’m going to tell Mother just what you’ve done for me,” Jessica said. “I’m going to say I’m sorry I’ve been such a pig to Rosamund, too. And one more thing, I’m going to try to be really decent to Rosamund.”

“I’m glad,” Mary Lou said quietly. “You know, Jess, when I first woke up, I knew they were afraid I’d hurt my back badly and I wondered how I should bear it if I could never walk again. Of course, I didn’t have to worry about that long, and in any case, I was doing a lot of sleeping just then. But it was pretty awful when I was awake. I didn’t say anything to anyone, of course. I knew they were just as scared as I was. Only you will ever know about it; but I did feel for two days just how ghastly it would be. I’m awfully glad you’re doing all you can to make up for it to Rosamund. For you see, I did know that there was a chance I’d get better, but you told me there isn’t a hope for her.”

Jessica nodded. “They’ve tried everything, I think. Anyhow, during the hols at least I’ll do all I can,” she suddenly reddened as she went on, “I- I’ve been writing to her this last few weeks. I thought it might be better than nothing and it would show Mother and everyone that I was truly sorry for being so awful.”

Mary Lou’s eyes lit up. “Oh, good for you! Then you won’t have anything to bother about when you get home again!”

“I hope you don’t mind,” Jessica said hesitantly, “but – I- I told Rosamund about your accident.”

“Of course I don’t mind,” Mary Lou said.

Jessica held out the card that Rosamund had made. “She sent you this to wish you get well soon. She’s very clever at making things like this, when she’s well enough, that is.”

Mary Lou took the little card and her eyes filled with tears. It was very simple, just a drawing of some pretty flowers, but the greeting inside was heartfelt and she couldn’t help but think how lucky Jessica was to have found such a step sister.

“This is wonderful,” Mary Lou told Jessica warmly. “I’ve got your address, and I’ll write and tell her thank you. It’s really thoughtful of her.”

“Yes,” Jessica agreed, “but Rosamund is like that. She always thinks of other people.”

Jessica’s first term at the Chalet School was over. She was quite silent on the journey back to Britain. There had been a mix up over train seats at Berne, and the Gang (who had temporarily co-opted Jessica) were split up, Hilary, Vi, Barbara and Lesley being in a separate compartment. Jessica was with Clare and Prunella and some Senior Middles at the opposite end of the train. Clare and Prunella, both sensitive by now to Jessica’s moods, left her to it and didn’t try to interfere. They knew she would talk when she was ready. Clare pressed some boiled sweets on the girl and then she and Prunella turned to the magazine they were sharing. Jessica, who had been lucky enough to get a window seat, stared unseeingly at the scenery as it sped by.

What an idiot she had made of herself, she thought. She wanted to blush every time she remembered the awful things she had done and the nasty things she had said about the school. She was very lucky that the Chalet girls were a friendly, forgiving bunch. She doubted that Beth and Charlotte would have been so ready to forgive her and be her friend again. Jessica did blush when she came to that point in her musings. It wasn’t just at the Chalet School that she had been horrible. She remembered the way she had treated Beth at Redferne and the easy way in which she had flung Natalie and Natasha’s friendship back in their faces. Suddenly, Jessica was able to see herself and her actions from others’ points of view. What a horrible, spiteful nuisance she had been and all because she had been jealous of a harmless girl.

The question now, Jessica thought, was how to make up for the things she had done. She would write to Beth and Charlotte, she decided. They still lived in town and perhaps they would even be able to meet up and be friends again. As for Natalie and Natasha, Jessica felt that it was a case of least said soonest mended. She had only been at Cor Lan for two terms. Most folk had probably already forgotten her existence. It was best to leave that alone.

And what about the Chalet School? How best to make her amends there? The solution was obvious, Jessica realised. All she had to do was work hard and play hard from now on in and become the sort of that the Chalet School prided itself on turning out. It didn’t mean becoming a goody goody. The Gang all knew how to have a good time, and yet their work was always up to standard and they were respectful to authority. If she worked hard and kept her end up in class, people would soon forget the disruptive behaviour of her first term. She would work at sport, too. She still loved netball with a passion and the practice she had put in this term had paid off. Jessica knew that Kat felt she had a lot of potential and it was likely that she would make the team next term. Even hockey, which she had previously despised, had turned out to be not so bad when she put some effort in. She would never be fond of hockey as she was of netball, but she had it in her to be a competent player.

Yes, Jessica thought, next term would be very different.

When the girls eventually arrived, weary and dusty, at London, Jessica became expectant. A letter from her mother had arrived the day before and promised her a “surprise” at the station. Wondering what on earth this could mean, Jessica waved goodbye to Clare and Prunella and looked around the platform. She was nervous. What if Adam had come alone to fetch her? What on earth would she say to him? It would be much easier if her mother were there, too.

But there was no sign of Adam as Jessica searched keenly amongst the throngs on the platform. Then, as the crowds began to clear, she saw a familiar face in the distance, and a well-loved figure by its side. Grabbing Miss Wilmot, who was on escort duty, most unceremoniously and yelling, “That’s me! See you next term!”, Jessica whisked up her night case and went haring off down the platform to throw herself into Miss Winter’s arms. She then turned to Spud, who was waiting as patiently as always at Miss Winter’s feet. Jessica had missed Spud immensely.

“Oh, Spud!” she buried her face in his warm, soft fur and he nuzzled her with the tip of his nose. When she looked up, he planted little wet kisses on her face which made her giggle. Then she stood up and looked at Miss Winter.

“Mother said there would be a surprise waiting for me,” she told the governess. “I never thought it would be such a lovely one. Thank you for coming for me and for bringing Spud.”

Miss Winter was amazed at the difference in Jessica. The permanent scowl and black look had gone from her face and her forehead had begun to uncrease itself. Her smile reached her eyes and she looked happy and content. Could this really be the same, difficult, unhappy girl she had seen off in Paris so many months ago.

Miss Winter’s face betrayed none of this as she said, “We know how much you must have missed Spud. He’s missed you, too, and we thought you’d like to see each other straight away.”

“Thank you,” Jessica repeated and her eyes shone. “I – I’ve missed you, as well, Miss Winter,” she said shyly. “May I take his lead?”

Miss Winter handed Spud’s lead to Jessica and took her night case in return. They began to walk onto the concourse and towards the branch line that would take them back to Moorlands.

“I have missed Spud, of course,” Jessica went on. “There are very few dogs on the Platz. Mrs Maynard who lives next door to the school has a St Bernard but he’s very badly behaved. He practically knocked me over last week. Mrs Maynard thought it was very funny,” Jessica added in a puzzled voice. She could not understand how Mrs Maynard, who she had met several times now, could dote so much on Bruno and yet allow him to misbehave so badly.

“It sounds like he’s been trained badly,” Miss Winter said. “There’s nothing worse than a badly trained dog, especially when it’s a big dog like a St Bernard. They can cause a lot of trouble. Well, Jessica, I hope you’ve got your walking legs on. Spud could do with some of your patent long walks.”

“I’m looking forward to it,” Jessica assured her. “We go for a lot of walks and rambles at school, but somehow it’s not the same without a dog to keep you company.”

The conversation continued in this way the whole way back to Moorlands. Miss Winter was astounded at the change in the girl. It was nothing short of a miracle, and she was glad. Of course, it was time Jessica began to grow up and appreciate that she was not the most important person in the world and if this new school had done that for her then the Chalet School had Miss Winter’s vote every time.

At the station, there was another surprise waiting on Jessica. There, waiting behind the ticket, was Emily. Paying no heed to other travellers, Jessica pushed and shoved her way past the ticket collector and launched herself into her mother’s arms. It was so long since she’d shown Emily any affection that both of them were close to tears as they hugged.

Emily pushed Jessica away at last and examined her daughter from head to toe. She was very pleased with what she saw and hugged her again.

“Come on,” she said eventually, grinning at Miss Winter who was observing the touching scene from afar, “Adam has the car in the car park and there’s someone at home who’s dying to see you.”

Jessica’s greeting for Adam was quieter and more guarded than those for Miss Winter and her mother, but there was no mistaking the sincerity in her voice when she told him she was glad to see him and thanked him for bringing the car for her. The old Jessica would not even have considered thanking anyone for putting themselves out for her.

As they grew nearer to Moorlands, Jessica became more nervous. It was Rosamund she was really shy of seeing again. She knew that her letters had paved the way for her return, but it would still be difficult for both the girls. Adam dropped off Miss Winter and Spud after Miss Winter had extracted a promise from Jessica to go on a long walk together at the weekend, and the car continued the short distance to Moorlands.

Both Adam and Emily knew how Jessica was feeling. Indeed, they were nervous themselves. The change in Jessica was drastic, but would seeing Rosamund in the flesh bring back all the old discontent and jealousy?

Rosamund was waiting in the living room. It was past her bedtime, but she had insisted on being allowed to stay up to see her step sister return home. She, too, was apprehensive about the meeting but she felt sure deep down that everything would be fine.

Tactfully, Adam and Emily went straight to the kitchen to put the kettle on, allowing the girls to have their reunion to themselves. Jessica entered the room hesitantly. Rosamund was on her invalid couch, working on a little embroidery. She looked up at the sound of Jessica’s footsteps and put her work down beside her. She gave a little smile and looked for one from Jessica. Rosamund got more than she bargained for, for Jessica, suddenly overcome with emotion, burst into tears.

“Oh, don’t cry!” Rosamund exclaimed. “It’s all right, really it is.”

Jessica scrubbed her eyes and pulled herself together. She went over to the couch and sat down beside Rosamund.

“I – I,” she stammered, “it’s nice to see you again,”

“Welcome home!” Rosamund said. “I – I’d like it if we could be friends. What do you think?”

“Oh, I’d love to!” Jessica had been unsure of Rosamund’s reception. She had seemed to respond to the letters matily enough, but when the crunch came would Rosamund treat Jessica in the same way that she had been treated? It was not in Rosamund to bear grudges, hence her generous offer of friendship. Jessica, her anger and jealousy more or less forgotten, accepted with alacrity. She had a feeling that Rosamund would be a fine friend to have. Jessica held out her hand, but Rosamund ignored it. Instead, with some difficulty, she pulled herself over to Jessica and hugged her step sister. Jessica, taken aback, froze for a moment, but then relaxed and returned the hug happily.

Jessica released herself after a while and fished about in her pocket. She drew out a tiny, wooden carved bear which she offered to Rosamund.

“I thought you might like this,” she said nervously. “I bought it on one of our rambles and I know you like collecting animals and things.”

Rosamund took the little gift with obvious pleasure. “Oh, Jessica, it’s lovely! Thank you so much!”

Mary Lou had been right. Everything really was going to be fine.

There was one last thing to do before Jessica went to sleep that evening. Emily came up to say goodnight to her daughter, and Jessica took the chance to put things right once and for all.

“Mother, I – I wanted to tell you how sorry I am,” she began, but Emily interrupted.

“I know you are, Jessica. Your letters showed that and you’ve shown by your behaviour tonight that you want to make a fresh start. There’s no need to torture yourself by making explanations. It’s obvious to me that you’re much happier and that you’re enjoying your new school. I’m so very proud of you. Let’s draw a line over everything and start anew. How does that sound?”

“I’d like that,” Jessica said, knowing that she had no right to have things made so easy for her. “But I am sorry, even so.”

Emily hugged Jessica to her. “It’s forgotten,” she promised. “And now, it’s Christmas next week and Rosamund and I are counting on your help to make decorations and get everything ready. Are you up for it?”

“Yes. I think it will be fun,” Jessica said. She would have scoffed at this in previous years, but now she really did think it would be fun to work together to make the house festive and it would be a wonderful opportunity to get to know her family.

”It will just be us for Christmas this year,” Emily explained, “and Miss Winter, of course. She’s practically family, anyway, and we couldn’t leave her out. You and her will want to take Spud for a good, long tramp after Christmas dinner, I expect. On Boxing Day, we’ve been invited to the new minister’s for dinner. You haven’t met him as he only started after you went off to Switzerland, but he’s a charming man. I’ve become quite good friends with his wife. They have twin sons, who are just a year older than you, and a daughter who is Rosamund’s age, so they will be company for you girls. How does that sound?”

“Lovely. I – I’m looking forward to it.”

Emily bent over and kissed Jessica. She left the bed room, turning out the light as she went and Jessica rolled over and was soon fast asleep, sleeping the first contented sleep she had ever experienced at Moorlands.

On waking next morning, Jessica took the difficult decision to make good on her promise to herself to write to Beth and Charlotte and apologise for her behaviour to them and for getting them into so much trouble. True, they had followed her willingly in most cases, but had she led them in a more positive direction much of the grief they had experienced would have been avoided. In particular, she felt she owed Beth an apology for tripping her up in art class. Jessica saw now what a cruel and cowardly thing that had been to do and she cringed when she thought of it.

These were hard letters to write, even harder than the ones she had first written to her mother and Rosamund. Jessica had known that her family would forgive her and allow her to make. Friends were different and she didn’t know whether Beth and Charlotte would find it in their hearts to let bygones be bygones.

Eventually, the letters were written and Jessica asked Adam politely at breakfast if he would post them in town when he went into work. Then she settled back to wait on the replies in some trepidation.

The rest of that first day back at Moorlands was spent with Rosamund and Emily. Emily was teaching Rosamund a new crochet stitch and Jessica, who was not a particularly gifted crocheter, feigned interest nonetheless and actually found herself picking up the stitch and enjoying it. She began to think that her campaign to be decent to Rosamund would not be as much hard work as she had suspected. Rosamund was such an easy character to get along with. She loved to be spoken too and Jessica had lots of stories to tell her about school. She asked Jessica to help her with her latest jigsaw puzzle which Jessica did happily, trying not to remember the time she had deliberately stamped on some of her pieces. Rosamund, it seemed, had forgotten all about Jessica’s past behaviour and she was trying as hard as Jessica to put the past behind them.

Emily, watching the two girls bent over the jigsaw puzzle, smiled and blessed her erstwhile wayward daughter silently.

After dinner that evening, Rosamund and Jessica were in the living room and Jessica was telling her step-sister all about the trip to Zurich and the Falls of the Rhine. She had already described this in detail in her letters, but Rosamund wanted to hear about it from the horse’s mouth.

“It sounds wonderful!” Rosamund sighed when Jessica had finished. “It must be so exciting to be at school abroad and to be able to visit so many new places.”

“It is,” Jessica agreed. “I didn’t appreciate it at first, but now I see how lucky I am.”

“I do wish I could see Switzerland,” Rosamund breathed wistfully. “It sounds like such a beautiful country, with the mountains and lakes and snow. But I don’t suppose I shall ever be out of England.”

“Why?” Jessica demanded. “Switzerland is a simply marvellous place for invalids. Lots of people go there to recover from sickness or get their strength back. There’s a Sanatorium on the Platz. People with TB go there to get better, and there’s a girl – Leila – she’s on the Platz because she needs an operation and has to build her strength up before they can do it. Maybe you could go there, too. I’m sure it would make you feel heaps better.”

“Father would never allow it,” Rosamund said, dolefully. “He worries so about me. He’d never let me go all that way by myself.”

“You wouldn’t be by yourself. The school is right there on the Platz, and why couldn’t your father come too? And my mother”

“Do you really think it could be possible?” Rosamund sounded hopeful. “It would be so exciting!”

Jessica, of course, had no right to put such ideas into Rosamund’s head. The complications of organising such a trip were many, even if Rosamund was declared fit enough to make the journey.

“Why don’t we ask?” Jessica said, enthusiastically.

”Ask what?” Adam asked, as he and Emily entered the room after clearing dinner away. Emily carried a tray with tea and Adam wheeled Rosamund’s chair closer to the fire.

“What is it, Jessica?” Emily queried, setting the tray down on the table and serving tea for everyone.

Jessica was suddenly shy, realising what a big thing she had just suggested.

“Well – er…” she began, taking the tea offered to her but refusing a biscuit, “I just wondered if – if Rosamund could come out to the Platz.”

Adam, who had just taken a rather large mouthful of tea, coughed and choked and he put his cup back down on the table before he spilled the hot liquid all over him.

“What?” he demanded.

Jessica was silent. Adam sounded angry and she hadn’t meant to upset anyone, but Rosamund answered for her.

”Oh, couldn’t I?” she pleaded. “Jessica told me that lots of sick people go to Switzerland to get strong again. Couldn’t I go, too?”

This time, Adam and Emily were stunned into silence. Such an idea had never occurred to them and, at first, Adam was inclined to ridicule the whole idea.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Rosamund,” he said when he had recovered his voice. “I’m sorry, darling, but it’s simply out of the question.”

“But, why?” Rosamund asked.

“Well, there’s the journey for one thing. How would you get there, and where would you stay? No, I’m sorry, it’s just not possible. You must put the idea out of your head.”

Rosamund was downcast and Jessica, seeing her face, felt guilty for bringing the idea up in the first place. She should have kept her mouth shut.

But, after the girls had gone to bed, the conversation between Emily and Adam turned to Jessica’s idea.

“Is it really such an impossible idea?” Emily asked. “The girls are perfectly right. Many invalids go to Switzerland. The air in the Alps is so splendid for convalescents.”

“Rosamund’s not convalescent,” Adam pointed out, a little shortly.

“No, she’s not, but she is unwell and perhaps the change would do her good. You remember that friend of Lucia Gordon’s? She went out to Switzerland for a month after having a terrible bout of flu and she came back stronger than ever.”

”Switzerland won’t cure Rosamund,” Adam was not comfortable with this conversation.

“But it might make her stronger. You know yourself she’s not been sleeping well and the pain caused by her growth has weakened her. Don’t you think it might be worth thinking about?”

Adam looked at Emily’s earnest face. Was there something in this half-brained idea of Jessica’s, he wondered.

“Well,” he said slowly, “it’s certainly true that the air of the Alps is bracing and strengthening, but I just don’t know. It’s not as if Rosamund has just had flu or chicken pox or something. She has something much more serious. It’s a long journey. Wouldn’t it be too tiring for her?”

“Other people manage,” Emily said. “And it might be worth the long journey to put some colour back in her cheeks.”

Adam was silent, considering. Perhaps he shouldn’t knock this idea so quickly.

“You could have a word with Rosamund’s doctor and see what he says,” Emily went on. “If he says it’s out of the question for her, then we’ll say no more about it, but he might think it’s worth a try.”

“Very well,” Adam said, making his mind up swiftly. “I’ll talk to the doctor when he comes tomorrow. He’s bringing those new painkillers for her. If he thinks it’s a possibility, then we’ll see. There will be such a lot to arrange.”

The doctor arrived early next morning. Rosamund had passed another restless night. The pain in her back had been severe and she had been awake for most of the night. Emily had sat with her for some of the time until Adam sent her to bed, when he managed to doze in the armchair by the bed. The doctor ummed and ahhed around Rosamund, examining her and prodding her and generally making the poor girl feel even worse than before. He declared that trying the new painkillers was the best that could be done at the moment, along with lots of bed rest. Rosamund was likely to suffer similar pain until her growing years were over.

Adam saw the doctor out and brought up the Switzerland idea out of Rosamund’s hearing. At first, Dr Brown looked incredulous. He had only been looking after Rosamund for six months, following the retirement of her previous doctor, and his immediate reaction was the same as Adam’s – that the poor girl was in no fit state the make the journey across Europe to Switzerland. However, Dr Brown had to admit that there was little else he could do for the girl and, in the long term, the trip would not do her any harm. She could rest long and hard when they arrived in Switzerland and if they stayed for eight or ten weeks, she should have built up plenty of reserve strength for the return journey. In fact, he thought, the idea was not as ridiculous as he had first thought. A stay in the bracing air of the Alps might just be what Rosamund needed, not just to build her strength up but also to give her a new interest in life and a change of scenery.

“Leave it with me,” Dr Brown told Adam. “I’ll make some enquiries of a connection I have at the Gornetz Platz and I’ll be in touch with you.”

Adam told only Emily of this conversation. He did not want to mention it Rosamund in case it came to nothing and, if Jessica was told, she would want, in her excitement, to share the news with Rosamund.

A few days later, a letter arrived for Jessica. She had been very busy around the house, helping Emily and Rosamund make Christmas decorations, spending time with her step-sister and generally helping out around the house to make things easier for Emily. She had also managed to spend time with Miss Winter and Spud and had put in several long walks. She had also discovered that it was quite pleasant to take Rosamund out in her chair for short walks, though the other girl would not hear of Spud coming along.

Emily gave the letter to Jessica at breakfast, but she did not open it then, preferring to wait until she was back in the privacy of her bedroom. It would be from Beth or Charlotte as it had a local postmark, and she was nervous as to what it would say. Jessica helped impatiently with the clearing up and then took herself off to her bedroom where she ripped open the envelope and began to read the contents of the one sheet eagerly.

“Dear Jessica,” she read. “Thank you for your letter. It was very nice to hear from you and I’m glad that you have settled in at your new school. Switzerland sounds very exciting.

“Of course I accept your apology. We’ve grown up a lot since we last saw each other and I’m sure things are very different for you now. I love my little sister, too, now, and I can’t believe I ever thought of her as a burden. I’m still best friends with Beth and we hope to go to university together.

“I hope that you make lots of nice friends at your new school and that you’ll continue to be happy there,

“Yours, Charlotte.”

Jessica put the letter down in disappointment. It was not a cruel letter, but it was obvious that Charlotte did not want to continue their friendship. Jessica had really hoped that she and Charlotte could meet up and maybe renew their acquaintance. Charlotte clearly had other ideas. Giving a mental shrug, Jessica put the letter away in her desk. She was determined not to use this as an excuse to slip back into her old ways and so the best thing to do was to forget about it. She had made her amends and that was all she could do.

Jessica never did hear back from Beth.

Next day, the day before Christmas Eve, Jessica shyly asked Emily if she could take the bus and do some Christmas shopping in town. Jessica had been so busy since her return from school that there had been no time to do any shopping for Christmas presents. In previous years, she hadn’t bothered and had relied on Emily to buy presents for her or to drag her, unwilling, to the shops. This year, she wanted to choose her own presents. Emily agreed straight away and offered to accompany Jessica. It would be a chance for the two of them to do something by themselves. Emily occasionally took Rosamund into town when Adam was able to drive them. It was not possible to take the invalid chair on the bus and town would be very busy with last minute shoppers so it was not practical for the younger girl to come. Rosamund watched Emily and Jessica getting ready resignedly and settled down for an afternoon reading her latest novel. Emily promised to bring cakes back for tea to cheer her up.

Jessica and Emily had a marvellous afternoon. They went for tea and cakes first and, when they’d had their fill and Emily had arranged to collect a magnificent chocolate cake when they’d done their shopping, they set off round the shops. Town was mobbed and Jessica felt she had never seen so many people, but there was a festive atmosphere and everyone was in good spirits, not minding the length of time it took to get served. Jessica was delighted with the presents she bought – a pretty, girlish bracelet for Rosamund and a new tie for Adam. She managed to sneak off by herself and bought Emily a little flagon of her favourite perfume. When she got back to Moorlands, she took great pains to wrap the parcels up and make them look as pretty as possible. It felt good to her to be able to do something like this for her family.

On Christmas Eve, Dr Brown paid Adam a surprise visit. Guessing that he had come about the possibility of the Switzerland trip, Adam took the doctor into the study, not wanting either of the girls to overhear.

”Good news, Sefton,” the doctor told Adam heartily. “I’ve spoken with an old colleague of mine who works at the San on the Gornetz Platz, Phil Graves. He says they’d be delighted to take Rosamund for eight weeks or so from the middle of January, or whenever suits you. They’ve got a private room free and it’s yours if you want it.”

Adam wasn’t quite sure whether to be glad or not. He had not seriously thought that there was any likelihood of the trip coming off and was a bit taken aback to find out that it could be arranged so easily.

“What about travel?” he asked. “Is Rosamund fit enough for the journey?”

“Oh, I think so,” Dr Brown said consideringly. “I think the benefits of spending a couple of months in the Alps will more than compensate for the discomforts of travelling. You have two options, there. You can hire a motor ambulance and go by road, stopping at various points on the way for Rosamund to rest. That would take about a week, depending on Rosamund copes with the journey.”

“And the other option?” Adam asked, not really liking the idea of his girl being cooped up in an ambulance for so long.

“Flying. You can go from London and it’s not a long flight. We’d need to give Rosamund some strong painkillers as she wouldn’t be able to have her special chair on board, but you’d be in Switzerland in no time at all. The San would send an ambulance to the airport for her, though you’d probably want to overnight at an hotel before continuing the trip.”

Adam considered. “If we’re really thinking about doing this, I think flying sounds like the best option. Although it will cause Rosamund some discomfort in the short term, she’ll be in Switzerland and at the San much sooner than if we went by road. Also, I won’t be able to take more than a week or so off work and I’d like to see her settled at the San before coming back to England, though Emily will stay with her, of course.”

“Then you’d best get in touch with the airport as soon as possible and get your seats booked,” Dr Brown advised. “When were you thinking of leaving?”

“The last week in January. I have some leave I need to take before February, so that would be perfect. Rosamund can have the room for eight weeks, you say?”

“That’s right. It’s not needed at the moment.”

“And what about Emily?” Adam asked. “She’ll need somewhere to stay.”

“That won’t be a problem. There’s a very good pension, the Pension Lendl, about a ten minute stroll from the San. Graves has checked with them and they have a room for Emily for the duration. You needn’t worry about her being lonely, either. There’s a large British community on the Platz, and Graves’ wife – Hilary, she used to teach at your daughter’s school – has already invited Emily for Kaffee und Kuchen, as they call afternoon tea out there.”

“Then it seems to be pretty much settled,” Adam said in some wonderment. “I must admit, when Jessica first brought up the idea it seemed like pie in the sky, but now I can see that it might do Rosamund a lot of good.”

“Absolutely. She’ll be in the best possible hands out there. The Chalet School is just around the corner, as well, so she won’t want for company, either.”

“In that case,” Adam said, “if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go and break the happy news and then get straight on to the airline. When I’ve confirmed the booking and the dates, would you be good enough to contact the San about the ambulance and arrange for Emily to be booked in at the pension?”

“No problem, Sefton,” Dr Brown agreed, getting to his feet. “I almost wish I was coming with you!”

Adam saw the good doctor to his car and then sought out Emily. He wanted to run this by her before making an absolutely final decision as she would need to spend eight weeks, away from him, in Switzerland with Rosamund. He needn’t have worried that Emily wouldn’t be keen. She saw immediately the benefit that Rosamund would get from the trip and she herself had been abroad only a few times in the past. It would be quite exciting.

The next thing was to break the news to the girls. Jessica had forgotten about the suggestion she had made so thoughtlessly. Adam had said it was out of the question, and therefore there was no point dwelling on it. Rosamund had not forgotten about it, though she put any hope of actually being able to go out of her head. When she heard what Adam had to say, Rosamund burst in to tears.

“Come now,” Adam said briskly, “don’t get yourself into a state or you’ll end up in bed tomorrow and you don’t want that on Christmas day, do you?”

Most emphatically, Rosamund did not and she managed to pull herself together, though she didn’t know how she was to contain herself for the next four weeks. Jessica, too, was thrilled. Now Mary Lou and the others could meet Rosamund, instead of just writing to her and Jessica knew how the prospect of making new friends would boost the lonely girl. It says a lot for Jessica that she was excited for Rosamund and was not jealous at the thought of her step sister sharing her friends.

So, the decision was made. Rosamund was to fly to Switzerland in the last week in January and stay at the San until the end of March. Jessica was somewhat jealous that Rosamund was to get the chance to go in an airplane, while she herself must return to school by train, but she did not allow this to ruin her happiness for the other girl.

Leaving the three females to chat excitedly about the coming trip, Adam retired to the study to book the flights and to confirm to Dr Brown that Rosamund would be going to Switzerland.

Christmas itself was almost an anti-climax for Rosamund after this, though she thoroughly enjoyed the day and exclaimed in delight at the little bracelet that Jessica had given her. Jessica had received a Kodak from Rosamund – helped out by her father – and she was absolutely thrilled with the gift. Many of the girls at school had cameras and Jessica had often wished she had one so that she could capture that beauty of the Alps. Christmas dinner was a delicious meal, enjoyed by the Seftons, Jessica and Miss Winter and afterwards every retired to the living room to play paper games. Jessica had a wonderful time and she went to bed that night thinking how much happier she had been since she had gone to the Chalet School. It was obvious to her Adam, Emily and Rosamund were happier too, and she was glad for it.

Boxing Day was spent at the new minister’s, where Jessica and Rosamund found some new friends in his children.

Jessica was almost disappointed when the holidays came to an end, though she was looking forward to the new term at the Chalet School. She would miss Spud and Miss Winter, of course, but she would see Adam, Emily and Rosamund again soon as they made the long journey out to the San at the end of the month. Jessica expected that she and her friends would be able to spend a lot of time with Rosamund and she was looking forward to it.

On her return to school, Jessica was a little disappointed to discover that Mary Lou, along with Lesley, Vi, Hilary and Clare had been promoted to Va. Jessica had hoped that they would all remain in the same form so that she could really make an effort to get to know the girls properly. Prunella, however, remained in Vb, as did Barbara and Verity so Jessica wasn’t completely without companionship. In any case, Mary Lou was doing her usual and had taken another new girl under wing, with the help of such of the Gang as was in Va. Nina Rutherford was a musical genius and looked to be almost as much of a problem for the school as Jessica herself had been.

Jessica was a little put out at this. She saw herself as Mary Lou’s protégé and was not happy to have to take a back seat to Nina. There was no help for it, though, as the girls were in different forms. There was plenty time to see each other out of school, but during lessons there was not a chance. For a second, Jessica felt the old mulishness coming over her but then she remembered her exciting news and asked Mary Lou if they could have a chat. Mary Lou was interested to hear about Jessica’s holidays in person. The two had written a few lines to each other, but Mary Lou had been concentrating on her convalescence and had not had as much time for correspondence with her friends as she would have liked. The two arranged to meet up after Kaffee und Kuchen on the third day of school by which time Jessica was almost bursting with the news.

“Rosamund’s coming to Switzerland?” Mary Lou gasped. The news was unexpected indeed. “How marvellous for her!”

“Isn’t it?” Jessica agreed happily.

Mary Lou thought inwardly that the change in Jessica was also something quite marvellous. If it had been suggested last term that Rosamund should come out to the Platz, Jessica would have been furious at what she would have thought of as Rosamund inveigling herself into another part of her life. But here was Jessica, thrilled at the thought of her step sister having such a treat.

“It’ll do her the world of good,” Jessica went on in an elderly sort of way that made Mary Lou smile. “It’s just what she needs.”

“I’m sure it is,” Mary Lou agreed gravely. “The air here is so splendid for invalids. I’m sure she’ll feel heaps better in no time.”

“It won’t cure her though, will it?” Jessica asked, sad suddenly.

Mary Lou shook her head. “Definitely not. But she’ll build up her strength and feel much better in herself. And… oh, I say! She’ll be able to come to the pantomime.”

“And the sale!” Jessica cried. She had forgotten about these momentous events and had not really paid that much attention to them last term. “She’ll be allowed to come, won’t she?”

“I don’t see why not. She’ll adore the panto,” Mary Lou said. “It’ll be such fun for us to meet her, too. I’ve had some lovely letters from her and I know the others have written to her.”

“Maybe she’ll be able to come to the School if we have any Evenings like last term,” Jessica suggested.

“We’re sure to. And Aunt Joey will want to meet her. And there’s the Graves and the Peters. She won’t want for friends.”

“I think Dr Graves is a friend of our doctor back home and its through him Mother and Rosamund are coming.”

“That’s splendid, Jessica. I’m so happy for Rosamund. And for you. You’ll be able to show your mother the school and introduce her to your friends.”

“It’s… it’s a shame we’re not in the same form anymore,” Jessica said quietly.

“That’s the way of things here,” Mary Lou told her breezily. “Lots of friends and groups get split up because people move up or stay down. There’ll still be plenty of time for the Gang to see each other. We share a common room and there’s walks and so on. Don’t you worry, Jessica! Just work hard and maybe you’ll get a remove next term.”

“I’ve still got a lot of work to make up,” Jessica said mournfully, painfully aware of how much work she still had to catch up on to even meet the standards of Vb.

“Put the hours in and you’ll soon find yourself going forward,” Mary Lou assured her. “You’re not a dunce.”

With which words of praise the two girls had to go their separate ways, Mary Lou to an extra history lesson and Jessica to Miss Lawrence for her remedial singing lessons. Jessica went off slightly happier, assured that Mary Lou and she would still be friends and that everyone would do all in her power to make Rosamund feel welcome.

Meanwhile, back at Moorlands, preparations were underway for the trip. There was a new wardrobe to buy for Rosamund. None of her clothes were suitable for the biting winter in the Alps. Emily, too, needed warm clothes and the pair spent an afternoon in a big department store in town selecting what they would need. Rosamund felt that she enjoyed that trip almost as much as she was looking forward to the trip abroad. It was rare that she went shopping. The crowds made her nervous and it was difficult to manoeuvre the chair through the aisles. She forgot about all this in the delight of new dresses, warm trousers and jumpers, pretty night ware and cosy hats.

Then there was packing to be done. It was decided that the best idea was to pack a trunk for Emily and Rosamund. They were going for eight weeks and suitcases just wouldn’t be big enough. It meant that the trunk had to be ready and sent off a week before they themselves were due to fly and it was hectic work for Emily getting everything ready. Rosamund helped where she could but she was so wound up about the trip that she wearied quickly and had to rest as much as possible. Adam did not want her to arrive in Switzerland so worn out that she could do nothing but sleep when she got there.

Emily had decided to write to Miss Annersley to tell her of their impending visit and to ask if Jessica would be able to spend some time with Rosamund. Miss Annersley wrote back, warmly inviting Emily to Kaffee und Kuchen to discuss things. She also suggested that perhaps Rosamund would be able to come to the Chalet School on occasions for some lessons in English literature she was taking with the Upper Fourths that term.

Eventually, the great day arrived. Thanks to a small dose slipped into Rosamund’s bedtime milk, the girl slept well and awoke refreshed and ready to face the long day ahead of her. She was almost shaking with excitement as Emily helped her to dress. She would have turned down breakfast, but Emily stood over her step daughter, ensuring she made her normal healthy meal.

A taxi arrived to take the family to the airport in London. Rosamund was amazed with the airport. She had never seen anything like it. She had seen planes in the sky, of course, but had never been close up to one and had certainly never thought she would ever get to fly in one. After they had checked in, Adam found seats for them in the restaurant next to the window where Rosamund could watch the planes as they taxied down the runway and took off. Her book lay untouched on the table before her, so entranced was she.

She was even more excited when it came time to board the plane. Adam had arranged for them to board the plane first so that Rosamund could be settled before the other passengers embarked. He had booked four seats for them so that Rosamund had room to make herself more comfortable. It was not a long flight, but she was likely to suffer from some stiffness, especially after she had already spent two hours in a taxi. Rosamund took it all in good form and settled herself as best she could in the narrow seats, fastening her seat belt. Adam and Emily sat across the aisle from her, ready to help her if needs be.

The engines began and the propellers started to turn. Rosamund gave a little gulp and clutched at the seat rests with both hands. It had been one thing to watch planes take off from the safety of the restaurant, but quite another to actually experience it for herself! She gripped so tightly that her knuckles turned white and Emily reached out and placed a reassuring hand on top of the girl’s. Emily was nervous herself, having never liked the idea of flying, but she would not let Rosamund know how she felt. Adam, in turn, held Emily’s free hand. The plane gathered speed and Rosamund found herself pushed back into her seat uncomfortably as it left the ground and began to climb into the air at an angle that was quite disconcerting. It soon flattened out and the noise from the engines became less. Gazing out of the window, Rosamund could see the city below becoming smaller and smaller. Soon, all she could see were clouds. Both Rosamund and Emily began to relax.

The stewardesses began to go through the cabin, serving tea, coffee and sandwiches. Rosamund hungrily tucked into hers, though she had made a good breakfast and had had toast at the airport. Travelling was certainly giving her a good appetite. Emily, still unsure about this great flying metal tube, drank several cups of tea and then wished she hadn’t as it meant she had to get up from her seat to go to the toilet and the plane seemed to lurch in a most alarming manner.

Rosamund dozed off after her sandwiches, as did Adam. Emily didn’t want to close her eyes – just in case – but dug a book out of her bag and was soon fathoms deep.

The journey was a short one and Rosamund was just opening her eyes as the plane began its descent. In no time at all, they had disembarked and had collected their luggage. Rosamund’s chair had arrived safely and she felt much more comfortable in it than she had done on the plane. Her back was aching quite a lot and she longed to lie down. They were to spend the night at a hotel close to the airport and the ambulance from the San would arrive at lunchtime the following day. Rosamund was too worn out to complete the journey in one day and the adults, too, were glad of the chance to rest.

The ambulance arrived after lunch next day and Dr Graves himself came to escort Rosamund, though strictly speaking that was not necessary. Rosamund was settled into the stretcher bed and strapped in securely, though in such a position so that she could see the stunning scenery out of the large picture window. She had never known such mountains existed nor seen such fluffy white snow.

They drove slowly to the San and reached the hospital in time for dinner. Rosamund was wheeled to the simple room that was to be hers for the next eight weeks. There was a bunch of fresh flowers on the bedside table which gave the room a warm, welcoming atmosphere, though Emily wondered where they came from in the middle of winter. There was also a welcome card which had been signed by Jessica and the Gang which Rosamund was thrilled over. A young nurse came to help Rosamund get settled, but Emily preferred to do this herself and so the nurse chatted in a friendly manner, getting to know her new charge. Emily got Rosamund into something more comfortable and into bed. The girl lay down thankfully as her back was throbbing painfully and she had been wondering how much longer she could endure sitting for.

“Is it very bad?” the nurse asked, seeing the spasm of pain cross the girl’s face.

Rosamund nodded, giving a little grimace.

“The doctor is going to come and see you before dinner. He’ll give you something to ease it and to give you a comfortable night.”

Rosamund gave her a grateful look and sank her head back into the pillows. She couldn’t believe how tired she was. She felt herself drifting in and out of an uneasy doze, but the pain kept shocking her back into reality and she hoped the doctor wouldn’t be long.

Dr Graves was back soon and immediately ordered painkillers for the girl. He didn’t like the look of her and it was imperative that she had a good night’s sleep. The last two days had taken their toll and she would need to rest for several days before she was well enough for visitors.

Once Rosamund was more comfortable and drowsy from the dose the doctor had administered, Emily and Adam kissed her goodbye and went to search for the car that was to take them the short distance to the Pension Lendl which was to be Emily’s base for the near future. The Pension was charming, and Frau Lendl was a friendly, cheerful soul who greeted the Seftons as if they had known each other for years. She served them a filling meal and then took them up to the large, airy room set aside for them. Emily looked at the comfortable room in delight and knew that she would be very cosy here, if a bit lonely.

They were not to go back to the San until the morrow. Dr Graves was keen for Rosamund to get as much sleep as she could; however, he had arranged for himself and his wife, Hilary – an ex-Chalet School mistress – to visit the Pension Lendl that evening. Dr Graves was aware that Adam would not be staying long and he wanted to discuss Rosamund’s care. He also wanted to introduce Hilary to Emily in the hope that Hilary would be company for the other woman once her husband had gone.

The Graves turned out to be delightful people and Hilary and Emily liked each other on sight.

“You won’t have a chance to be lonely, Emily,” Hilary assured her new friend. “There are heaps of British people up here, not to mention all the folk at the school. Over the next few days, I’ll make the introductions but I don’t want to bombard you with too many fresh faces all at once. Joey Maynard has invited you and Rosamund to Freudesheim for English tea on Monday next week.”

“Joey Maynard?” Emily queried.

“The original Chalet School girl,” Hilary explained. “Her sister started the school years ago in Tirol in the dark ages. Joey has never quite managed to leave school even though her girls are pupils there now. Her house is Freudesheim and its right next door to the school. She used to be Josephine Bettany.”

“Oh, but Jessica has some books by someone of that name,” Emily exclaimed. “They can’t be the same person, surely?”

“The very same. Joey is quite a productive author. Lots of her writing is based on things that happened to her at school.”

“How exciting! I’ve never met a real life author before.”

“Joey can be a bit much to take in all at once,” Hilary warned, “but her heart is in the right place and if you’re ever in trouble it’s certain Joey can help you out.”

“I’m looking forward to meeting her,” Emily said politely, though inwardly she was worrying that Joey Maynard sounded like rather a difficult person.

“And then there’s the Peters’,” Hilary continued. “Phoebe Peters spends much of her time in a wheelchair. She had rheumatic fever as a child and it’s left her very much an invalid. She’s looking forward to meeting Rosamund. Phoebe does exquisite needlework. Is Rosamund into that sort of thing?”

“Oh, yes, Rosamund’s very good with a needle. She’s always keen to learn new stitches and so on. Perhaps Miss Peters would be able to spend some time with her?”

“There’s nothing Phoebe would like more. Now, who else is there? Phil’s sister, Helen, of course. She’s the Matron at the San, so you’ll see a fair bit of her.”

The list went on and Emily was rather taken aback at the size of the British community on the Platz.

The talk turned to Rosamund and a plan of care was drawn up for her. Everyone was keen for her to make the most of her stay in Switzerland. It would have been pointless to travel all that way for her to spend most of her time in the San. Dr Graves was happy for her to get out and about as much as possible so long as she did not get overtired or cause her back undue stress. There were plenty of opportunities for her to get out and about on the Platz. As well as hordes of people to meet and visit, the main roads were well kept and the invalid chair could easily be taken on them, allowing her to see some of the amazing views. Adam had arranged for a car to be hired and to be at Emily’s disposal so that they could explore further afield if Rosamund was up to it and the weather allowed. There were several other shelves within easy distance, as well as Lake Thun and Interlaken to explore.

When the Graves had left, Adam turned to Emily.

“Are you feeling a bit happier now?”

“Much happier. I admit I was worried about being bored and lonely, but I don’t there will be time to be either. They’re such nice people.”

“Thank you for doing this for Rosamund, darling. The trip would have been impossible without you. There’s no way I could have got the time off work and I couldn’t have sent Rosamund out her on her own.” Adam bent down and kissed Emily tenderly. “Thank you.”

“Oh, don’t be silly!” Emily shrugged off his gratitude. “How could I not do it? Rosamund deserves a treat and I’m happy to give it to her. Besides, it sounds like it might be fun for me, too. All these new people I’m going to meet and new places to visit. I’m looking forward to it now. I’ll miss you, though.”

Adam gave Emily another kiss. “I’ll miss you, too. The house will be lonely without you to talk to and keep me company. Mrs Childs isn’t exactly a stimulating companion.”

“At least she’ll keep you well fed,” Emily laughed. “And Miss Winter will pop round as well. It’s worth us being apart for a while if it makes Rosamund happy.”

Next day, Emily and Adam went straight round to the San after breakfast. Rosamund had had a good night’s sleep, but her back was still bothersome and she had also developed a stiff neck so there was to be no going outside for several days. She was still tired and was not inclined to rail against this. The constant dull ache in her back made her weepy, too, and she hoped that it would soon go away as she didn’t want to spend the entire eight weeks cooped up in the San.

Dr Graves had decreed no visitors that day, including other San patients. There were two or three younger patients who would be company for Rosamund when she was feeling better. The decree extended to Jessica who chafed at the delay in seeing her step sister, though she was busy enough at school and did not dwell on things.

The next afternoon, Emily and Adam had a Kaffee und Kuchen appointment with Miss Annersley. Adam would be leaving for the airport straight afterwards and Emily was glad of the meeting to help take her mind off his imminent departure.

When coffee and cakes had been served and everyone had taken their fill, Miss Annersley turned to the business in hand.

“It’s so lovely to meet you at last,” she said. “We’re very happy with Jessica’s progress so far this term and we’re delighted that she seems to have settled in at last. We were rather worried about her last term.”

“I’m so glad she’s doing well,” Emily said shyly. “She’s no student, of course, but she does have some brains when she cares to use them.”

“Yes, I’ve spoken with her and told her that I see no reason why she should not move up a form next term if she keeps up the hard work. She has a lot of groundwork to make up, but she’s making strides and the mistresses all speak well of her.”

“Thank you for all you’ve done for her, Miss Annersley, especially with regards to the singing lessons. No-one has really taken the time before to explain to her why she can’t sing and to help her improve. It means such a lot to her.”

“As I said to Jessica, it’s unusual for anyone to be completely tone deaf. There are all sorts of exercises that can be done to help and Miss Lawrence tells me that Jessica is improving no end. She’ll never be a prima donna but she should be able to hold her own in class singing lessons in the near future. And now, how is Rosamund? How did she cope with the journey?”

“She’s still very tired and her back is giving her some trouble,” Adam said, “but it’s starting to wear off now and we’re hoping she’ll be up and about in the next day or two.”

”Splendid,” Miss Annersley said. “I know someone who is very impatient to visit the San.”

“We hope to invite Jessica to lunch at the San on Saturday,” Emily said. “That’s one of the reasons we wanted to see you. Will you be able to spare Jessica for the odd visit?”

“I don’t see why not,” the head said, “so long as it’s not in lesson time. With so much to catch up on, it’s important that Jessica doesn’t miss any school if it can be helped.”

“Weekend visits and evenings only,” Adam assured Miss Annersley. “I believe Jessica also has some friends who would like to visit Rosamund?”

“That would be the Gang,” Miss Annersley said, twinkling at the expression on the Sefton’s faces. “They’ve been writing to Rosamund, I understand?”

“Yes, it’s very kind of them,” Emily said.

“I’d expect nothing less from that lot. The Gang may certainly visit Rosamund if she’s up to it, though I wouldn’t suggest that they all descend on the San at once. Two or three a time would be better and, again, it must be outwith school hours. Mary Lou – you may have heard about her from Jessica – has been to see me about Rosamund and she’s suggested that Rosamund may like to come to the school for Kaffee und Kuchen occasionally.”

Adam looked at Emily and nodded. “Yes, I think she’d like that. She’s very keen to meet these girls she’s been writing to. She’s quite lonely in a lot of ways. Her illness isolates her and it’ll be wonderful for her to have so much companionship while she’s here.”

“That leads me to the next thing,” Miss Annersley said. “Jessica tells me that Rosamund is a reader?”

“She is. She adores school girl fiction, but, like Jessica, she also has a taste for the classics.”

“I’m taking a short course of English literature lessons with the two Upper Fourth classes this term. They’ll be about ages with Rosamund. I wondered if Rosamund would like to come along for those? She could stay for Kaffee.”

“I think she’d love it,” Emily said enthusiastically. “We have a governess for her, but her bent is languages and history so a real course in literature would be a treat for her.”

“I’ll ask my secretary to give you a list of the classes and Rosamund is most welcome to attend if she’s feeling up to it. It would mean sitting still for forty five minutes. Will she be comfortable in her invalid chair?”

“She’ll be fine. It’s specially designed to support her back for long periods,” Adam explained. “It’s very kind of you to suggest this.”

Miss Annersley waved aside his thanks as unnecessary. It was a pleasure to make the life of a lonely, pain ridden girl that bit happier. “We are holding a pantomime this term and a sale just before we break up for Easter. You’d all be most welcome to attend. I think Rosamund would enjoy the pantomime.”

Adam agreed that she would and the Seftons left Miss Annersley thinking that Rosamund was going to be very busy during her eight weeks stay.

Adam and Emily walked slowly back to the Pension Lendl together, enjoying their last hour together. They had never been apart for so long before; although Adam had been on various business trips in the past, they had never lasted for more than a few days. Emily was feeling rather low. It was not going to be easy stuck on the Gornetz Platz, miles away from her home and husband even with so many ready made friends around. She just hoped she would cope and it was important that Rosamund should not know how she was feeling. Perhaps once she had got used to the situation, she would feel better and it was only for eight weeks, not forever.

Adam knew exactly what Emily was feeling and he knew that he would feel exactly the same in her situation. It had been a big ask of her and she had never once complained. She was happy to do this for Rosamund even though she herself would be greatly put out. Adam had more confidence in Emily than she did in herself and he was quite sure that, after a day or two, she would find that she had slipped into a new routine and would soon enjoy spending time with Rosamund in this new environment and would especially enjoy meeting new people.

Their farewell was not protracted. Frank Peters was taking Adam to the airport with the San ambulance as a patient was being picked up there. Frank arrived slightly late with the result that Adam had to bundle himself and his case into the ambulance with haste and there was barely time to give Emily more than a peck on the cheek. Emily watched as the ambulance pulled away and turned the corner of the twisty road so that it was out of sight. She gave a little sigh and turned back into the Pension. Frau Lendl had been watching and she grabbed Emily as the woman closed the door behind her.

“I have English tea in the kitchen. Perhaps you would join me?”

Emily was only too happy to accompany her friendly hostess to the kitchen. It was not quite time for dinner but Kaffee und Kuchen with Miss Annersley seemed to have taken place hours ago and she was ready for some refreshment. As Emily sipped the tea and listened to Frau Lendl talk about her family she thought that she would visit the San briefly after dinner and check on Rosamund. She would ask Phil Graves how she was progressing and perhaps she would be well enough for an outing on the morrow.

As Adam had suspected, it did not take long for Emily to settle down and get used to being on her own. Frau Lendl was marvellous and any time she saw Emily looking down or lonely, she was invited to the kitchen for coffee (English tea had not been a success!) and cakes, regardless of the time of day. Emily sighed for her waistline, but acknowledged that these sessions helped more than anything to make the Pension and the Platz feel like home.

Rosamund had quickly recovered from the journey and was soon wheeling herself about the San in her chair, making friends with a couple of other young patients there. One was in with a broken leg sustained in a ski-ing accident and was still bed bound in traction. The other had come out from Britain the previous year with TB. Now cured, she was remaining at the San for some months to come to ensure the best possible prognosis for her. Rosamund had never really had friends like this in the past and she blossomed in their company.

On Saturday, Jessica arrived for the promised lunch at the San. She was to spend the afternoon there and then Mary Lou and Prunella were to join the step sisters for Kaffee und Kuchen. Jessica was rather disappointed when she saw Rosamund. The other girl was sitting in her invalid chair as usual and, though her cheeks were rosier than before, there was very little different about her. In her naivity, Jessica had thought that Switzerland might prove to be a miracle cure for her step sister and that she might be able to walk again. As soon as she saw Rosamund, she realised how silly this had been. If an operation could not cure Rosamund, it was unlikely that fresh air and wonderful views would make her rise up and walk. Still, Jessica thought, she did look happy and her cheeks had a lovely colour about them that had never been present in Britain.

The two spent a lovely afternoon together. Rosamund wanted to hear all about the school’s latest strange new girl, a musician by the name of Nina Rutherford. Jessica had not had much to do with her being in a different form, but she had heard that all Nina was interested in was music and everything else came second to her genius.

Mary Lou and Prunella arrived in time for Kaffee und Kuchen. Rosamund was pleased to be meeting two of the girls who had been so kind to her in letters over the past months but she was a shy girl and her disability always made her nervous around able bodied people. It was not in Mary Lou to be shy, however, and her breeziness soon set the younger girl at her ease as the four began to chat and gossip. A game of scrabble followed after Kaffee und Kuchen and Rosamund was sorry to see them take their leave before dinner. She had liked Mary Lou very much. Mary Lou, who had had such a bad accident the term before, could, in some measure, sympathise with Rosamund without pitying her. Prunella, who had always been fit and healthy, could not quite imagine what it must be like for Rosamund cooped up in a chair and reliant on others day after day, had found it hard not to let her pity show. It was very easy to like Rosamund, however, and Prunella soon found herself treating the girl very much as she would treat any girl who was just that little bit younger than herself.

Mary Lou and Prunella were both thrilled to hear that Rosamund would be coming to the pantomime and the Sale and were delighted that she was to be able to share in the wonder that was Miss Annersley’s English literature course. The first lesson was the following week and Mary Lou and Prunella promised to look out for Rosamund at Kaffee where they would introduce her to the rest of the Gang who had been writing to her.

By the time Monday and their visit to Freudesheim came about, both Emily and Rosamund felt they had been living on the Platz for years. Emily drove the car to the San to collect Rosamund and then went on to Freudesheim. The walk from the San to the Maynard’s home was perfectly doable, but it was a long walk and in places the road was bumpy so it made more sense to drive.

Emily was nervous about meeting Mrs Maynard. She had met her husband, Jack, several times at the San and he had taken quite an interest in Rosamund. There was no need to be nervous around Jack, but Joey sounded quite a heroine in her own right and not at all the sort of person that Emily was used to meeting.

Emily pulled the car up outside Freudesheim and paused before getting Rosamund out. Now was the time for her to quickly drive off before anyone noticed her, she thought. Perhaps Joey could come to the San instead and they could meet on neutral ground. Emily knew her fears were unfounded and mainly came from the fact that Joey was a famous author. Hilary’s comments that Joey could be a bit much to take all at once were also at the forefront of her mind. Emily far preferred quiet, gentle people and found she had more in common with them.

It was too late, though. The front door had opened and a tall, dark haired lady with the strangest looking “earphones” coiled over each ear came out.

“Come in, come in!” she called in a golden voice. “Can I help you with anything?”

“Er, no,” Emily stammered, getting out of the car and expertly manhandling Rosamund into her chair. Then she noticed that there were steps leading to the front door of the house and realised that she would need help in getting Rosamund’s chair up them. “I mean…”

Joey had already noticed the difficulty and had run lightly down the few steps to the car. Between them, the chair was manoeuvred up the stairs and set down in the hall.

“Thank you, Mrs Maynard,” Emily said diffidently.

Joey choked visibly. “Oh, no!” she cried. “I’m Joey and you’re Emily. Please let’s start as we mean to go on. Unless you’d rather I called you Mrs Sefton?”

Emily gave a shy laugh. “No, please do call me Emily. And this is Rosamund.”

Joey extended a friendly greeting to Rosamund, shaking her hand and helping her out of her coat.

“What a lovely name Rosamund is,” she mused as she hung up Rosamund’s outdoor wear and held out her hand for Emily’s. “I haven’t used it in a story for a while. Perhaps it’s time I used it again. You wouldn’t mind, would you, Rosamund?”

“No!” Rosamund breathed. “I think it would be super!”

“Won’t you come through and get yourselves settled?” Joey invited, opening the door to a large, airy room full of comfortable seats and sofas. “Sit over there by the window, while I bring in the Kaffee. Shan’t be a moment.”

Joey vanished and Emily wheeled Rosamund into the pretty room. It was clean and fresh, but had a lived in look that was homely and comforting. As ordered, Emily sat by the window, though there were no views today because of the low mist that hung around over the mountains.

The door opened and Emily looked up to see two little people enter the room. She knew that Joey had eight children and was expecting her ninth in the very future and, from the look of this boy and girl, they were Felix and Felicity, twins who had been born in Canada. They came in confidently and sat down opposite Emily and Rosamund who were both rather at a loss for words. Neither had had much to do with small children. On the tails of the twins, came another handsome gentleman. This time Rosamund let out a scream as Bruno, the huge St Bernard, bounded up to her.

“Take him away!” she cried. “Take him away!”

The dog was so large that he seemed to loom over her and there was a little trail of dribble drooling from his mouth. His large tail was thumping on the floor and he jumped up in anticipation of a friendly greeting from these new people.

Rosamund yelled again and Joey burst into the room.

"Down, Bruno! Down!” Joey ordered and Bruno obeyed instantly, flopping down on the floor in front of Rosamund’s chair. The girl was really terrified of him and she edged her chair away from him.

“I’ll take him out,” Joey said, realising how it was. “Come, Bruno.”

The big dog got up with a last sorrowful glance at Rosamund and trotted from the room. How could anyone not think he was handsome and want to worship him? Rosamund shivered. She really disliked dogs in general, but enormous dogs like this one terrified her.

“Don’t you love Bruno?” the fair haired little girl asked. “He’s our doggy and we love him awfully.”

“I… I don’t like dogs,” Rosamund gasped.

”Why not?” Felix demanded.

“I…” Rosamund was interrupted by the return of Joey to the room wheeling before her a large hostess trolley filled with good things.

“Felix my man, come and help Mamma,” Joey ordered.

Both Rosamund and Emily gasped at this use of the old fashioned word for mother and Bruno was forgotten for the time being.

”Do they call you Mamma?” Emily asked.

Joey grinned as she gave some plates to Felix to hand round. “It’s unusual, isn’t it? Everyone says so. I think it’s much nicer than Mummy and Daddy and quite easy for small folk to get their mouths rounds. Felicity, come and pass the sandwiches around.”

The small folk were used to obeying their mother immediately, and happily helped dispensing the sandwiches and biscuits. Joey herself poured the English that was much more of a success that Frau Lendl’s had been.

When they were settled, Joey said, “I’m awfully sorry about Bruno. He was supposed to be chained up outside but he’s broken free somehow. He can be a bit of a pest and I guessed Rosamund would be nervous of him.”

“He’s so big,” Rosamund said, apologetically. “I’m sure he could knock my chair over.”

“Anna’s taken him for a walk so you won’t see him again. He’d never hurt you deliberately, but he is very frisky and difficult to control.”

“Isn’t he a bit of a trial with so many tinies around?” Emily asked.

“Not a bit of it. He knows he has to be gentle around the little ones. It’s a long time since he’s seen anyone in an invalid chair and I expect he was just a little unsure.” Joey put her cup down and took another sandwich. “How are you finding the San, Rosamund?”

“Very well, thank you. I’ve made some new friends and the doctors and nurses are very friendly. I love the Platz, too, though I haven’t had a chance to see much yet.”

“Have you met Phoebe Peters yet? I know she’s dying to meet you. You embroider, don’t you? She has some fantastic new stitches she’s been yearning to show off for weeks now and I’m afraid I don’t know one end of a needle from another!”

“We’re going to see her next week,” Emily said. “Everyone here has been so friendly. I haven’t had time to be lonely, or to miss home. Neither has Rosamund.”

“We all remember what it was like when we first came out. It’s a big change and can be difficult to get to know people and integrate yourself into a new society. I hope we’ve all made you feel welcome.”

“You have. I’ve met your husband, too, at the San. He’s been in to see Rosamund a few times.”

“Jack’s a very good doctor,” Joey said modestly. “We’re about to get a lot busier,” she pointed to the prominent bulge of her stomach. “Not long before a new Maynard will be singing his welcome to the world.”

“How exciting,” Emily said, but her thoughts had gone back to her baby, the one she had lost so cruelly.

“You must come round and visit again,” Joey went on, not realising anything was wrong. “Have you ever held a baby, Rosamund?”

“No, never. Could I really hold yours?”

“Of course you can. It won’t be long before this little person is wanting to be introduced to you.”

“Mamma is giving us a new bruvver or sister,” Felix proclaimed from his seat on the couch where he had been stuffing his face with sandwiches and had now moved on to cream cakes.

”Don’t talk with your mouth full,” Joey ordered. “It’s very rude.”

Felix made a little face at his mother which Joey chose to ignore while small Felicity chimed in,

“I would like a sister to play dollies with.”

“It’s a bruvver,” Felix insisted.

Emily smiled suddenly. “How can you cope with so many small children about the place?”

“I’m lucky,” Joey said. “I have Anna to help me out round the house and Rosli looks after the children. The older ones help a lot, too. I always say its far easier to have a large family than a smaller one. More fun too.”

“Will you have any more after this next one?” Emily asked thinking that Joey Maynard must be addicted to children since she could fathom no other reason why someone would have so many.

“I’m always threatening to produce quads,” Joey grinned. “But perhaps I’ll make do with twins again.”

“And your eldest are triplets?”

“Yes. They were a bit of a shock to the system when they appeared, I must admit, but they’re good girls. Len especially is a treasure during the holidays.”

“I’d like a brother or sister,” Rosamund said suddenly and then looked at Emily guiltily.

Joey looked enquiringly at them.

Emily sighed. “I was pregnant a year ago, but I lost the baby. Adam and I are still trying but the doctors thought that something might have been damaged during the miscarriage so I’m not even sure I could have another child.”

“Oh, my dear!” Joey cried. “I’m so sorry. What a terrible thing to happen. You must have been heartbroken. I… I can’t imagine what my life would be like without children. How you must have suffered.”

Emily shrugged. “Usually I can forget about it, but sometimes…”

“And here’s me banging on about the virtues of large families. I can be so thoughtless sometimes. I’m sorry, Emily. Won’t you try some of Anna’s famous lemon biscuits?”

With the subject effectively changed and Emily munching obediently on Anna’s delicious biscuits, the conversation turned to happier things and Emily found herself feeling more and more at ease with the famous Josephine Bettany. Joey was not in the least like Emily had expected and she felt that Joey was the sort of person one could turn to in times of need. Why ever had she been nervous of meeting her?

Eventually it was time to go and Rosamund and Emily had had a lovely afternoon. Joey promised to visit Rosamund in the San before the baby came and, as a parting gift, gave Rosamund a signed copy of Patrol Leader Nancy. Rosamund was chuffed to bits with the gift and went off thinking that Mrs Maynard was the nicest person they had met on the Platz.

The next week was a busy one for Rosamund. In fact, the girl thought, she was much busier “on holiday” than she had ever been at home at Moorlands. There were visitors to the San daily in the form of Emily, Jessica, the Gang, Hilary Graves and so on. There were her friends in the San who demanded a great deal of her time. There were the walks about the Platz and the drives in the car. Rosamund found that there was barely a minute of each day that was not accounted for and, though she found this tiring, it was exhilarating too. She was sleeping better than she had ever done before and her appetite was healthy. She forgot about the pain in her back for days on end simply because there was not enough time to think about it. Dr Graves was very happy with her and intimated to Emily that it was a shame no-one had thought of such a trip for Rosamund before.

The English literature lessons at the Chalet School began. Rosamund was very nervous about these, having never been to school, though she was looking forward to them. She had met the Gang, including Jo Scott who was a member of one of the Upper Fourths and it was the Upper Fourths that these classes were being run for. The remainder of the Gang were in the Fifths, so Rosamund was unsure about her reception at the classes. She was to remain behind after the class and take Kaffee und Kuchen with Jessica and her friends.

The Upper Fourths had been warned that Rosamund would be joining them for these classes. The Fourths were made up of such sensible people as Jo Scott and the Maynard triplets – who had heard all about Rosamund from their mother – and the girls were all old enough to welcome Rosamund for herself and not because she was in a wheelchair. The girls had all grown up close to illness because of the proximity of the San and none of them showed their pity for the girl, merely greeting her in the warm, friendly fashion that was the trademark of the school. Len Maynard made sure she was comfortable and had writing materials and a copy of the book they were studying – Wuthering Heights – and that her chair was positioned in such a way that she could see Miss Annersley and the blackboard clearly.

What a delight that lesson was to Rosamund. Miss Winter was a good teacher, but her bent was not English and she had tended to skim over the surface of literature. Rosamund, who spent a lot of time with her nose stuck in a book, had always been vaguely disappointed about this, but the lesson with Miss Annersley more than made up for this. Rosamund had read Wuthering Heights several times of her own volition and knew the book well, but she had never delved in to the consciences of the character and author in such a way before and she found herself looking at the novel in a new light and sat up late re-reading it that very night.

Kaffee und Kuchen was enjoyable too. Jessica had become a popular girl that term and everyone knew that her step sister was staying at the San and wanted to meet her. Rosamund found herself plied with delicious bread twists and milky coffee as she talked about Moorlands and Britain and the San. Never before had Rosamund had so many friends and she liked the feeling immensely.

Then came the visit to Phoebe Peters. Rosamund knew that Phoebe had sometimes to get about by means of a wheelchair following a bout of rheumatic fever as a child. She had good days and bad days and, on good days, could walk with the aid of a stick. On bad days, however, she was wheelchair bound and struggled even to lift her beloved needle.

The pair liked each other on sight. Both had heard much about the other and had been keen for the meeting. Of all the British population on the Platz, Phoebe was possibly the most isolated. Her illness meant that she was housebound much of the time and couldn’t indulge in the coffee mornings and meetings that the other women held. Everyone was keen not to make her feel left out, and visitors were frequent, but were dependent on how Phoebe was feeling. Today was a good day and Phoebe was delighted to meet the little crippled girl who so clearly craved friendship and attention as much as Phoebe herself did. Rosamund and the older woman found something of the kindred spirit in each other and it was not long before they were chattering away with even more ease than Rosamund had with Joey Maynard.

They had one great love in common and that was needlework. Phoebe was an accomplished needlewoman and the pair spent a happy afternoon pouring over some of Phoebe’s latest work. Rosamund was good with her needle, crochet hook and knitting needles, but had never ventured into clothing before. When she saw some of the adorable little dresses Phoebe had made for the new Maynard baby, she exclaimed aloud.

“Oh, Mrs Peters, these are beautiful. Do you think you could teach me to make these?”

Phoebe was thrilled to have such a willing pupil.

“My name’s Phoebe, dear,” she said gently and Rosamund blushed, wondering if she could ever get used to calling an adult by her first name. “Of course I can teach you to make the little dresses. They’re very simple, really. It’s the embroidery and ruching and so on that takes the time. Come with me and choose some fabric and we’ll get you started straight away.”

The result was that, in any spare moments she had, Rosamund was to be found piecing together tiny dresses and cardigans and embellishing them with exquisite embroidery that left even Phoebe breathless.

The St Mildred’s pantomime was another breath of fresh air to the fun starved girl. It took place towards the end of February in a hall situated just outside the San gates and nearly everyone on the Platz made an effort to attend. The St Mildred’s girls were well known for their originality and cleverness in putting together a panto that would not have shamed a professional stage. The girls had chosen Beauty and the Beast this year, and it is doubtful if Rosamund had ever laughed so much in her short life. For her, the highlight of the afternoon was when tiny Felix Maynard announced that he wanted to “stroke ve funny doggy” on stage – the funny doggy being none other than the Beast himself. Several people on stage and in the audience alike choked audibly at this and Rosamund giggled helplessly.

Hope this isn't too dull. I didn't want to rehash either the panto or the sale, so they are really only mentioned in passing even though they are big events.

Half term followed the panto for the Chalet School girls, and most of the Gang, including Jessica, departed for Lac Leman for a few days well-earned holiday. Rosamund was quite glad of the break and spent an easy day or two, reading and sewing and playing quiet games with her friends in the San.

During the half term break, Joey Maynard was rushed to the San. Some time later, she was the proud mother of a fifth daughter. She was to be named Cecilia after a nun aunt of the Maynards and was a dark baby, with masses of curls. Rosamund was very excited when Dr Graves told her the news and was even more thrilled when an invitation came to her from Joey Maynard, asking her to come and be one of the very first to see the new baby.

Emily was invited too, and she wheeled Rosamund through the corridors of the San to the bright room where Joey sat nursing the tiny baby. Emily paused in the doorway. She had had little or nothing to do with babies since her own miscarriage and she had not really been looking forward to seeing Joey, who already had been blessed with so many children, cradling another baby. All her resentment vanished as she saw the tiny black head nestled against her mother’s breast.

“Oh, what a darling!” Emily cried involuntarily, and then looked embarrassed.

Joey Maynard looked up, grinning. “Isn’t she just?” she agreed. “She’s the image of Con when she was born, but I think she’ll be even darker when she’s older. Come closer and have a better look.”

Emily pushed Rosamund’s chair over to the bed, just level with Joey and the baby. She herself bent over the tiny mite and caressed the fuzz on top of its head.

“You are lucky, Joey,” Emily whispered, quietly so Rosamund would not hear.

Joey’s face became grave for a moment before she said softly. “You never know what the future will bring, Emily. You’re not much older than me. Miracles do happen, and that doctor of yours could have been wrong.”

Emily gave a sad smile as she kissed the baby’s head, but she didn’t answer. She drew back so that Rosamund could have a good look at baby Cecilia.

“I’ve never seen such a tiny baby before,” Rosamund said. “She’s perfect.”

Joey puffed up with pride again, but was careful not to hurt Emily further. “God made her perfect,” she said modestly. “And I must say, he did a good job!”

Even Emily grinned at this.

“Rosamund, why don’t you give Mrs Maynard the present?” she asked.

Rosamund pulled out a package from the side of her chair. She had been working on this since her first meeting with Phoebe Peters. Phoebe had declared herself pleased with the tiny yellow dress, embroidered with darker yellow roses all over. It would not have been at all suitable for a boy, so Rosamund was glad that the baby was female. She handed the package over shyly and watched Joey’s face as she opened it. For a moment, Joey was speechless. Then she said,

“Did you make this, Rosamund?”

The girl nodded. “I – I hope you like it.”

“Like it?” Joey exclaimed, examining it minutely. “I love it. It’s perfect. How clever you are, Rosamund. You have a real gift.”

“Mrs Peters… Phoebe showed me how,” Rosamund said modestly. “And it was quite easy, really. I’m so pleased you like it.”

“Cecilia shall wear it when she goes home,” Joey declared. “Then everyone can see what lovely work you’ve done. Thank you, Rosamund.”

Rosamund blushed, never good at receiving praise. Joey saw how it was and went on,

“Would you like to hold her?”

“May I?” Rosamund cried. “I won’t hurt her?”

“Of course you won’t,” Joey said briskly. “Emily, would you take her and pass her to Rosamund?”

Rather gingerly, Emily picked up the tiny scrap in her arms, marvelling at the perfection of her nose and eyes and the wriggling fingers. It had been many years since she herself had held Jessica as an infant, but everything came rushing back to her and she cradled Cecilia’s head carefully as she held her more firmly.

“Make a cradle in your arms, Rosamund,” Joey instructed, “and balance her head at all times. She’s too little to hold her head up herself yet, so you must do it for her.”

Rosamund nodded, folding her arms across her chest as Emily placed the now sleeping Cecilia into the warm cocoon of the girl’s body. Rosamund smiled in pleasure as Cecilia nuzzled against her and emitted a tiny snore.

”You’re the very first person outside the family to hold her, Rosamund,” Joey told her, and Rosamund beamed with pride.

After that, Rosamund’s remaining time at the San simply flew by. The Chalet girls returned from their half term to lessons and Joey Maynard took baby Cecily, as she had come to be known, home. There was a new arrival at the San in the form of Alix Rutherford, cousin to the new girl, Nina, at the school. Rosamund would have liked to have met her, but Alix was very ill and it was felt inadvisable for Rosamund to be close to her.

Before Rosamund and Emily knew where they were, term was nearly over and it was almost time for them to return to Britain. Adam was to come out for a week and he and Jessica would join Emily at the Pension Lendl and then they would all fly back to Moorlands for Easter together. Jessica was excited at this news as she had never flown before and had been disappointed that she had not been allowed to fly out with Rosamund at the end of January.

Before they departed, however, there was all the excitement of the annual Chalet School Sale. It was an Old English Fair sale and the girls had gone out of their way to make it a success. The sale was opened by an Old Girl of the School, once Princess Elisaveta of Bersornia, now Mrs Helston. The stalls were inspired. There was a merry go round which displayed needlework, some of which had been donated by Rosamund herself There were fancy goods, books, sweets and cakes but best of all to Rosamund were the competitions. She entered them all, though she won nothing. For Jessica, the best part of the day was the tilting at the ring. This was impossible for Rosamund, of course, but she spent quite half an hour watching the other girls take part and giggled helplessly when Emerence Hope turned a complete somersault, landing on top of Margot Maynard. Rosamund was only surprised that neither of them were badly injured!

The next week passed quickly. Rosamund insisted on introducing her father to all the people she had met during her stay in Switzerland, including Phoebe Peters and Joey Maynard. They managed a couple of trips to Interlaken and Lake Thun, and even managed to take the train to the Rosleinalpe so Rosamund could see a different shelf.

For Rosamund, the sojourn in Switzerland came to an end all too quickly. She couldn’t help but compare her busy, fulfilled life in the Alps with the protected, stultified life she led at Moorlands. She felt very low on the journey home, knowing that she was returning to lonelyness and boredom. It was not quite so bad while Jessica was home for the holidays, but when Jessica returned to school for the summer term, Rosamund found herself with only Emily and Miss Winter for companionship, plus occasional visits from the minister and people they knew from church.

All the colour she had gained in Switzerland disappeared from her cheeks and she became pale and wan. Her appetite vanished and she was very lethargic. Emily was at a loss to know what was wrong. Dr Brown had declared Rosamund to be fitter than ever. Rosamund did not want to hurt Emily by telling her that she was bored and longed for companionship such as she had known in Switzerland.

Emily found out quite by accident what the problem was. Rosamund had written a long letter to Jessica, pouring out her woes. Jessica, Rosamund felt, was the one person who understood her now. She was also able to appreciate the irony in that. Rosamund had fallen asleep while writing the letter and it had slipped to the floor. Emily, coming in to turn out Rosamund’s light and wish her goodnight, found the letter, its pages splayed across the floor and picked it, intending to put it safely in the girl’s writing case. Several words caught Emily’s eyes, and she found herself reading the epistle. When she had finished, she looked guiltily at the sleeping girl, and went straight to find Adam. It seemed that, in taking Rosamund to Switzerland, they had caused her more harm than good in the long term.

Adam read the letter and then replaced it in the writing case. He did not want Rosamund to know it had been read.

“What can we do?” Emily asked as he took his seat beside her on the couch. “I had no idea she was feeling like this and, yet, we ought to have expected it.”

“We need to think of things to keep her occupied,” Adam said. “But it’s difficult. It seemed much easier in Switzerland where everyone accepted her for who she was. The girls at the school have lived under the shadow of illness and disability that it’s all in a day’s work for them. Over here…”

“I know. It’s very different. People stare at her and make comments when we go into town. How can we try to integrate her to society when she has that to deal with?”

“I think perhaps it’s something she’ll just have to get used to. Unless we pack up and move to the Oberland, of course!” he said facetiously.

“School’s out of the question, isn’t it?” Emily asked, knowing the answer. They had covered this before. School itself wasn’t the problem. Rosamund was a capable and intelligent girl, but few schools were built on one level. Those that weren’t tended not to have lifts and it was impossible for a school to schedule all Rosamund’s lesson on the ground floor and even more impossible for them to find someone to carry her upstairs for lessons on different levels. There was a small, private school some forty miles away which was situated in a bungalow but it was too far for Rosamund to make the round trip every day.

“Yes,” Adam said shortly. “It would solve everything, of course, but I don’t see how it can be managed.”

“What about…” Emily paused, wondering if her idea was a silly one.

“Yes?” Adam prompted.

“Well, I was wondering about evening classes. The local comprehensive runs English and history classes at night. Perhaps if we explained Rosamund’s situation to them, they could arrange for her classes to be held on the ground floor?”

“And even if they couldn’t, I could be there to carry her up the stairs,” Adam said. “That’s a great idea. I know you said she thoroughly enjoyed those literature lessons at the Chalet School. The only problem would be that she wouldn’t be mixing with people her own age. Evening classes tend to be for older people.”

“Would it matter so much?” Emily asked. “She got on so well with Hilary Graves and Phoebe Peters. I think she might find it easier to relate to adults. They are less likely to judge her for her disability. And I think at the moment, Rosamund would feel any companionship will be better than none. Why don’t I contact the school tomorrow? There’s no harm in finding out.”

Adam agreed and then another idea popped into Emily’s head.

“What about sewing?” she asked.

”What about it?”

“Rosamund loves sewing. There must be a sewing group in town. Couldn’t she join?”

“It’s going to be made up of gossipy old biddies, though,” Adam pointed out.

“I don’t think Rosamund would mind. And if she did, then she wouldn’t need to go back. It would be another interest for her and would give her another change of scenery. It’s obviously what she needs.”

Adam saw the point of this and the next day saw Emily making enquiries of the comprehensive and the women’s sewing circle with the result that Rosamund was enrolled on an English course as well as a class in French history. The sewing circle were delighted to welcome the girl to their midst since they were always trying to encourage younger members to join, so this accounted for another afternoon. Also, Emily took it on herself to contact the minister and ask if Rosamund could join the choir properly. She still took singing lessons and did occasional solos, but had never been considered strong enough for the two hour choir rehearsal that took place every Wednesday. The minister was happy to have Rosamund join, as long as her strength held out, and Adam agreed that she could try.

The immediate result was a much happier and more contented Rosamund, who worked hard at her lessons with Miss Winter through the day. The sewing circle was a pleasure to her and she was even able to demonstrate some of the stitches Phoebe Peters had shown her to those who had been members since their own girlhood. The lessons at the comprehensive two evenings a week were just what Rosamund needed to test and stretch her brain. They involved tests and would even lead to a qualification if she completed the courses. The choir, too, gave her a lot of joy. There were a number of young people who quickly saw past her chair and disability and they became friends. Young visitors to Moorlands grew more frequent and Rosamund was often invited out to tea and even to some birthday parties

Things continued in this way for some time. Rosamund was happy and fulfilled at home and Jessica was making great strides at school, keeping up with her work and enjoying her sport.

Then, unexpectedly, Rosamund developed a fever. It came on quickly and was soon out of control. Nothing Dr Brown could do at home would break the fever and a dangerous strain was being put on the girl’s heart. She was weakening quickly. Dr Brown ordered that she should be admitted to hospital. Rosamund was placed in a small private room where her delirium could not disturb the other patients. The doctors and nurses worked tirelessly to save her life and, one morning, Rosamund dozed off in to a natural sleep.

Dr Brown continued to look grave and Adam and Emily knew that the future did not look bright for Rosamund. She had been severely weakened by the fever. It was over six weeks until she was strong enough to return home and by this time, Jessica was back for the summer holidays. Had she been strong enough to withstand the journey, Adam would have whisked Rosamund back to the San in Switzerland for a stay, but Rosamund spend most of her time resting and all of her activities had to be curtailed.

Jessica was a godsend. She kept Rosamund amused and sat by her bedside reading to her when Rosamund was too tired to do anything but lie down. Jessica was devastated at the change in her step sister. Gone was the happy girl who accepted her lot so cheerfully. Rosamund had lost a lot of weight and the skin on her face was tightly drawn over her bones, giving her a skeletal look. Her hair, always so shiny, was now lank and greasy and she hadn’t the energy to have it washed every day.

One day, towards the end of the holidays and following a particularly bad day for Rosamund, Emily came across Jessica in her room, crying her eyes out.

“Darling, what’s the matter?” Emily cried, taking the girl in her arms and rocking her as if she was a baby.

Jessica shook her head and refused to voice the fear that was uppermost in her mind. She continued to sob and buried her head in her mother’s chest, drawing some comfort from Emily’s presence. Emily let her continue like this for some time and then she pushed Jessica back from her and handed her a tissue.

”Come, Jessica,” she said, “you must stop this and tell me what’s wrong. Dry your eyes while I get you some water.”

Jessica scrubbed at her eyes with the tissue while Emily went to fetch a glass of water. She managed a few mouthfuls through chattering teeth and then set the glass down.

“You must tell me what’s wrong, Jessica,” Emily said. “You’ll make yourself sick if you continue like this.”

Jessica took a deep breath. She realised that she had to voice her dreadful fears, but it was so hard to put into words what she was thinking.

Jessica took a deep breath. She realised that she had to voice her dreadful fears, but it was so hard to put into words what she was thinking.

“I – it’s Rosamund,” she finally managed.

Emily, who had suspected this, nevertheless felt her own throat catch. She and Adam had discussed Rosamund on numerous occasions, but it had never dawned on them that they ought to involve Jessica.

“Yes?” Emily prompted.

“She – she’s going to die, isn’t she?” Jessica finally burst out. “She’s so ill. I know she’s going to die!”

Emily immediately Jessica’s impending hysterics which would do no-one any good.

“Pull yourself together, Jessica,” she ordered. “How would Rosamund feel if she knew you were getting into such a state about her?”

Jessica gulped and managed to contain herself.

“I’m ok,” she whispered.

“Good girl,” Emily took Jessica’s sticky hand in her own cool one. “Rosamund has never really recovered from the fever. You know that. She’s very weak and feels very unwell all the time. Dr Brown is doing what he can for her, but…” Emily stopped, suddenly unable to continue. She had always assumed that Rosamund would eventually regain her lost strength and get well. Even the frank talks she had had with Adam had not changed that. But somehow, talking to Jessica about it, made Emily realise that Rosamund was not going to get better.

“Is she going to die, Mother?” Jessica sounded very calm now.

“I think so,” Emily said quietly, admitting this to herself as much as to Jessica.

Jessica flung herself into Emily’s arms again, and the pair cried together. This time it was Jessica who withdrew herself from Emily’s arms.

“I can stay at home and help you,” she said. “I won’t go back to school this term.”

“No, Jess, you must go back to school.” Emily said. “You would be a great comfort to me, but I think you would be more use to Rosamund at school. You’ll be able to send her letters about the celebrations you’ve been talking about. She’s so keen to hear about them, and the trip to Austria. She loves getting your letters, and those from the Gang too. They mean such a lot to her and I think they’ll mean even more this term.”

“But what if something happens? What if…”

“If we need you, Jess, we’ll send for you. I promise we’ll send for you if… when…”

“But I might not get back in time. I might not be able to say goodbye!”

“You will, Jess. You have my word,” Emily promised. “You must be very brave this term, but Rosamund will need to be braver.”

“I’ll try,” Jessica choked and the two threw their arms round each other again.

It was a very sombre Jessica who returned to the Chalet School for the Coming of Age celebrations. She had promised to send Rosamund full descriptions of the celebrations and she meant to see to it that the Gang wrote to her as well. Jessica managed to draw some comfort from some wise words Mary Lou spoke to her at the start of the term when she was feeling particularly down. Jessica was so afraid that Rosamund was going to die and she told Mary Lou so.

“Afraid?” Mary Lou asked. “Why? If what you fear is coming to pass, won’t it be best for Rosamund? She has only half a life as it is, and she’s just a girl – only our age, you said. Whatever else you feel, don’t be afraid. Try to make yourself feel glad for her if it is really – that. Don’t grudge her her happiness.”

At first, Jessica was furious with Mary Lou. How could anyone be happy knowing that they were dying? But, during Prayers, Jessica realised the truth of Mary Lou’s words. Since her fever, Rosamund was barely able to get up in the morning. She couldn’t sew and didn’t have the concentration to read to herself. Someone had to read aloud to her. She could no longer sing and certainly could not attend her classes, nor even her lessons with Miss Winter. She was too tired for visitors, though her friends sent flowers and get well cards. She was weak and tired and had no appetite. It was impossible for her to build her strength up. How must Rosamund feel everyday, Jessica thought, being so ill and able to do nothing about it? The things she had always enjoyed doing – few though they had been – had been taken away from her. If she was to spend another twenty or thirty years like this, what would her life be like? Jessica knew she herself would find it unbearable. Therefore, Rosamund must too. Mary Lou was right. If Rosamund did die, at least she would be happy. Her pain and suffering would be over. God, in his heaven, would look after her and she would be able to do all the things she had never been able to – walking, running, dancing.

Jessica blinked back tears but her heart felt lighter.

She did as Rosamund and Emily had asked of her and wrote normal, happy letters to Rosamund, describing the coming of age celebrations in minute detail. She took a leaf out of some of the younger girls’ books and began to keep a diary which she sent regularly to Rosamund who got a lot of pleasure out of them. Emily had to read them to her, and Rosamund managed to dictate short replies to be sent to Jessica and the Gang.

The summons that Jessica had been dreading did not come until nearly the end of term. Jessica was mutinous when the news arrived that she was to fly home immediately and it was Mary Lou who managed to put in the right frame of mind to face Rosamund. Jessica still felt guilty about the awful way she had treated Rosamund at first. Even though she had more than made up for it since, it still rankled with her and she wasn’t sure she could ever forgive herself.

“If only I hadn’t been such a beast to her at first,” Jessica said to Mary Lou who had come to help her pack for her flight home.

“Yes; but you’ve made up for that this past eighteen months or so. Since you came here, you’ve made her life a thousand times happier by being so good to her.”

“How can you know that?” Jessica demanded.

“Of course I know! She tells me often enough in her letters. Would she be asking for you now if you hadn’t? Do use your wit and sense of logic!”

Jessica knew that what Mary Lou said was the truth and when the other girl went on to say that Jessica must think only of Rosamund in the coming days, she knew that was right. She must not fret and must be happy for Rosamund’s sake. It was the last thing she would do for her step sister and she must do it happily and willingly. But that didn’t mean it would be easy.

Mary Lou accompanied Jessica on the drive to the airport and Jessica was glad of the prefect’s support. They didn’t speak much – there seemed to be nothing to say – but Mary Lou held Jessica’s trembling hand in her own strong one and this was some comfort to the other girl.

The flight home to London was a nightmare for Jessica. She couldn’t help but compare this flight to the one the whole family had taken when Rosamund had returned from her happy holiday in Switzerland. Rosamund had seemed so well and healthy. How could things have changed so much that she was going to die? It was incomprehensible. An old man sat next to Jessica on the plane. He could see she was upset from the tears that occasionally trickled down her face. He wondered if he should say something to her, or ask a stewardess to talk to her, but Jessica kept her eyes down and refused to make eye contact, so he kept out of it.

It was Adam who met Jessica at the airport. Rosamund seemed to derive more comfort from Emily’s presence at the moment. Jessica had never been fully at ease with Adam but now, when she had cleared security, she simply threw herself across the barriers and into his arms. Adam, who had wondered what sort of reception Jessica would give him, held his step daughter to him and gently tousled her hair.

“Come on, Jess,” he said in a voice that only just did not shake. “Let’s get you home. Rosamund is desperate to see you. She was very excited when we told her you were coming. She’s been asking for you.”

It was not the right thing to say. Jessica began to sob and Adam had to hold her tightly for several minutes before she was able to pull herself together.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “It’s just…” She couldn’t continue.

Adam gave her a final hug and picked up her bag. “I know, Jess,” he said. “There are no words.”

The journey back to Moorlands took place in silence, and yet Jessica felt that she had never been so close to Adam before.

Emily had refreshments waiting on the pair when they arrived. Jessica was impatient to see Rosamund, but Emily insisted that she ate a couple of sandwiches before going through. Jessica looked worn out.

Reluctantly, Jessica wolfed down the sandwiches and gulped a mug of tea, glaring at Adam and Emily as they ate in a more decorous fashion. Eventually, they were finished and it was with some nervousness that Jessica went into Rosamund’s bedroom behind Emily.

Rosamund was barely recognisable. She had lost weight and seemed lost under the blankets on the bed. Her hair had been cut short because it was too tiring for her to endure it being washed and brushed out each day, and it was dank and lacklustre. Her eyes were bloodshot and there was a bluish tinge to her lips. Her hands looked like claws. Jessica gave a gasp that was imperceptible to all but herself and wished she could run from the room. This couldn’t be Rosamund! It was too cruel.

But Rosamund had seen her and was holding out a claw-like hand in greeting. She smiled at Jessica, a smile that was a grotesque parody of her previous pretty smile. Jessica gulped and remembered what Mary Lou had said to her. Rosamund must not know how she was feeling.

“Hello, Rosamund,” Jessica said heartily, too heartily. She went over to the bed, wishing she could avoid touching the claw that reached out to her, but there was no help for it and she took Rosamund’s hand in her own. Funny, she had expected it to feel cold and scaly, but it was warm and soft and not at all horrible. Jessica began to relax as she sat down and clasped Rosamund’s other hand. “How are you…” she began and then stopped. What a stupid thing to say. Would there ever be anything right to say again?

“Don’t worry, Jessica,” Rosamund said, in a cracked, tired voice. “I know what you mean. Today is a good day. I’m so glad you’re here. I’ve been waiting for you. I’ve missed you so much, but I’ve loved getting your letters and hearing about the celebrations. Will you tell me some more now?”

“Of course,” Jessica said eagerly. “I’ve got some photos for you as well. There’s one of Cecil, the Maynard baby, and Phoebe Peters. She’s sent you a lovely nightgown. And Mary Lou and the Gang…”

Emily interrupted. “It’s late, girls. Rosamund needs to get to sleep, and so do you, Jessica. There’s plenty of time for catching up tomorrow.”

Jessica looked mutinous. Would there be time, she wondered? Surely time was the one thing she and Rosamund did not have and she had such a lot to say to her step sister and only a few hours left to say it.

“I am tired, Jess,” Rosamund admitted. “Will you come back first thing? I’m longing to see the photos. And how kind of Phoebe!”

Jessica left the room while Emily tucked Rosamund up for the night.

Jessica left the room while Emily tucked Rosamund up for the night. When she had finished, Emily found Jessica sitting listlessly in the sitting area of her bedroom.

“Oh, Jess!” Emily said from the door. “This is so hard for us all.”

“I don’t want her to die, Mother,” Jessica said piteously. “I have so much to make up to her and now I won’t have the chance.”

Emily took the seat beside Jessica on the sofa.

“You have nothing to feel guilty about. Rosamund herself will tell you so tomorrow. All she asks is that you spend these last few days with her. She’s yearning to know all about the celebrations and see your photos. Can you do that for her?”

“Of course, but… I’ll miss her.”

“We’ll all miss her,” Emily gave a deep sigh. “It seems so wrong.”

“She’s younger than me, Mother, why does this have to happen!”

“Don’t fret, Jess,” Adam said from the doorway, and the pair looked up in surprise. “Rosamund’s not afraid. She’s ready for this. She’s tired now and she wants to go. She wants everyone to understand that and not be sad for her.”

Jessica burst into tears again, though she recognised the truth of Adam’s words, which were reminiscent of those of Mary Lou. Adam came over and the three embraced each other. Only Emily saw the shine of tears in Adam’s eyes and she wiped them away with her hand.

Jessica spent the next two days almost entirely in Rosamund’s company. Her step sister hung off every word she spoke about the celebrations and she was entranced by the photos that Jessica had taken of the form’s trip to the Tiernsee where the school had begun 21 years ago. She was also thrilled to see the photos of the Gornetz Platz and was able to recognise many of the people and places she had visited the previous year. She was amazed at the photo of Cecil Maynard who was now a toddler and laughed at the posed photos of the Gang making silly faces.

Jessica was happy to do this for Rosamund. Though the girl begged her to retell story after story long after Jessica herself had tired of them, she kept on, alarmed to notice the frequency with which Rosamund dozed off. She always woke up if Jessica stopped talking, though, and demanded that she continue. They took their meals together, though Rosamund ate little. Jessica ate mainly to keep her own strength up, not because she had any appetite for the delicate meals Emily lovingly prepared for them.

Two evenings after Jessica’s arrival back at Moorlands, Rosamund was obviously more tired than usual and Jessica was just about to say that it was about time she left when Rosamund said,

“I’m sleepy now, Jess, and you want your supper. We’ll say goodnight, and you’ll come to me early in the morning and tell me some more about the celebrations. Good night! Sleep well!”

Jessica leaned over for the customary kiss, no longer bothered by Rosamund’s invalid appearance, and went off for her meal.

Next morning, Jessica awoke early. Looking at her watch, she saw that it was barely 6.30. Emily would not up for another half hour and Jessica knew that Rosamund often woke very early. Jessica got up and decided to go and keep her step sister company until Emily should come down. She pulled on her dressing gown and slippers and crept downstairs.

Jessica opened Rosamund’s door and noticed with some disappointment that the girl was still asleep. Jessica had just thought of a new anecdote and had been looking forward to sharing it. Maybe Rosamund was just dozing and would wake when Jessica spoke her name.

Jessica crept over to the bed.

“Rosamund!” she whispered.

There was no movement from the still figure in the bed. Rosamund’s eyes were closed and there was a tiny smile on her face and a rosy blush on her face. She looked almost healthy. Jessica gave a gasp and reached down to touch Rosamund’s hand that was resting on the sheet by her face. It was cold.

Jessica dropped the hand.

Rosamund was dead!

Not quite believing it, Jessica picked up the hand again. She had never felt anything quite so cold and it was stiff and unyielding. Jessica sat down and held Rosamund’s hand against her cheek, trying to instill some warmth into it. If she could just get the hand warm, maybe Rosamund would come back.

Jessica chafed the cold hand between her own warm ones and blew on it, trying desperately to get some warmth into it. It was hopeless, and Jessica knew it, but still she continued.

Emily found her like this some twenty minutes later. Jessica was calm, but still desperate that Rosamund should not have left. Emily gently manoeuvred her distressed daughter from the room but, at the door, Jessica broke away and ran back to the bed. She bent over Rosamund and kissed her for the last time.

“Sleep well, Rosamund,” she whispered. “Happy dreams. I love you.”

Jessica allowed herself to be removed from the room and she ran upstairs to her own room, to be alone with her thoughts and memories of Rosamund.

The doctor was summoned. Rosamund’s death had been expected and he signed the death certificate and left the family to mourn. Adam arranged for the funeral director to call and Rosamund’s body was taken away. No-one had the strength or will to do anything about her room and so the door was closed and the key shoved away somewhere until such times as they could bring themselves to say goodbye to her possessions.

The funeral took place the following week. Adam had refused to have the traditional sad and mournful service. Instead, he, Emily and Jessica had all chosen hymns that Rosamund herself had loved and Adam had written a eulogy that was simple and moving, but that celebrated everything that had been good about Rosamund’s life. Jessica, too, managed to say a few words though it was the most difficult thing she had ever done.

Moorlands was empty without Rosamund and Jessica was looking forward to going back to school. She knew that Rosamund was at peace now and that she would never suffer again but she was lonely without her and would always miss her step sister.

When Jessica returned from school for the holidays after the next term, Emily took her to Rosamund’s grave. The grave stone had been set up and, as well as a touching inscription, Adam had also had engraved,

“Beloved daughter and sister”

Jessica burst into tears. There was no mention of the “step” part of things and it was as if they were one family, whole with each other.

Six months later, Emily achieved her life’s desire and gave birth to a little baby boy. He could never take Rosamund’s place, but he was a solace to the grieving family and a sign that they could not go back, only forward and Rosamund would want them to look to this child’s future.

Many years later, when Jessica herself was married, she gave birth to her second child, a daughter. Smiling through tears, Jessica named her Rosamund Emily.