The Chalet School and the Marlows
The CBB -> Cookies & Drabbles

#1: The Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 11:18 am


Part Two is here.

“And this,” Betsy said, throwing open a door, “is Upper IVa.”
The noise faded almost immediately as the twenty or so girls gathered in the room turned and saw the prefect. One, a tall girl of thirteen or so with chestnut hair hanging in a long plait, detached herself from the group.
“Sorry, Betsy. Were we making an awful row?”
“I’ll forgive you, since it’s the first day of term,” Betsy said with a smile. “Len, these are Miranda West and Nicola Marlow, both for you. Look after them will you.”
The girl gave them a welcoming smile. “Welcome to IVa, and to the Chalet School,” she said warmly. “I’m Len Maynard. This is my sister Con, and these are Rosamund Lilley, Joan Baker and Betty Landon, indicating those who happened to be nearest.
“Len’s Auntie Madge owns the school,” Betty put in helpfully, “so she’s the person to answer all your questions.”
Len flushed, she would not herself have drawn attention to this fact quite so early on. “As if that matters,” she said sturdily. “Anyway, it’s all wrong. Auntie Madge started the Chalet School, back in the Dark Ages, but it’s owned by some sort of limited company now.”
“We seem to be destined for headmistress’s nieces,” Miranda said aside to Nicola, and was then promptly obliged to explain to the others about Tim.
“Sounds awful for her,” Len said. “I don’t think I’d like it if Auntie Madge were still here. Mamma taught here for a while but we three were just babies then.”
“Three?” Nicola asked. “I thought you and Con might be twins….”
The girl who had been introduced as Rosamund shook her head. “There’s Margot as well, but she’s in Lower IVA.”
“Really triplets?” Miranda asked curiously. “Nick’s a twin but I’ve never come across triplets before.”
“We’ve got twins too,” Con told her with a friendly grin, liking Miranda.
“Must be some family!” Miranda grinned back.
Len smiled wickedly, aware she was about to create a sensation with the new girls. “We three came first, then three boys, all singletons as Mamma says. Then the twins, Felix and Felicity, and baby Cecil was born a few weeks ago.”
“Nine of you! Strewth! That even outdoes the ubiquitous Marlows, eh Nick?”
Nicola nodded, forcing a smile, somehow not liking being outdone. “Only eight of us I’m afraid.”
“Any more of you here?” a bright faced damsel who went by the name of Alicia Leonard, asked.
“Just three, my twin Lawrie, Ginty and Ann. Gin’s in the Fifth and Ann would have been head girl if we’d stayed at Kingscote. Giles is in the Navy, Peter at Dartmouth, Kay’s married and Rowan’s running Trennels.”
“Trennels?” Con asked interestedly.
“Home,” Nicola said briefly. “She’s training to be a farmer.”
“Gosh!” Len said. “Mamma could use your family in a book, I should think.”
“A book?” Nicola raised her eyebrows. “Does she write?”
“She’s Josephine M Bettany,” Len told her. “I expect you’ve read some of her books.”
“Fraid not,” Miss Marlow said airily, knowing she was being unkind but not concerned enough to stop herself. “Not my sort of thing at all. Oh, I’ve heard of her – never been inclined to read any; she writes for younger people doesn’t she – school stories and such?”
“Daddy bought me one – something about a Royalist soldier I think,” Miranda tried to smooth things over, for Len was looking decidedly ruffled. “Wasn’t bad.”
Len bit back the reply that was on her lips. She had never bragged about her mother’s writing but she was used to a totally different reaction, keen interest rather than this casual dismissal. For the first time she wondered if her mother’s books were as widely circulated as they had once been. Certainly the last one had not been as good as the others. She and Nicola glared at one another, each feeling herself challenged by the other yet unable to feel a real dislike.
A distant bell stopped any further comment, all conversation ceased and the girls lined up smartly behind Len. “Mittagessen,” Con told the new girls. “We always go in file in the corridors and no talking. Sit as we like first day so stay with me.”
Miranda looked helplessly at Nicola. Files, silences, there seemed to be no end to the strange customs of this new school.


Last edited by nickyj on Sun Oct 10, 2004 7:55 pm; edited 29 times in total

 


#2:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 11:26 am


Great, I can see a situation brewing up between Len and Nicola, just what we're looking forward to.

 


#3:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 8:11 pm


Any chance of some more?
*smiles sweetly and encouragingly*

 


#4:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sun Apr 11, 2004 8:14 pm


These people who will go out and enjoy themselves instead of slaving over a hot keyboard!

 


#5:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Mon Apr 12, 2004 1:41 am


This looks to be shaping up nicely. Is Len going to lose her temper again?

 


#6: Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 5:45 pm


Okay guys, a warning for any of you who are members of the fact police Laughing I do know that there's no evidence that the CS Guide companies started up again in Switzerland. I wanted to explore this one anyway. Anyway, being a crossover this is an alternate universe.......
Nicky

PART IV

“So what happens tomorrow then?”
It was the end of the first week of term, the Chalet School middles were enjoying the free hour before supper in their common room and Nicola Marlow, who had attacked everything that came her way that week with a fierce determination that her sister Rowan would have recognized as a sign of how unsure she really felt, was worn out. Life at Kingscote, she thought to herself, had never been as – frenetic – as this. Not that the class timetable there had been any less onerous and there had always been games practices, especially if, like Nicola, one was generally in teams, but there had been plenty of in-between times, when one was at liberty to roam the grounds with a friend or dig the form garden or play table tennis in the gym or just do nothing. Here they seemed to be constantly on the move, lessons to games practices to prep, with every moment mapped out, even this free hour one was expected to spend in the common room. What Miranda had described in the first few days as ‘petty regulations’ were tiring as well – no talking in the corridors, no going to the dormitories for something you had forgotten, set places at meals. At times Nicola had longed for the relative freedom of Kingscote, where as long as they had behaved decently nobody had minded.
Not that she wasn’t enjoying it. Nicola liked IVA, found that if she worked steadily she could keep up with its leaders, liked most of her formmates in a casual way and was pleased to find that they liked her in return. With Len Maynard, who since that first evening had been inclined to be stand offish, she was conscious of a growing rivalry but there had been no time even to stop and think it over. More than anything, though she would never have admitted it, Nicola was desperately glad that Mr West had given in and agreed to send Miranda.
Miranda, despite her long years at Kingscote, or perhaps because of them, had settled in much faster. She had learned back in the Junior Side to laugh at herself and could do that now when she found herself making mistakes. Her way of dealing with the petty rules that Nicola found so restrictive was to laugh at those too and, if she felt like it, disregard them. She knew that some of the girls, though too well bred to comment, looked at her curiously because she did not attend either sets of prayers (“do they expect us to have two heads or something?” she had murmured to Nicola in an amused voice one day) but that too rolled off her back. She had been lounging in a chair, half listening to the chatter around her, half not, but sat up straighter when she heard Nicola’s question. Her keen ears had already picked up what was on tomorrow’s agenda and she wanted to hear this.
Con Maynard put down her sewing (“they sew for fun!” Lawrie was to write to Tim) and smiled. “Prep, mending, letters,” she said. “Guides after elevenses. Were you Guides at your old school?”
Miranda shook her head, not wholly surprised by Nicola’s lack of response.
“Everyone is here,” Len chipped in. “I expect Captain will put you in a patrol provisionally – I know there are a few spaces in the third company – and arrange for tenderfoot tests and things.”
“Should we want to, I presume?” Miranda enquired drily.
Len raised her eyebrows, not knowing Miranda well enough to be sure how to take this. “Oh but everyone does, Miranda, honestly.”
“It’s compulsory?” Nicola was startled out of her silence by this.
“Well, not exactly,” Alicia Leonard put in. “But as Len says, everyone is except a few poor souls whose parents don’t approve and who go to Matey for extra sewing instead.”
“Not compulsory, but you’re punished for not doing it. Interesting.” It was Miranda again.
“It’s not a punishment exactly,” Margot Maynard put her oar in – Upper IVb, as the lowest form in the Senior Middles, shared the common room. “More an incentive. Your folks aren’t stuffy about it are they, Miranda? You’ll join.”
“I might,” Miranda condescended. “Never been my sort of thing, all those rules you know. All right for people like her Ann,” with a nod to Nicola, “but I like a quieter life. Still, I do like to be in things, you know.”
Margot was nonplussed by this, as she was no doubt meant to be, and turned back to the other new girl. “What about you, Nicola?”
“Nope,” Nicola said briefly, returning to her book.
“What do you mean, nope?” Con asked. “Len told you, everyone does.”
“Not now everyone doesn’t,” Nicola said bluntly. “Not me anyway.”
“Why on earth not?” Con asked tactlessly. “Your sister is.”
“Just not.” Nicola shrugged. “My sister? Ann? Probably. But she’s not me. Nor Gin either, I should think,” illucidly.
“Not Ann, Lawrie.” Margot told her. “Heard her talking about it at lunch.”
“Lawrie?” Nicola caught her breath, feeling suddenly sick at this betrayal. Claustrophobia swept over her and she dropped her book and made for the door. Miranda threw a ‘don’t ask me’ look at the others and followed her.

 


#7:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 6:36 pm


oooh!!
*sees a sibling spat coming up!*

 


#8:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 7:26 pm


Oh dear!!!

Wonder how the CS would take a full explanation of the guide thing...think it would have been handled very differently there.

 


#9:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Tue Apr 13, 2004 10:58 pm


Think I may be missing some references here, but looking forward to seeing what hapens next anyway.

 


#10:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 12:54 pm


Feel a little fog bound here as there are obviously issues coming from their past that I know nothing about. However I will not let this spoil my enjoyment of the storu.

Now eagerly awaiting the next bit.

 


#11:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 3:12 pm


The only way to clear this up is to post more, Nickyj.

 


#12:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 3:15 pm


I can't remember which one of the school books it is in but there is an incident with Nicola and Lawie and guides and they agree that they are never having anything to do with it again

 


#13:  Author: gigagalLocation: London PostPosted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 5:04 pm


It's in Autumn term, when the two get kicked out after being accused of something or other which I cannot remember.

 


#14:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Wed Apr 14, 2004 5:10 pm


Isn't it to do with the fire in the farmyard during Lois' hike for her queens guide??? things slowly coming back to me...and then to do with Lois' reaction and the Court of Honour?

 


#15:  Author: gigagalLocation: London PostPosted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 5:23 pm


Ooh yes, and then at the end, they're "cleared" although they always knew they hadn't had anything to do with the fire.

 


#16:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 6:27 pm


I thought they weren't cleared, but were later told that they could re join if they wished as they showed they had grown up or something. Only read them once or twice, so a bit hazy on details. I knoiw it was an incidnet on a hike that they weren't responsible for, but were accused of, there was a court of honour, someone wasn't honest and they were drummed out of guides, then in a later book invited back but wouldn't go.

Anyone able to give the proper story?

 


#17:  Author: BethCLocation: Worcester, UK PostPosted: Thu Apr 15, 2004 9:12 pm


As far as I remember, that's pretty much how it went, Carolyn. Nicola & Lawrie were accused of starting a fire in a farmyard (through which they'd taken a short cut) because, in an effort to be helpful, they'd taken extra matches with them on a Patrol hike, but Lawrie's had dropped out of her bag. It was later discovered that this hadn't been the cause, but by then Lois (Patrol Leader and set up as Nicola's sort-of-enemy in the school books) had "altered the truth" just enough to convict the twins in the Guide Court of Honour, making Nicola not quite sure enough of herself to deny it, and Lawrie break down in tears, thereby convincing the powers-that-be of her guilt.
Or something like that. Smile
And they are invited back to Guides but refuse (well, Nicola does for both of them), after what's gone on - something about "we've always said we won't come back", which doesn't impress the Guide Captain too much.

And now please may we have some more story? Very Happy

 


#18:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Fri Apr 16, 2004 12:57 pm


Thank you for the explanations

 


#19: Chat School and the Marlows part 5 Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sat Apr 17, 2004 2:23 pm


Sorry guys - real life has intervened in a major way this week. This part should answer the questions of anyone who's not read Autum Term
Nicky

------------------
PART V

“What is it, Nick?” Miranda caught up with her friend halfway along the corridor. “What’s the matter? I know you’ve got a thing about Guides, but….. You never did tell me what happened, you know.”
“Kicked us out,” Nicola said briefly, hardly trusting herself to speak.
“I know that much,” Miranda said impatiently. “What I mean is, what happened that they did that?”
“We set fire to a rick yard.” Nicola suddenly found that after all this time she did want to tell someone, someone who had been outside of the whole affair. “At least, we didn’t, but they said we did and Lois Sanger lied and that was it. And we swore we’d never go back. Even when Redmond came and said they’d found who really did it, and would we. And now Lawrie…”
“Hmm,” Miranda’s laughing mood was gone. “Wish you’d told me. I’d have told Redmond what an ass she was.”
“It was all over by the time you came along.” Nick forebore to mention that at the time Miranda had been enemy not ally but grinned involuntarily at the picture of her telling the Kingscore cookery mistress and Guide Captain a few home truths. “Anyway, I’m not going back.”
“I rather think I might not either,” Miranda said slowly. “All sounds rather unfair to me. And when you look at the types who were Guides at Kingscote – Lois and Marie Dobson and people. No offence to your Ann, but none of the people who mattered were, Rowan or Jan Scott for example.
“D’you still hear from Jan?” Nicola asked, momentarily diverted.
“Postcards,” Miranda said casually. “Now what about this Guides thing?”
“Thought we just decided no, not ever.”
“Yes, but what instead? Extra sewing? Not for this girl. It might be the done thing but if Guides aren’t compulsory how can they punish us for not doing them, that’s what I want to know. D’you happen to know where there’s a copy of the rules of this place by any chance?”
Nick shook her head. “Ann might.”
Miranda’s face cleared. “Bound to. Let’s find her.”
“We can’t go bursting in on the Sixth!” The week at the Chalet School had taught Nicola that certain places, including all sixth form territory, were strictly off limits unless one was asked. “I’ll ask after supper, okay.”
“What are you two doing standing around out here at this time of day, not to mention talking in the corridors?” an imperious voice cut in and they looked up to see a tall senior neither of them knew standing over them.
She looked at them closely. “You’re Ann Marlow’s sister, aren’t you? Anything the matter?”
“No.” Nicola shook her head. “I mean, yes I am and no there’s not. Thanks.”
“Well in case nobody has told you, Miss Marlow and friend,” the senior said with a smile, “you should be in there, not out here. Just be thankful if was only me that caught you and not one of the prees. Go on, scram.”

“Traitor! Beast!” Nicola flung herself into her twin’s cubicle when they were changing for supper that evening.
Lawrie pulled her blue velveteen over her head and looked at her sister as though she was mad. “What did I do?”
“Are you joining Guides?” Nicola asked furiously.
Lawrie shrugged. “Spect so. Everyone does.”
“Even after…. you know! We swore we never would!”
“Not at Kingscote, no. Not with Redmond and Lois and people. Here’s different. Anyway, that was years ago.” To nearly-fourteen-yearold Lawrie her twelve yearold self seemed very distant. “Get over it, Nick.”
Nicola flounced out without another word and went down to supper in no good mood. Margot Maynard and Betty Landon, who sat on either side of her, soon gave up trying to talk to her and her black face reached her sister Ann, who sat further along the same table next to the senior who had told them off in the corridor. Nicola had intended to seek Ann out in any case, to answer Miranda’s query, so she did not demur when a hand fell on her shoulder as they left the dining room.
“What’s happened, Nick? You look awful.”
“Is there somewhere in this place we can talk?” Nicola asked. “That’s not against the rules, that is!”
Ann raised her eyebrows at the bitterness in her tone and drew her into an empty cloakroom, closing the door behind them. “Daresay it is against the rules, but never mind. Spill it.”
In a few brief words, still in that same forced tone, Nicola told her about the scene in the common room and Lawrie’s betrayal. “And I suppose you think she’s right and I should get over it!” she ended.
“Actually I don’t,” Ann said, in a tight voice which reminded Nicola of how Rowan had pointed out that Ann had feelings too. “I was there, remember, and it was beastly for you. I never quite forgave Redmond myself if you must know. Of course I couldn’t say anything" – Nicola wondered why not but kept the thought to herself. "If I were you I probably wouldn’t want to go back either. It’s different for Lawrie, she doesn’t mind the way you do.”
That stunned Nick. “Doesn’t she?”
“Course not. All the tears and hysterics don’t mean a thing. It's all on the surface, so people remember that she mustn't be upset so must have her own way. The Shepherd Boy thing, when she didn’t cry and slam things, she cared then. But not over this.”
Nick, remembering the Prince and the Pauper and Lawrie’s acceptance of Lois as reader, thought that perhaps she was right and filed it away for future reference.
“So you don’t think I should join?”
“Not if that’s how you feel about it,” Ann said definitely. “Just because everyone else does isn’t a good enough reason. It has to be what you want.”
“Len Maynard says it’s pretty much compulsory, or at least it’s that or extra sewing,” her sister told her. “Miranda says if it’s not compulsory they can’t make us do the other thing, can they?”
“Miranda’s logic, as ever, is sound,” Ann observed. “All the same, I wouldn’t go kicking up a fuss this early on, Nick. Don’t be a Guide by all means, but do it quietly. And give Lawrie a break. She’s entitled to have got over it, just as much as you’re entitled not to have. Now, you should be at prep and so should I.”
Nicola followed her out of the cloakroom, thinking that perhaps, Marlow family tradition to the contrary, Ann wasn’t all that bad. For a moment there it had been like talking to Rowan. Except, she thought with a grin, Rowan would probably have advised one to ‘not be a Guide’ very loudly indeed so as to overturn the whole institution.

 


#20:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sat Apr 17, 2004 4:41 pm


Nice to see some more, thank you.I never thought about the sewing as punnishment and that not being fair, butyou are so right. Look forward to seeing how it is dealt with.

 


#21:  Author: gigagalLocation: London PostPosted: Sat Apr 17, 2004 5:42 pm


Yay, loved it!!

 


#22:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat Apr 17, 2004 9:57 pm


May we have some more please??

 


#23: Re: Chat School and the Marlows part 5 Author: SindhuLocation: INDIA PostPosted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 7:07 am


Just read this and ABSOLUTELY LOVED it! I did start on a Marlows drabble earlier, but invention has dried up temporarily at least! This is superfantabulous and could we have more soon, please? Very Happy Very Happy

 


#24:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Sun Apr 18, 2004 6:07 pm


It is unfair that you have to have extra sewing if you don't do guides isn't it?
Surely the authorities could have come up with something more interesting that didn't seem like a punishment.
Enjoying the story, looking forward to the next part.

 


#25:  Author: cazLocation: Cambridge PostPosted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 11:47 am


Ah, but all good Chalet girls want to be Guides. By not wanting to join, a girl is demonstrating deviant behaviour and a refusal to conform which must be punished. Twisted Evil Does seem unfair if parents won't let their daughter join though.

Am really enjoying this story. When will there be more?

 


#26:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Mon Apr 19, 2004 7:59 pm


Was hoping for more as I like the idea of a marlows crossover and this is developing well, bringing in the guides was a great idea.

 


#27: Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 8:36 pm


Don't ask me where this is going - it's writing itself at the moment!! If this doesn't seem like Len, I've always thought there must have been a side to her that EBD didn't let us see, since nobody is THAT perfect Smile Yes, Nicola is picking a fight; she doesn't understand why she feels as strongly as she does about the whole thing and wants to lash out at somebody I think. And if anyone is wondering where Lawrie and Ginty are in all this, you'll see them soon
-----------------------
PART VI

“Thank heavens for a bit of peace and quiet!” Miranda sat back in her chair in the common room and sighed contentedly. “This place does have its advantages, like that, for example,” with a sweep of her hand towards the glorious vista outside the window, “but it’s all a bit much sometimes, if you know what I mean.”
Nicola, curled cat-like on a settee, did know; despite being a normally gregarious soul she was reveling in the unaccustomed silence. They had the normally crowded common room to themselves. During prep and mending and home letters various members of Upper IVA had tried to change their minds about Guides but the two new girls had stuck to their guns, Nicola brusquely, Miranda with an exaggerated politeness that was scarcely less annoying to the Chaletians. Elevenses over, Con Maynard had dutifully shown them the way to Matron’s room and the despised sewing; Miranda had smiled her thanks and, the moment she had gone, caught Nicola’s hand and raced off with her to hide in a quiet corner until it was safe to come back to the common room.

“What the dickens are you two doing in here?” It was the curly haired senior who had stopped them in the corridor the previous evening, now looking very smart in her navy Guide uniform with what Nicola, if not Miranda, recognized as patrol leader stripes on the pocket.
Miranda smiled innocently up at her. “We’re not joining Guides, but we weren’t sure if we were allowed to go out by ourselves. Otherwise we’d have gone for a walk. It’s so beautiful here I can hardly believe it yet.”
The senior smiled sympathetically but was not distracted. “It is, isn’t it. All the same, it’s as well you didn’t go out. Did nobody tell you that you’re supposed to go to Matron’s room for extra sewing?”
“Someone did say something,” Miranda admitted. “But we didn’t realise we had to. After all, Len said Guides wasn’t compulsory, so we naturally assumed the sewing wasn’t either.”
Mary Lou Trelawney, for it was she, looked at the distinctive little face with interest. She knew that she herself had got away with saying many outrageous things in the past by a disarming manner and she recognized that quality in Miranda West. All the same, it was hard for her to believe that two such new girls would defy the rules quite so blatantly and besides, she told herself, she wasn’t a prefect so it was hardly her business to report them.
“Well for future reference…. I don’t know your name, do I?”
“Miranda West,” the owner of the name said. “And this is Nicola.”
“Marlow, yes,” Mary Lou said. “Ann and Ginty’s sister, whose twin Lawrence has just been assigned to my patrol. Well, Miranda and Nicola, if you don’t join Guides then you are expected to go to Matron for extra sewing and after today she will have a list with your names on, so if you don’t you will be missed.”
“Not very fair, is it?” Miranda observed.
“Fair?” The senior raised her eyebrows. “What on earth do you mean?”
“Being punished for not being Guides,” Nicola offered.
“Punished? What rot!”
“Do you like sewing?” Miranda asked.
Mary Lou laughed, caught out. “I do not, as anyone here will tell you. I see your point, though I’ve never thought of it like that before. All the same, them’s the rules. No, no point in going up now, there’ll only be a row. If anyone asks just say you didn’t understand. I’d better get back.” She picked up the book the search for which had brought her to the common room, then paused and turned back to them.
“You might give Guides a go here, you know,” was her parting shot. “Even if you’ve not liked them elsewhere.”

“I say, Len! Len Maynard!” The Guide meeting was over and the girls streaming off to change for lunch.
The patrol second of the Swallows broke off her conversation and turned with a smile. “Mary Lou.”
“Len, what do you mean by letting those two new girls of yours skulk in the common room during Guides? You’re supposed to be seeing to them, aren’t you?”
Len flushed. “I tried to persuade them to come to Guides – we all did. Nicola got all funny about it and I suppose Miranda felt she should stick by her. I told them they had to go for sewing.”
Mary Lou frowned. Len was reliable enough; either there had been a misunderstanding or Miranda, to make her point, had been playing games with her. She decided to let it go for the moment. “Just be a bit more careful to see they do understand next time,” she advised. “And do have another go and getting them to join in.” She smiled at the younger girl and went off on her own concerns, leaving Len to head for her dormitory.

Len brooded over Mary Lou’s words all through lunch. She took her duties as form prefect very seriously and, like most perfectionists, did not like being found fault with. She was a fair girl, however, and while she honestly believed that she had done everything she could, the fact remained that the two new girls had, apparently, misunderstood her. When they had said Grace and cleared the tables she caught up with Nicola and Miranda and tackled them in her usual straightforward manner.
“I say, didn’t you understand that you were supposed to go to Matey for sewing?” she asked. “We did tell you so.”
“For which information we thank you,” Miranda’s tone was perfectly polite but the slight bow she made clearly mocking and Len flushed.
“Mary Lou says you were in the common room.”
“Ah, so that was the redoubtable Mary Lou, was it?” Miranda asked, interested. She had heard Ginty Marlow, who had found herself in Upper Fifth, on the subject of that form’s bossy prefect the day before and was pleased to put a face to the name. “I… ah… explained my views on the subject.”
“Well she came and pitched into me for not looking after you properly,” Len said heatedly.
“I say, sorry and all that,” Miranda said in the soothing voice she had often used to Tim Keith when she had been riled about something. “We didn’t mean to get you into a row. I’ll go and tell this Mary Lou of yours it wasn’t your fault if you like.”
Len cooled slightly at this. “S’okay. I say, won’t you give Guides a try after all, next week? One way out of the sewing.”
“No thanks.” Nicola said shortly, wondering why everyone in this blasted school was so keen to make one be a Guide and wishing violently that they would just leave her alone.
Len, naturally having no idea that she was dealing with anything but normal stubbornness or a dislike of a movement that Nicola clearly did not understand, tried again. “But why not? We have tremendous fun, and besides it makes you awfully smart and teaches you all sorts of things, working as a team and….”
“And passing tests at all costs, regardless of other people,” Nicola finished savagely.
“It’s not like that,” Len said, bewildered.
“Look, I’m not interested!” Nicola flared. “I’ve been one once and I would never, ever go back among a crowd of …. of hypocrites like that!”
“We’re not hypocrites!” Len said stormily. “You don’t know anything about it if you think that. Maybe your last company was different but I hope we know how to treat people decently here.”
The gathering crowd watched with interest. It was generally believed that Len Maynard did not have a temper and, despite her odd behaviour over Guides, there had been nothing until now to suggest to Upper IVA that Nicola Marlow did either. Miranda, who knew better on one count, stood back and waited for the fireworks.
Nicola, asked to explain herself afterwards, could not. Perhaps she had not yet got over what she saw as Lawrie’s betrayal, perhaps it was that even after all this time the memories of that Court of Honour were raw to the touch and Len seemed to be scraping her fingernails across them. In any case, she flung back her head and spoke as bitingly as she knew how.
“Of course. The perfect Chalet School and the perfect Len Maynard with her perfect mother…”
That was more than Len could take. She forgot her form prefectship and the dignity of her fourteen years: she drew back her hand and slapped Nicola hard across the face.

 


#28:  Author: cazLocation: Cambridge PostPosted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 9:02 pm


Yay, more drabble! Thank you, nickyj, this is really great. As a fan of the Marlows as well as the CS I'm really enjoying this crossover.

 


#29:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Fri Apr 23, 2004 9:11 pm


Wonderful.

We are told Len has a temper although we don't see it much, That was excellent.

Love the way ML and Miranda are likened to each other in getting away with cheek, yet are the antithisis of each other.

 


#30:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Apr 24, 2004 6:32 am


Wow, Len achieving a little character at last!

 


#31:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat Apr 24, 2004 2:55 pm


*waiting eagerly to see what happens!*

 


#32:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Apr 24, 2004 2:56 pm


Start yelling, Vikki.

 


#33: The Chalet School & the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2004 4:52 pm


PART VII

“Len Maynard!” Betsy Lucy’s voice cut through the shocked silence that followed as she pushed her way through the crowd. “What in heavens name is going on here? How dare you behave like that, and to a new girl too? No, I don’t want to hear a word from you right now,” as Len, still angry, opened her mouth to speak. “Go to your dormitory and stay there until I send for you. The rest of you, get off to wherever you ought to be. No, not you,” and she put a firm hand on Nicola’s shoulder. “You’d better come with me and tell me what this is all about.” She waited until the others had gone, dismissing Miranda, who was hovering, with a cutting word or two, then steered her charge up to the prefects room, which was deserted at this hour.
Despite her black mood Nicola looked around with interest; the Kingscote prefects had not had a room like this. Then again, she had learned already that prefectship at the Chalet School was a very different affair than at Kingscote, where the prefects, other than the games ones, had been mainly an administrative convenience, keeping an eye on classes in the absence of a mistress or carrying messages for the staff. She could not for one moment imagine Val Longstreet, for example, or her sister Karen, taking command of a situation the way Betsy Lucy had just done. That thought recalled her to just why she was there and she found herself feeling slightly sick, wondering what was to come. That she was just as much to blame as Len for the scene in the corridor, if not more, she could hardly deny.
“Sit down,” Betsy said, not unkindly, indicating a chair across the table from her. “You’re one of Ann Marlow’s sisters, aren’t you.”
Nicola nodded, inwardly wishing, not for the first time, that she had been an only child and so could not ever be known first as Karen or Rowan or Ann’s sister. “I’m Nicola.”
“Well, Nicola, perhaps you’d like to tell me what happened.”
It was not in Nicola Marlow not to give a straight answer to a direct question, a fact that had got her into trouble on more than one occasion, and she did so now.
“They wanted us to join Guides. I said I didn’t want to.”
Betsy raised her eyebrows, she had heard one or two comments at lunchtime about the refusal of the two new girls in Upper IVA to join. “I see. But you’re not telling me that Len Maynard slapped you just because of that, surely?”
Nicola flushed. “Not exactly. I said some things.”
The head girl sat back in her chair. “What things? And I intend to find out eventually, so you may as well tell me the lot now.”
“Oh, damn-blow-blast-and-bloody-hell,” Nick sighed, being Peter, and prepared to meet her doom by telling all. She did not have a chance to speak, however.
“What did you just say?” Betsy demanded, her face blackening.
“I didn’t yet. Only damn-blow-blast-and-bloody-hell ” Nick knew that her mother mildly disapproved of the expression and she would probably not have used it to a staff at Kingscote, but could not believe that it was that that had upset the head girl so suddenly. “It’s what my brother Peter – he’s at Dartmouth – says if he knows he’s in a corner and has to tell something he doesn’t want to.”
Betsy might have boy cousins but they would never have dreamed of using such words in front of a girl, so there was no exaggeration in the shocked tone in which she spoke. “Well I would advise you to forget it and any other such choice words while you are here. We don’t allow slang, much less swearing, in this school.”
Nicola considered protesting that it was hardly swearing but thought better of it. “No, Betsy,” she said with what she hoped was proper deference.
“If you weren’t so new I’d put you on silence,” the head girl went on. “As it is you can learn twenty lines of Shakespeare and repeat them to me after prep on Monday. Now, back to the matter in hand, perhaps you would like to tell me what exactly you said to Len Maynard this afternoon.”
As coherently as she could Nicola recounted the scene. Asked to explain why she had, to all intents and purposes, picked a fight with her form prefect she was unable to say more than that she had been mad and was sorry, which was true enough.
“Between the language and the behaviour you’re quite a little hooligan, aren’t you?” Betsy asked scathingly. “What impression do you think we are getting of your old school and your family from all this?”
Nicola was too sick with herself to do more than shake her head. It had been an unsettling week and, almost unheard of for her, she felt awfully as though if she were pushed much more she might cry, something she had no intention of doing in front of Betsy Lucy, who, if she were honest, she had rather admired from the first day.
Betsy perhaps understood this, at any rate she softened her voice. “I don’t want to see you in here again, Nicola,” she said. “For now, I think you had better go to your dormitory and go to bed for the rest of the day. I will let Matron know where you are and someone will bring you up some tea. And I hope that you will apologise to Len when you come down tomorrow. That’s all – you can go.”
That nearly finished Nicola and she bit her lip fiercely as she made her way to her dormitory. Kingscote punishments had largely meant order marks and silences; even the humiliation of having her conduct mark read out in assembly faded in comparison to being sent to bed like a baby by a girl who was only three years older than she was.

“Of course there’s no excuse for Len,” Betsy said to a select group of prefects twenty minutes later. “She of all people knows that you can’t behave like that. But she was certainly provoked.”
“What are you going to do?” Blossom Willoughby, the games prefect, asked. “And what’s all this Guide business about anyway? Why does the kid have such a hate at it?”
“There you have me,” Betsy said. “But I intend to find out. Hilary, find a junior and send her for Ann Marlow, would you mind?”

Ann was playing tennis with Josette Russell when the summons came. She had heard about the scene in the corridor, of course – it was all over the school that Len Maynard and one of the new girls had had a stand up fight in the corridor – and she had had a suspicion that Lawrie might be the new girl concerned. So she was unsurprised to be called, handed her racquet to Josette who offered to put it away, and ran in to tidy her hair in the Sixth form Splashery before making her way sedately up to the prefects room.
Betsy smiled at her as she came in; she liked what she had seen of her and thought that, new or not, she was a likely candidate for prefectship when one or two of the elder girls left at the end of that term. “Come and have a pew, Ann, and tell us what’s got your kid sister so riled.”
Ann pulled up a chair; rarely self conscious, she was totally at home among the grandees of the school, just as even after a few days she was completely at home with the school itself. “So it was Lawrie who had a scrap with Len Maynard? I might have known.”
“Lawrie?” Betsy looked puzzled for a moment, then her brow cleared. “Oh, the other twin. No, my dear, Nicola.”
“Nick? Are you sure?” Ann demanded. “They do look awfully alike, you know.”
“Well, it sat in that chair and said its name was Nicola,” Betsy said, “so unless it was an elaborate charade…”
Ann seriously considered that possibility for a moment. “It wouldn’t be the first time,” she said drily. “All the same, perhaps not. What did she do?”
“Some row about joining Guides,” Betsy said. “Or rather about not joining.”
That ended Ann’s doubts as to which twin. “Yes, that was Nicola,” she confirmed.
“She seems to feel strongly enough about it to have provoked one of the steadiest girls in the school into smacking her,” Betsy told her. “Oh, don’t look so worried – I’ve dealt with it and nobody blames you for the behaviour of an idiot kid sister. But she’s obviously pretty unhappy about Guides and I thought you might know why. I understand she was one once.”
“Yes,” Ann said slowly. “She had a bad experience – there were people in the Kingscote company who perhaps weren’t all they should have been, and Nick and Lawrie were asses on this occasion but the whole thing got very badly out of hand. I knew she was hurting over it – she came to me yesterday evening about the fact that people were badgering her to join. I can’t tell you the whole story, Betsy – she wouldn’t like it and it wouldn’t be fair on her.”
Betsy nodded. “Understood. All the same, I’m glad to know that there was something behind today other than pure bad temper. She’s seemed a decent enough kid until now, if her language is a bit colourful.”
Ann laughed. “I wondered if she’d come up against the slang rule. Binks – Peter, our brother – is at Dartmouth and Giles and Daddy in the Navy and well, Nick’s always been one to pick up things. I won’t ask what she said – I hope it wasn’t too awful.”
The head girl laughed too at this matter of fact way of looking at it. “I’ve made it clear that she’s not to use it again,” she said. “Thanks, Ann. Yes, come in,” as there was a tap at the door.
Ann passed the newcomer in the doorway with a look of surprise but made no comment. The fourth former came into the room, looking slightly taken aback at seeing so many of the prefects there, but stood her ground.
“Betsy, could I speak to you please?” she asked demurely.
Betsy raised her eyebrows – for a younger girl to come to the prefects room like this was almost unheard of. Then again, from what she had seen and heard, Miranda West was not your run of the mill youngster.
She got to her feet. “You shouldn’t be indoors at this hour, Miranda,” she said. “But I can give you ten minutes – wait for me by the tennis courts.”

“A Head’s Report?” Len Maynard looked across at the head girl in horror. “Betsy, must you? Please? I know I behaved awfully, but Auntie Hilda will lynch me and if Mamma hears of it she’ll be so upset.”
“Probably,” Betsy said grimly. “Len, you haven’t left me any choice. I know that you were provoked, but physical violence has to go to the Head, you know that. I’ll try and persuade her not to go to Auntie Jo, but that’s all I can do. Now tidy yourself and come with me.”
Shaking, Len followed her along the corridors. In all her schooldays she had never been sent to the Head for bad behaviour; moreover it had been drummed into her that as the niece of its founder and the eldest daughter of one of its best head girl, the standard of behaviour expected of her was higher than of the rank and file of the school. The ten minutes she spent standing in the corridor outside the study while the head girl made her report were the worst of her school career.
“She’ll see you now, Len.” Betsy, very grave, put a hand on her arm as she came out.

 


#34:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2004 5:02 pm


More please! This is great! What will Miss Annersley say to Len?!

 


#35:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2004 7:01 pm


catherine wrote:
More please! This is great! What will Miss Annersley say to Len?!


Okay, I'll be kind and won't make you wait a whole week to find out (or resort to EBD's 'X never told anybody what happened between them but she left the study a much wiser and nicer girl'). Just a short chapter though
----------------------

PART VIII

“Come in, Helena.” There was no inch of ‘Auntie Hilda’ in the headmistress of the Chalet School as she rose from one of the comfortable chairs by the window and came to sit behind the desk. The never used full name said it all. Len stood opposite the desk, eyes fixed on the carpet.
“I don’t think I need to tell you how disappointed and ashamed I am of you.” The low, clear voice had an edge to it that most of the girls never heard. “That any of our girls could forget themselves so far as to strike another girl, especially one who has only been with us a week, is of great concern to me. That you, of all people, could have so little control leaves me almost speechless. I have heard the whole story and I think that you can trust Betsy to have told it fairly. Do you feel that you have any excuse to offer for your behaviour?”
Len raised her eyes briefly and shook her head. “No, Miss Annersley. I’m sorry, really I am. I don’t know what came over me.”
“And do you think that your being sorry after the event will stop Nicola Marlow and her sisters thinking that the Chalet School approves of hooliganism, or the other girls, girls whom you are supposed to be leading, thinking that they can behave like that?”
“No, Miss Annersley.” Her eyes dropped again.
“Look at me, Helena.” The headmistress waited until her pupil had obeyed, then spoke more gently. “I realise that you were provoked and that you were not wholly to blame for the situation. But you were wholly responsible for your actions; the choice to resort to violence was yours and yours alone.”
“Are you… are you going to tell Mamma?” Len ventured shakily.
“No,” her headmistress told her, still in that same grave voice. “But I expect that you will have to. She will want to know why you are no longer form prefect.”
“Auntie Hilda!... I mean, Miss Annersley!”
Miss Annersley ignored the slip. “My dear Helena, do you really think that I can allow you to remain in your position after such a public exhibition of temper?.”
Len shook her head. “Can … may I go home tomorrow afternoon and tell Mamma before….”
“Before she hears it from someone else?” the head asked, with some sympathy. “Yes, you may go over to Freudesheim directly after church tomorrow for an hour. Your mother will, I have no doubt, be as grieved and disgusted as I am.”
That finished Len; she dashed her hand across her eyes but could not stop the tears from trickling down her cheeks. She always been the good girl of the family, and of the school, and this quiet condemnation hurt her much more than any amount of scolding would have done.
Hilda Annersley saw that she had had enough. “I am not going to publicly demote you, Helena, but I think that the girls will realise what has happened and why, and I hope that the loss of this honour will be a sharp lesson to you. Now, I want you to go in there,” and she motioned to her private cloakroom, “and wash your face and pull yourself together.”
Len obeyed, almost blinded by tears, and her headmistress picked up the telephone and asked her secretary to send someone to find Betsy Lucy. The headgirl arrived just as Len reappeared, the tears ceased for now although clearly with an effort.
“Betsy, I want you to take Helena to her dormitory and see her into bed,” the head said. “And I would like you to bring Nicola Marlow to me directly after church tomorrow.”
“Yes Miss Annersley.” The head girl made her curtsy, waited while Len did the same, and then ushered her out. Betsy was a kind hearted soul; she had hated making the report and hated it even more to see the effect it had had, so she put a gentle arm around Len’s shoulders as she took her up to her dormitory and, once she was changed and between the sheets, tucked her in with a tender hand. Left to herself, Len buried her face in the pillow and cried some of the bitterest tears she had ever shed.

 


#36:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2004 7:36 pm


Poor Len! This would be especially hard for her to deal with.

(Thanks for not leaving this hanging all week, Nicky.)
(.....but what happens next??)

 


#37:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2004 7:43 pm


Thanks Nicky! Poor Len though! I hope Nicola gets her just desserts too!

 


#38:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2004 8:30 pm


catherine wrote:
Poor Len though! I hope Nicola gets her just desserts too!


Funny how things don't turn out as you expect. I'm not a huge Len fan and have always liked Nicola and I suppose I wanted Len to come off worst in this encounter. Now she has I feel rather sorry for her (though I do think Miss Annersley had no choice but to demote her, I think it will take her a while to get over this). I feel almost inclined to punish Nicola by having her repent and become a True Chalet School Girl.....
Will try & do some more during the week, but Real Life, you know, is a real pain in the neck!
Nicky

 


#39:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2004 9:07 pm


*feeling sorry for Len*

 


#40:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sun Apr 25, 2004 9:10 pm


Loving the development here.

 


#41:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Apr 26, 2004 7:19 am


This is great. I hope we see Hilda dealing with Nicola, no closed study door, please.

 


#42:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Apr 26, 2004 12:06 pm


This is great! I've just got into Antonia Forest, and I think you've caught Nicola et al really well. Looking forward to more.

 


#43:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Mon Apr 26, 2004 2:11 pm


This is really good. Feeling sorry for Len- but she shouldn't have done it.



Thanks to wonderful Carolyn - I now know the Marlows, and am really enjoying the books.

 


#44: Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Thu Apr 29, 2004 9:05 pm


Thanks for all the kind comments - glad you're enjoying it. It's certainly passing my dull train journeys writing it.
I was going to cheat over Nicola's interview with Miss Annersley but have been persuaded not to....... It took me forever to write & I'll be interested to hear if you think it works.

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

PART IX

“Len, I’m sorry.” Never one for putting unpleasant things off, Nicola went straight across to the eldest triplet as Upper IVA gathered in their splashery the following morning to change their shoes and don their hats for church. “I was a real beast to you yesterday.” She held out her hand.
Len looked up wearily. She had had a bad night – the tears had brought sleep but it had been troubled and she had woken in the early hours dreading the coming interview with her mother. She was honest enough to know that she had deserved her punishment, though. and too generous to hold it against the girl who had caused the trouble, so she managed a faint smile and shook the proferred hand. “We got off to a bad start. And I shouldn’t have teased you about Guides.”
Nicola returned the smile. “Hope you didn’t get in too much of a row.”
“Not as much as we will if we stand around talking any longer,” Len told her. She wasn’t ready to tell anyone just how bad the row had been. “Come on, most of the rest have gone.”

“Sit down, Nicola. I will be with you in a moment.” Miss Annersley waved the girl to the straight backed chair in front of the desk and went back to the papers she was reading. Nicola wriggled uncomfortably as she waited. Having made her peace with Len she had gone off to church with a clear conscience, assuming that the whole episode was behind her. The message that she was to go straight to the study on her return had come as a nasty surprise.
She realised that the Head had finished with her papers and was sitting back in her chair looking at her.
“I’ve just been re-reading your reports from Kingscote, Nicola,” she said calmly. She picked up one piece of paper and read from it. “ ‘In the classroom Nicola applies herself diligently and her place in the form reflects this. Outside of it she has a tendency to be irresponsible and, on occasion, a little too sure of her own importance’.” Nicola flushed, recognizing Miss Keith’s words, but the headmistress had taken up a second paper and was going on. “Your old form mistress, on the other hand, thinks rather highly of you. ‘Nicola is a pleasant and cheerful member of her form and a natural leader among her peers’.”(“Heck!” Nick thought to herself. “Crommie really said that?”).
Miss Annersley put the reports back down and looked straight at her pupil. “I mention this, Nicola, because nowhere in either report are you described as malicious or spiteful.”
“I’m not, Miss Annersley!” Nicola was outraged.
“The account I heard from Betsy Lucy of your altercation with Len Maynard, an account, I may remind you, that came originally from you yourself, might suggest otherwise,” was the dry response. “How else would you describe deliberately goading another girl into losing her temper? That is what you did, isn’t it?”
Nick was totally taken aback by this approach. Miss Keith had scolded one for one’s actions, she had never made her pupils analyse themselves. “I don’t know. I mean, I didn’t mean to but I suppose you could see it like that,” she said incoherently.
“How else might one see it?” Miss Annersley asked, raising her eyebrows.
“I…. I was upset. I really hated her at that moment. I’d have said anything. I didn’t actually mean anything.”
“What had she done to make you hate her?”
“It’s just this Guide thing!” Nicola’s head was spinning. “She kept pushing and….”
“Did you tell her why you don’t want to join?”
Nicola shook her head. “No.”
“Was it her fault that you were treated badly by your old Guide company?”
Nicola was too unsure of her ground by now to ask who had told her new headmistress about that; she supposed dimly that Keith had though it sounded a bit sympathetic for her. Ann p’raps. She just shook her head again.
“So why do you think you had the right to hurt her, when she was just trying to do her job?” Miss Annersley saw that her pupil was in no state of mind to answer at that moment, so she did it for her. “Shall I tell you how I see it, Nicola? I don’t think that you are malicious or spiteful. I don’t even think that this spat with Len was really about Guides, though I accept that you were upset by that situation and I understand why. I think you’re jealous of her. Your family were something of a tradition at Kingscote, weren’t they? You were, by all accounts, a leader of your form, both academically and in other ways. You come here and you see another girl who holds that position here, and you are jealous.”
Nobody had even spoken so plainly to Nicola before. Her first instinct was to defend herself, to protest that it was mostly to get away from the whole Marlow tradition thing that she had been so pleased to come here. But then a seed of doubt crept in, she remembered the feelings she had had at her first meeting with Len Maynard and she began to see them for what they were.
“I……” Nicola was rarely lost for words but she was now. She felt as though the carpet had been pulled from under her feet, that she was alone in a strange country and she no longer knew what was expected of her. Suddenly, horribly, she felt a lump in her throat. She could not – would not! – cry here. Best to stay silent rather than try to explain.
Miss Annersley was experienced enough with girls not to see this absence of an answer as stubbornness.
“I want you to go away now, Nicola,” she said quietly. “The others are back from their walk and it is nearly time for lunch. Everybody is to be out of doors this afternoon – we must make the most of this weather while it lasts. I want you to take a deckchair to a quiet corner of the garden and think about what I have said. If anyone speaks to you you must send them away. I will see you back here at eighteen hundred hours. Off you go.”
Nicola, for a wonder, managed to remember the regulation curtsey. The headmistress watched her go with interest, wondering whether she was right and Nicola Marlow had good stuff in her and had just lost her footing in her new surroundings, or whether the slightly damning report from Miss Keith was only the tip of the iceberg.
Her thoughts were stopped in their tracks by the ringing of the telephone.
“Yes, Rosalie?”
“It’s Jo Maynard for you, Hilda,” her secretary told her.
Hilda sighed. It was too much to hope for that Joey would have taken the disgrace of her eldest daughter calmly, she was sure. “Put her on, Rosalie. And have someone send Betsy Lucy to me in five minutes, would you? I need her to run over to Freudesheim so she can change her shoes and get her blazer before she comes.”

 


#45:  Author: cazLocation: Cambridge PostPosted: Thu Apr 29, 2004 10:12 pm


Thanks, nickyj, this is soooo good!

 


#46:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 6:44 am


Please let us have some more of this, it's just hotting up nicely!

 


#47:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 8:22 am


Ooooh, that was interesting. Well done, study scenes are so difficult sometimes.

It will be fascinating to see the interview between Hilda and Joey over this as well.

 


#48:  Author: RachLocation: Cheltenham, England PostPosted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 9:28 am


That was really interesting... especially the analysis of why Nicola might feel as she does. Can't wait to hear how Joey reacts, though...

 


#49:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 2:06 pm


This is really good am really enjoying this story.

Wonder what the reaction of the staff will be when they find out that part of it is a reaction to the choice of either Guides or sewing? Surely they can come up with something else for non Guides to do - especially as Guides is not supposed to be compulsory.

 


#50:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 2:26 pm


Yes, that situation reeks of blackmail, doesn't it?

 


#51:  Author: ChelseaLocation: Your Imagination PostPosted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 2:38 pm


I know I'd choose Guides over sewing!! I always figured that it was mainly Continental girls who choose not to be Guides (thinking Thelka) and, of course, all Continental girls love sewing Very Happy , so it wasn't seen as a bad option. This is just something that I made up, there is no indication that it is true from the books Rolling Eyes

 


#52:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 3:01 pm


The point is that the girls are gieven no real chice of alternative activity, it's either Guides or household mending for Matey.

BTW, they must have been very hard on their sheets as they're always having to turn them sides to middle.

It's just that I think that life's too short to do that. And if you do it, it makes a very uncomfortable ridge down the middle of the bed.

 


#53:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 6:44 pm


Doesn't it make the sheet too narrow, or do you have to sew together as well once they have been sides to middled?

 


#54: The Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Fri Apr 30, 2004 8:38 pm


Hi guys,
Okay, here you are, a little bit of resolution, but for those of you who think Nick might be getting off a bit lightly remember Hilda's parting comments to her.........
Will try and do some more for Sunday night - it's sort of written

Nicky
--------------------------

PART X

“Hilda, what the dickens has been going on?” Joey demanded wrathfully, ignoring preliminary courtesies and going straight to the point. “I know that Len has a temper but it’s well enough under control for goodness sake. She doesn’t just go round slapping people! Are you sure…..”
“Joey, you know me better than that. Of course I’m sure – Betsy Lucy saw the whole thing,” the Head remonstrated, cutting across what promised to be a long tirade. “Calm down and listen, do. It wasn’t wholly Len’s fault – she was provoked very strongly. No, I don’t suppose she did tell you that bit. She and the other girl – never mind who she was – seem to have been at loggerheads since the start of term and this was the result of that, as far as I understand it. I’m sorry, Jo – I wouldn’t have demoted her if I’d had any choice, but she slapped another girl in front of half the form. I couldn’t possibly overlook that – I had to make an example of her, you must see that.”
“Oh, I suppose so,” Joey assented reluctantly. “Just, Len of all people! If it had been Margot, you know….”
“We’d all have been less shocked,” Hilda agreed. “I don’t think most people even thought Len had a temper until yesterday. All the same, Joey, you weren’t too hard on her, were you? She’s totally miserable over it.”
“Whipped her soundly and sent her to bed with no supper,” Joey said airily. “Oh, Hilda, don’t be an ass! What do you think? You saw how she looked this morning, poor darling. Oh, I spoke very seriously to her, of course, but I didn’t need to say much. She’s devastated with herself.”
“I hoped you’d take it that way,” Hilda said thankfully. “She wasn’t entirely to blame, you know, though it doesn’t excuse her.”
“Hilda, I want to keep her here for the afternoon,” Joey said pleadingly. “I know she doesn’t deserve an exeat right now but she’s awfully cut up – I’ve not seen her cry like that for years.”
“I know she is, but the answer has to be no, I’m afraid,” Hilda told her firmly. “Quite apart from the fact that, as you say, she doesn’t deserve it, it won’t do her any good to run away from facing the rest. Don’t worry, Jo, I’ll keep an eye on her. I’ve an errand that needs running further along the Platz – Betsy can take your three along with her, and Len can go to bed early. No, no arguments. I’ll send someone along to collect her in ten minutes.”

“You were right, Miss Annersley.” Nicola stood in front of her headmistress that evening, hands folded behind her back, looking the very picture of a proper schoolgirl in her gentian tunic and cream blouse. She had spent a long and difficult afternoon and it showed; her eyes had none of their usual sparkle and her voice was weary, but she was never one to funk something difficult and she spoke bluntly. “I was jealous of Len, right from the start I think. And I can see how what I did – well, you were right about that too. I’m sorry.”
The headmistress smiled gravely. “If you can admit that then the battle is half won,” she said. “Tell me, Nicola, this aside, are you unhappy here?”
Nicola shook her head. “Heck no. Just – it’s different.”
Miss Annersley nodded, then changed the subject completely.
“Nicola, I want you to give Guides another chance. I think our company can do a lot for you, and you have a lot to give to it.”
She knew this would be an unpopular suggestion but was not ready for the complete change of expression that came over her pupil. Nicola’s whole face darkened, her muscles tensed and she shook her head mutinously.
“ I do understand what I am asking here,” the Head went on. “You feel, rightly, that you were treated badly and that the movement let you down. I don’t expect you to take my word for it that you will find the Chalet companies a very different experience. I’m not asking you to join straight away but I would like you to go along to a meeting or two, once you have got to know the girls a little better. If after a month you still feel very strongly that it is not for you then I, and everyone else, will accept that, and I will allow you, and Miranda if she chooses to keep you company, to use that time for a chosen hobby. I am told that Miranda feels that it is unfair to punish girls who do not belong by sending them for sewing and I am willing to see that she has a point. But I want you to give it a try.”
Nick twisted her fingers behind her back, looking no longer defiant but miserable.
“I just hate the thought of it is all.”
“My dear, I know that,” the Head said quietly. “I don’t ask you to give me an answer now, just that you go away and think about it. What about it?”
Nicola gave in that much. “Okay.”
“One last thing, Nicola,” and the smile vanished. “Your behaviour yesterday will not be referred to again. However, I will warn you that you cannot expect the other girls to be quite so understanding. Len is very popular with them, you know. I am afraid that you are going to learn the hard way that behaviour like that brings its own punishment. That is all, you may go.”

“I’ll have some supper sent up in an hour or so, Len,” Matey, as Matron Lloyd was always known, said gently, looking down at the sensitive face on the pillow. It was still pale, but an afternoon in the fresh air and the company and support of her sisters had taken away some of the strained look. “You can read until then if you like.”
Len took up her book but found that she was still too unsettled to concentrate on it. Both temper and tears were fairly foreign to her and the headmistress’s words would be with her for a very long time. She was lying there staring at the ceiling an hour later when the cubicle curtains were parted and Miss Annersley herself appeared with a tray.
“How are you feeling, my dear?”
Len twisted the coverlet between her fingers, not wanting to meet those piercing blue eyes and hating herself for it. “Much better, thank you.”
The Head set down the tray and came to sit on the side of the bed, taking the firm chin in her fingers and tilting it so that she could see the girl properly. Len, to her dismay, felt tears pricking at the back of her eyelids.
“Auntie Hilda, I’m so sorry.”
Hilda smoothed the wavy hair back from the grey eyes and smiled down at her. “I know you are. I’m not going to mention it again, Len. I think you understand why I had to be so severe with you. And I want you to promise me that you won’t punish yourself too much over it. We all make mistakes, all our lives. And think about this for me. Already you are a leader in this school, some day you will be at least a prefect. If you have never been in trouble yourself, it is so much harder to put yourself in the shoes of those who are and thus temper justice with mercy.” She caressed the pale face. “I want you to remember what I said to you yesterday, but I don’t want you to dwell too much on it.”
“I’ll do my best.” Len managed a faint smile.
“That’s all I ask. Now, I’m going to leave you to clear that tray, then I’ll come back and tuck you in. I don’t suppose you had a lot of sleep last night.”
“Not much.” Suddenly hungry, Len sat up properly and tackled the light meal. By the time that the headmistress came back twenty minutes later she was fast asleep.

 


#55:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat May 01, 2004 10:58 am


Ah, wasn't Hilda great in that, real tempering justice with mercy.

 


#56:  Author: Guest PostPosted: Sat May 01, 2004 7:23 pm


nickyj this is brilliant stuff, wish I had found this thread earlier! You have really captured both Nick and Miranda so well, and you can see in this Nick's sensitive side which is alluded to but never examined in more detail in the books. Brilliant brilliant brilliant - can we have some more please?

 


#57:  Author: DawnLocation: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Sat May 01, 2004 7:30 pm


this is just so good Nicky - can't wait for the next bit

Carolyn - re sewing sheets sides to middles - I can remember my grandmother having these and she hated sewing! The sheets were large flat cotton ones and there was enough left to still be able to tuck them in. Thank goodnes she never put them on my bed when I went to stay

 


#58:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Sun May 02, 2004 4:51 pm


This is so good and enjoyable, I really like the way tou are looking into your characters heads.
I do hope there is more soon.

 


#59: The Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sun May 02, 2004 5:36 pm


Just a little bit - somehow the latest worm managed to get past my totally-up-to-date anti virus software & I've spent half the day sorting it out!!!
-----------------
PART XI

“Lawrence Marlow, what are you doing here by yourself at this time of day?” Hilary Burn, on her way down to supervise the senior hockey trials the following Wednesday afternoon, stopped short at the sight of the Middle School girl. Wednesday was devoted to games and the fourths were supposed to be at tennis, with some of the prefects in charge.
The girl, who had been sitting disconsolately on a low wall, kicking her heels against it in a fashion guaranteed to do the backs of her shoes no good, looked up, faintly amused.
“I’m Nicola, Miss Burn, not Lawrie.”
The mistress looked more closely. “So you are. I apologise, Nicola, but you are ridiculously alike, you know. Then I suppose you’re used to hearing that,” with a smile.
Nicola smiled back, she liked the young games mistress. “People have mixed us up before,” she admitted.
Miss Burn went back to the matter in hand. “Either way, that doesn’t explain why you’re here and not on the courts.”
Nicola looked down again, too proud to admit that she had tried to join a game but had been snubbed, and murmured something about all the sets being full.
“Nonsense,” Miss Burn said briskly. “Someone will change out with you, the prefect in charge should see to that.” She noted the unhappy little face and softened her tone. “Go to the practice wall, then, Nicola, and work on your backhand. That’s your weakest point. Blossom Willoughby is over there and she’ll give you some pointers.”
Privately Nicola doubted that, but it was not something one could say to a mistress, even one as nice as Miss Burn, so she just nodded. “Yes, Miss Burn.”
“You could make the Junior Six next summer if you work at it,” the games mistress told her, turning away. “And it’s better for your shoes than kicking that wall,” she tossed over her shoulder as she went on her way.
Slightly cheered by that thought, then sobering at the thought that she might still be in Coventry next summer, Nicola slid off her wall, picked up her racquet from the ground where she had dropped it and trailed off towards the tennis courts.

The senior hockey trials had just finished. The established team members among the Sixth had gathered around the games mistress to discuss their prospects and Ginty Marlow, who, as a new girl, had been playing for what at Kingscote would have been called the ‘possibles’ and had acquitted herself very well indeed, drifted off the pitch in company with Jo Scott and Josette Russell, laughing and flushed with the exercise, feeling more herself than she had done since that awful day at Trennels when she had said goodbye to Patrick Merrick. She had never minded before – at school Patrick had faded into the background, just as her best at-school-friend Monica had done during the holidays – but somehow after Rupert and Rosina and that hoo-haa over the phone calls things had been different and this time the goodbye had been for more than a term, knowing that perhaps by the time they went back to Trennels Patrick would have grown up and everything would be different. At this precise moment, however, Ginty was perfectly content with her lot.
“Gin! Ginty!” She looked up and saw her sister Ann standing on the sidelines, hands deep in her blazer pockets, and frowned slightly. There was no avoiding it however, whatever it was, so with a word to her companions she ran across to join her.
“What’s up, Ann?” she asked, for Ann was looking – more Ann-ish than usual she said mentally.
“Gin, have you seen anything of Nick the past few days.”
Ginty shrugged. “Hardly. They work you so hard in this blessed place I’ve not had time for much else. Not that she hasn’t made her mark from what I hear. Josette Russell is Len Maynard’s cousin and I’ve heard her on the subject, though she stopped pretty smartish when she realised Nick was my sister. What’s the worry?”
“Just that when I’ve seen her she’s not looked very happy,” Ann said. “Think she’s avoiding me (she was right on that count, Nicola knew instinctively that this was one of those occasions when Ann’s fussing attention would only make her feel worse) or I’d ask her.”
“If she doesn’t want to talk you can’t make her,” Ginty said practically, and a touch heartlessly. “You should know that by now.”
“I thought p’raps you could talk to her,” Ann ventured.
“Me? Why on earth?” Ginty demanded horrified. It wasn’t, she told herself, that she wasn’t awfully fond of her sisters, but she was no good at all at that sort of thing; the soothing noises and platitudes that calmed Lawrie’s moods perhaps, but Nick – well, Nick was like Rowan, inscrutable.
“I wish Rowan was here!” Ann unconsciously echoed her sister’s train of thought.
“Well Rowan’s a thousand miles away,” Ginty said, with a twinge as she realised that if Rowan was then so was Patrick, except that being term-time the Merricks would be in London, which was a tinsy bit closer. She pulled herself back to the conversation. “Don’t fuss, Ann. Nick’ll be all right. Always is.”
Ann, unsure, supposed that Ginty was right, and in any case there seemed to be nothing she could do. She nodded and they turned back towards the school, Ginty talking excitedly about her hockey prospects.

 


#60:  Author: BethCLocation: Worcester, UK PostPosted: Sun May 02, 2004 8:15 pm


Enjoying this very much, Nicky - more as soon as you can, please!

(worm hammer )

 


#61: The Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Mon May 03, 2004 5:34 pm


Cut to the staffroom......

PART XII

“Tell me we’re not really only two weeks into the term!” Biddy O’Ryan threw herself into an armchair in the staffroom, stretching herself wearily. “Is that coffee, Nancy?”
Nancy Wilmot, presiding over the urn, laughed and passed a cup along. “You look like you need it, my dear. What’s happened now?”
“Oh, nothing that’s not in a day’s work for a form that has Margot Maynard and Emerence Hope in it,” the history mistress sighed. “Those two had the bright, if not very original, idea of chalking the mistress’s chair in their room before prep. To do them justice, they were expecting Hilary Wilson and not me,” and she grinned at the memory of their faces when she had appeared and taken a seat before they could act. “They’re feeling sorry enough for themselves now, mind, polishing the said chair, but that didn’t stop me having to waste twenty minutes brushing chalk off my skirt.”
The others laughed. “Tell me you didn’t leave those two imps alone with a tin of furniture polish?” little Miss Andrews demanded.
“Give me credit for a little sense!” Biddy retorted. “I collared Hilary – since I’d taken her prep and it’d been meant for her – and she’s standing over them.”
“Well I’d give a lot to have that sort of carry on in my form at the moment,” Nancy Wilmot said, pouring a cup of coffee for herself, having seen that everyone else was supplied, and curling up on her favourite settee.
“Don’t tell me Upper IV are causing trouble, after last week’s little show,” Hilary Burn said incredulously.
“Any coffee left?” The door opened to reveal Miss Annersley, her secretary close behind her. “We’ve brought biscuits.”
“Then you are both very welcome indeed,” Nancy said formally, getting up to attend to the urn again. The two newcomers settled themselves, the biscuits were passed around, and Hilary Burn turned back to the maths mistress.
“You were telling us what’s wrong with your little dears, Nancy.”
“Oh, nothing I can put my finger on,” Nancy told them. “Just undercurrents, you know. Len Maynard’s still very subdued and I’m starting to worry about Nicola Marlow. She says she’s all right, but I questioned Miranda West, who is that refreshing object, a schoolgirl who knows when it’s not sneaking to answer a mistress’s questions about her peers, and she says Nicola isn’t eating properly, or sleeping much.”
“Oh?” Hilda Annersley, who had only been half listening, sat up at this. “How is she getting on with the other girls, Nancy?”
“As far as I can tell, she’s not,” Nancy said. “They’re civil to her of course but that’s about it. Yesterday that lot were all playing tennis at lunchtime – you know how keen they are. I heard Nicola ask Con Maynard, Alicia Leonard and Betty Landon if they needed a fourth – which they did by the way – and Con told her no, not rudely, but, you know, ‘not if it’s you’ sort of thing. I mean, Con Maynard of all people! I couldn’t say anything – she was perfectly polite and it’s their free time after all.”
“I think it might not be the first time, either,” Hilary Burn chipped in. “I found her off by herself when she should have been at tennis on Wednesday afternoon and from what she said – or didn’t say – I think she’d been told to get lost by someone. I sent her off to the practice wall, as being the kindest thing to do, and meant to say something to you, but to be honest I forgot all about it until now.”
Hilda frowned. “I won’t have that sort of thing,” she said firmly. “I know what it’s about, of course, they blame Nicola for Len losing her prefectship. I warned her that she’d have to win back their friendship, but I didn’t think they’d go this far. It’s never been allowed in this school to push a new girl out, whatever she may have done.”
“What are you going to do?” Biddy asked with interest. “I think Lawrie Marlow is suffering a bit too – I heard her holding forth to some of Lower IVA about the fact that she’s tired of being mistaken for her twin and being snubbed.”
“Well that I can understand, for I’ve done it myself,” Hilary Burn said. “All the same, Hilda, I don’t see what you can do. You can’t interfere with their friendships, after all.”
“No,” Hilda agreed. “But I can stop them bullying each other, for that’s what this is. I’ll speak to your little flock at the start of prep tomorrow morning, Nancy – you might send Nicola Marlow on an errand for me.”
“Her new winter coat has come so she can come to me to have it fitted,” Matey, who had been listening in silence until this point, told her.
“That’s settled then,” the Head said. “I’ll put an end to this and then I’ll give them all something else to think about. Madame has sent the final version of the Christmas Play across via Joey; we’ll read it to them in the afternoon and in the evening they can start taking down their parts.”

-------------------------
Who can see what the next drama will be.......?
Nicky

 


#62:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Mon May 03, 2004 5:48 pm


The Christmas Play?

Thanks for this, glad that Miranda has some sense.

 


#63:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon May 03, 2004 6:49 pm


I hope there's going to be lots more of this, Nickyj.

 


#64:  Author: Dreaming MarianneLocation: Devon PostPosted: Mon May 03, 2004 8:11 pm


this is wonderful, real insights into characters that ring true to their depiction in the AF books - more more more please
*realises there is RL to contend with as well as plot bunnies*

 


#65:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Wed May 05, 2004 7:29 pm


Yes, but some more now would be very good.

 


#66:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Thu May 06, 2004 8:54 pm


Dreaming Marianne wrote:

*realises there is RL to contend with as well as plot bunnies*


Think my small sparkling purple leaf is sulking - I had to smack it for popping its head up at work too often! But here's a bit I wrote earlier & kept in reserve.....

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

PART XIII

“Are the parts all settled then?” Rosalie asked.
“More or less,” the Head told her. “You were there, weren’t you – or no, you were having tea with Joey at the time. Anyway, we had a committee meeting on Wednesday evening and I think we’re there.”
“Please Miss, can I throw a spanner in your carefully planned works?” Little Miss Andrews, the Upper Vth form mistress, said meekly.
Hilda turned to her. “What is it, Sharlie? Don’t tell me you’ve discovered an actress in your little lot since Wednesday!”
“Not exactly,” Sharlie said, “but according to Ginty Marlow, young Nicola’s twin is something special in the acting line.”
“Drama queen, you mean?” Hilary Burn, who had sent a tearful Lawrie off the hockey pitch only that afternoon, asked.
Miss Annersley laughed with the rest of them, but then spoke more seriously. “Actually, I wanted to ask some of you about that before we finalise the cast list. According to her previous headmistress, Lawrence’s acting talents are rather out of the ordinary. And since the good Miss Keith did not, it appears, wholly approve of the Marlow family, one can assume that that is not an exaggeration.”
Miss Wilmot frowned slightly. “Even if she is good,” she argued, “as a new girl she can’t expect a star part her first term. Shove her in somewhere by all means, see what she can do, and then we’ll know for next time.”
“Strikes me you’ve not had much to do with Lawrence S. Marlow,” the Lower IVA mistress observed drily.
Nancy raised her eyebrows. “Actually I haven’t, apart from a few maths classes, which have been enough to make it clear that she does not have a talent for my subject, whatever else she may have. Why?”
“Because,” Mary Burnett told her, “I suspect that she feels she should be given a good part, new girl or no.”
“All the more reason not to, I should say,” Rosalie Dene commented, passing the biscuits once more.
“I’m inclined to agree,” Hilda Annersley said. “It’s not as though we’re short of good actresses.”
“There’s that part in the second scene, has a few good lines,” Nancy Wilmot, who was the chief producer, although most of the staff would chip in during the course of rehearsals, suggested. “I know we said Connie Winter, but she’s only average.”
The Head nodded. “Let’s see what she does with that. Put her on the list, Nancy.”

It was a clearly excited school that assembled in Hall after their rest the following afternoon. The reading of the Christmas Play was always a great event and even Upper IVA, subdued by the difficulties of the past week and the words of the headmistress that morning, were chattering eagerly as they waited for the staff to appear. The prefects, in their customary seats at one side of the platform, saw to it that the noise level did not rise above a certain level but the girls were well trained and even on an occasion like this needed little reminding.
Sitting with the rest of Lower IVa, Lawrie Marlow, who had learned at least a little sense since her early days at Kingscote, sat on her ambitions for once and devoted her energies to finding out as much as she could about the Chalet School plays. Privately she had no doubt that she would have a good part; she had, after all, held a drama scholarship at Kingscote, a fact that Miss Keith was sure to have mentioned, but the fortnight she had been at the Chalet had shown her that boasting of one’s talents was not done here. Time enough for the girls to see for themselves just how good she was when rehearsals started.
In the ranks of the Sixth at the very back of Hall, Ann Marlow, sitting next to Carola Johnstone and talking quietly to her, was feeling privately glad that nobody here was likely to choose her to play Mary. Of course it had been an honour to be chosen year after year but Ann, who hated to be on display, much preferring to do things quietly in the background, longed to be an anonymous voice in the choir.
Three rows in front her sister Ginty listened with idle interest to the chatter around her and grinned when someone suggested that with her looks she would make a good Angel Gabriel.
“Oh my dear no, not again! Once is enough. Sheep, noises off, much more my thing,” she said airily, wondering if, perhaps, there was the tiniest chance that she would be chosen. Not that she wanted to play Gabriel, of course, still it would be rather smashing to be noticed and chosen in her first term. On balance, she supposed it was unlikely.
“Sheep who?” Mary Lou Trelawney asked from her right hand side.
“Noises off,” Ginty repeated. “Oh, you know! When the shepherd is watching the sheep – you can’t have real lambs skipping about, can you? People baa-ing from the wings, that’s another thing entirely.”
The girls around her laughed, taken with this idea, and Upper V adopted the phrase forthwith for anyone who was on the fringes of what was going on.

One girl’s thoughts, however, were not on the Play. Amongst Upper IVA, the fourth of the Marlows was silent, thinking about her headmistress’s words of the previous Sunday, words that at the time she had not understood. She had gone back to the common room that evening to be met with a stony silence. Conversations had stopped, people had turned to look at her and just as quickly turned away. She had spied Miranda, playing scrabble with Con and Margot Maynard, Emerence Hope and Francie Wilford, and had gone to join her, only to find that the Maynards had drifted away, closely followed by the other two. Miranda had smiled ruefully.
“How was it, Nick? You look shattered.”
“Think it’ud be against the rules if I went to bed,” Nicola had asked. “Or d’you think that’d look too much like I mind?”
Miranda had thought that it might. “Look, it’s only half an hour till supper. Want to tell me what the Head said?”
Nicola hadn’t wanted to, and had said so. Miranda, who had only asked because she thought Nick might want to say, had grinned affably, said she supposed it had been an awful row and Nick had been an idiot but it was all over now anyway.
Except that it had not been all over. In the dormitory that evening nobody had spoken to her, in the morning, and in the form room, it had been the same. Nicola had always been popular, she knew that people generally liked her and, mostly, liked her better than Lawrie. The Chalet girls did not mean to be deliberately unkind, but Len Maynard was popular with the whole school and most of them blamed the new girl for the row. Unspoken consent sent Nicola effectively to Coventry. Miranda had been loyal, of course, but Miranda had music lessons and sat on the other side of the form room. For the first time Nicola had found herself wishing that she and Lawrie had been put together, with a pang of guilt that she had not once thought that at the start, when Lawrie might have needed her.
She was brooding over this now when Con Maynard, who had taken Miss Annersley’s words to heart, leaned across Miranda and poked her. “Nick, stop day dreaming and tell us if you really sang solo in the cathedral or if Miranda’s ragging.”
“Huh?” Miranda, who was there because nobody had said she mustn’t be, though if someone in authority had thought of it they might have (“good reason not to draw it to their attention, I’d say” she had murmured to Nicola that morning) demanded, indignant. “And the Minster, not the cathedral – not that I’m sure it’s not a cathedral, like York, you know,” she said confusedly. Then, as Con dug her, understanding dawned on her face and she grinned. “Tell them, Nick, for heavens sake.”
Nicola, knowing nothing of the headmistress’s lecture that morning, was taken aback by this sudden display of friendliness. She looked at the speaker curiously; Con, knowing what she was thinking, smiled warmly and nodded, and gratefully Nicola smiled back.
“First Candle Angel, me,” she said lightly. “It was rather fab actually – not me singing, just all of it. Lawrie jumping ship to play the Shepherd Boy and Miranda taking her place in the procession.”
“Miranda?” Len asked, from Nicola’s other side. “Really? I don’t mean… but….”
Miranda grinned. “Really truly. Of course Keith didn’t like it but she was in a hole and I was there, you see, and she needed someone. Nick’s right, it was rather smashing. Worth the row afterwards.”
“Why was there a row?” Len asked. “If your Head knew beforehand I mean. Just because you took part and she thought people would mind?”
“Oh heavens no,” Miranda told her. “Because we knew Esther had run off home to see Daks but didn’t tell them cos it was such a good opportunity for Lawrie and Nick was no good at the Shepherd Boy and fab at the carols,” Miranda explained with an astounding lack of coherence.
She was spared the need to explain what on earth she was talking about by the door at the back of the dais opening and the staff filing in, with Miss Annersley brining up the rear. Miss Dene set a large sheaf of papers on the lectern and then went to her place among the staff and an expectant hush fell across Hall. Three rows in front, Lawrie Marlow turned to grin expectantly at her twin and past plays were, for the moment at least, forgotten.

 


#67:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Thu May 06, 2004 10:58 pm


It's good to see Con being the thoughtful triplet again, and the staff room scene was really good.
Somehow though, I'm expecting more trouble.

 


#68:  Author: cazLocation: Cambridge PostPosted: Fri May 07, 2004 9:02 am


Yay, more drabble. Very Happy Thank you, this is great. You've captured the Marlows perfectly (especially Ginty thinking about whether she'll have a good part - sounds exactly like AF).

 


#69:  Author: lizarfauLocation: Melbourne PostPosted: Fri May 07, 2004 9:59 am


Just found this, Nicky - it's superb. Please write more!

 


#70:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri May 07, 2004 12:33 pm


Lots more, please, Nicky.

 


#71:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Fri May 07, 2004 5:46 pm


Prompts the start of a chant in four part harmony........

 


#72:  Author: cazLocation: Cambridge PostPosted: Fri May 07, 2004 5:58 pm


*wonders how Vikki is chanting in four-part harmony on her own*

*chants unmelodiously but fervently*

*asks how we can entice Nicky's small sparkling purple leaf to come back*

 


#73:  Author: Dreaming MarianneLocation: Devon PostPosted: Fri May 07, 2004 6:03 pm


how d'you do this? it's exactly like AF! Plus the scene in the staff room is spot on, not that i think EBD would have written it like that cos it shows the staff as rather overeager to take her down a peg or two - but that I bet they would have been!

*Joins in chorus for more*

 


#74:  Author: gigagalLocation: London PostPosted: Fri May 07, 2004 7:38 pm


Yay, more, more more. It's very well written, and I keep forgetting it's not a real book!

 


#75:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2004 1:47 am


Just caught up on this, and enjoying the writing muchly. Story-wise, I'm happy to see Con taking the initiative and letting Nicola out of Coventry a bit. But why do I have an awful suspicion that something's about to blow up?

 


#76:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2004 1:52 pm


Because this is the CBB.

It very AF, but I must say that I find the staff attitude rather stupid - she may be a brilliant actress, but she's new, so we won't give her a good part! What happened to 'the play's the thing'?

 


#77:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2004 2:08 pm


Jennie wrote:

It very AF, but I must say that I find the staff attitude rather stupid - she may be a brilliant actress, but she's new, so we won't give her a good part! What happened to 'the play's the thing'?


I think the point is that they don't know how good she is and they've already cast the play - they're not saying she can't have a good part because she's new, but that she shouldn't expect one (and therefore make a fuss if she's not chosen) when she's new. Not quite the same thing. And they are giving her a chance. Has to be a better method of casting than Miss Keith's anyway - I never understood how their plays were any good at all when the actresses were chosen because of good behaviour rather than talent!

Plus, ask yourself this. Wouldn't it make dull reading if Lawrie was given the star part to start with?

Ah, nearly forgot, Joey hasn't had her new girls tea yet.......

Nicky

 


#78:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2004 2:14 pm


Well, I expect we shall see some fur and feathers fly during the dreaded tea!
I would really love to see Jo taken down a peg or two by one of the Marlows.

 


#79:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2004 3:48 pm


*waits eagerly for that scene.......*

 


#80:  Author: gigagalLocation: London PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2004 5:23 pm


And can't wait to see Joey's treatment of Nick...

 


#81:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat May 08, 2004 7:19 pm


So, please hurry to write it for us, Nicky.

 


#82:  Author: NinaLocation: Peterborough, UK PostPosted: Sun May 09, 2004 8:39 am


Really enjoying this - I've only read Autumn Term, Attic Term and (I think) End of Term, and I got rid of them because I couldn't find the whole series and had to make some room for CS. But from what I remember you've really got the Marlows over well, and almost seamlessly got them into CS as well - brilliant! Cool

 


#83: The Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sun May 09, 2004 4:21 pm


Afraid you'll have to wait a few days Twisted Evil - the new girls tea party isn't happening until next weekend (in Chalet terms I mean). But here's a tad to keep you going - hopefully more later tonight.
Nicky
----------------------------------

PART XIV

“Come on, Nick,” Con urged. The play reading was over and the School had been dismissed to amuse itself for the half hour remaining before Kaffee, after which the announcement of the cast would take place. Those who had heard the earlier conversation had gathered eagerly round the two new girls in their common room, anxious to distract themselves from wondering which of them would be chosen, and Miranda had told the story of the Kingscote Christmas Play properly. Upper IV were young enough to be delighted by such mischief, although they would never have dared to behave in that manner themselves, and the story had been received with enthusiasm. Now Con had recalled what had begun the conversation. “Sing something for us?” she asked. “There’s still ten minutes before Kaffee and nobody will mind a bit of noise today.”
“Here?” Nicola looked around the common room, at the groups of chattering girls. She was still unsure of herself after that dreadful week and would rather have stayed in the background for a while. The others were clamouring for her to sing, however, and she was too glad to have apparently been accepted back into the fold to demur for long.
“Why not?” Betty Landon asked. “Or d’you need a piano?”
Nicola shook her head. Throwing an ‘I’ll get you for this later’ look at Miranda she got to her feet and lifted her voice in one of the solos she had sung in the Minster, ‘A Day, A Day of Glory’.
The Chalet girls had been trained to appreciate good music and this was new to them; the entire Senior Middle school sat entranced as the golden notes rose and fell effortlessly, conversations broken off in mid flow, then burst into applause as she finished. The School prided itself on an excellent choir, and all three Maynards had inherited something of their mother’s choirboy voice but this was far beyond any performance they could have given.
“That was smashing!” Len sighed, as Nicola, laughing, bowed theatrically.
“More than your language is, my dear Len,” came a dry voice from the doorway. The girls looked up to find their headmistress standing there.
“Miss Annersley, I’m sorry,” Len gasped. “Were we making an awful noise?”
“You were rather,” the Head said with a smile, “but I’ll forgive it this once. Who was singing?”
“Me, please.” Nicola flushed, wishing the floor would swallow her up. The row of the previous weekend was far too recent for her to relish being brought to Miss Annersley’s notice for any reason.
“That was very lovely, Nicola,” the headmistress said quietly, smiling down at her. “Have you had lessons?”
Nicola shook her head. “Only school singing, you know. Dr Herrick said it was too early, even if I wanted it.”
“Well in a year or two you should certain have some training,” Miss Annersley told her, “even if you don’t want to sing professionally. In the meantime I think we will have to find you a part in the play. We can’t waste that voice.”
“Oh Miss Annersley, no!” Nick protested. “Anyway, I can’t act for toffee.”
“She’s right, Miss Annerlsey. She’s like a stick,” Miranda said, with the devastating honesty of a best friend.
The headmistress laughed. “All the same, I don’t think Miss Wilmot and Mr Denny will want to pass over a voice like that.”
Nicola went off to wash for Kaffee with mixed feelings. She had had every intention of keeping her talent quiet, at least for this term, and enjoying the play as an anonymous bystander; on the other hand, however, it was nice to feel that perhaps she had redeemed herself a little in the eyes of her formmates. The quarrel seemed to have been forgotten and Upper IVA was itself again.

 


#84:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sun May 09, 2004 4:35 pm


Oooh!
I can see Lawrie being somewhat peeved if Nick gets a part in the play and she doesn't/........

 


#85:  Author: Dreaming MarianneLocation: Devon PostPosted: Sun May 09, 2004 5:57 pm


Is she going to do one of her flouncy-flouncy moments Nicky?

 


#86: The Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sun May 09, 2004 7:26 pm


Flouncy-flouncy indeed! And Matey is not impressed
----------------------

PART XV

“It’s not fair” Lawrie stormed at her sister. They were in the junior cloakroom – where, incidentally, they had no right to be, but Nicola, seeing Lawrie’s face as they out of Hall after the announcement of the play cast, had figured that the scene that was sure to come would be better had in private.
“Come on, Lal, it’s not the end of the world,” Nicola soothed. “There’s be other plays. And you could hardly expect a big part when they don’t know how good you are. It’s not as though they’ve left you out entirely, either.”
“I’d sooner have no part at all, like you, than have a silly little part like that!” Lawrie, who in her heart felt nothing of the sort, raged.
Nicola looked at her oddly. Ann or Ginty would have known that this was a bad moment to break this particular piece of news; probably Nicola knew it too really but could not help herself.
“Actually, I think I am going to be in it,” she said apologetically.
“Rubbish!” Lawrie said. “You weren’t on the list. Anyway,” cruelly, “you can’t act for anything.”
“It’s not rubbish, anyhow,” Nicola told her. “Miss Annersley heard me sing and said they’ll have to put me in somewhere. Not that I’d mind if they didn’t,” she said honestly.
“You are going to be in it, aren’t you!” Lawrie said bitterly. “I might have guessed. Never mind how I might feel, being stuck with a few stupid lines that even you could say while you strut about hogging the limelight with your solos!”
That was too much for Nicola. “You’re one to talk about hogging the limelight!” she snapped back. “You’re never happy unless you’re centre stage, making an exhibition of yourself!”
“Me centre stage?” Lawrie, whose family had always wondered at the fact that she was totally oblivious to the way she behaved most of the time, demanded. “Everything I do you’ve been there and done it first and better, everything but this. If you had any decency you’d refuse to sing!You with your precious Upper IVA and your precious Miranda, while I’m stuck in a beastly lower form without even Tim…." Her voice wobbled dangerously, she glared at her twin for a moment more and then bolted. Nicola, stunned, sank down on a convenient bench, realising belatedly that it had been pretty beastly for Lawrie all round, this move. Only she’d been too wrapped up in her own concerns to realise it. She sat where she was for a moment. She couldn’t refuse to sing – Miss Annersley would want to know why and she had no possible excuse to offer. Perhaps, she thought hopefully, they would find there wasn’t room for her after all. That slight possibility cheered her slightly and she got off her bench and made her way up to change for Abendessen feeling slightly better.

“Lawrence Marlow, what on earth do you think you are doing? Get up from there at once child!” Matron, who had come into Leafy dormitory with some laundry that had been overlooked, stopped short to find that the room was not as empty as it should have been at that hour.
Lawrie, who had been lying on her bed in floods of tears, lifted her head from the pillow and then, seeing the speaker, pulled herself up. A fortnight at the school had been plenty of time for her to have developed a wholesome awe of the chief Matron.
“Just look at your tunic!” that lady continued. “You should be changed and in your common room waiting for the bell, not up here howling like a junior. Even the youngest of the little ones would be ashamed to carry on like that I would think. How old are you?”
Lawrie chose to take this literally. “Fu…fourteen.”
“Then kindly cease acting as though you were four.” Matron snapped. She was a kindly woman under her brisk exterior but she was experienced in telling when something was really wrong and when someone was just fussing, and she had sized up this particular new girl very early on. “You can take an order mark for being here at all and another one for behaving in such a babyish fashion. Now change your frock and go and wash your face and don’t let me catch you acting like a baby again.”
She waited to see that she was obeyed then saw her charge off downstairs and went back to her own room, wondering as she did so what on earth it had all been about.

 


#87:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Sun May 09, 2004 7:46 pm


Thanks, nicky. I'm really enjoying this. Looking forward to more when you have time.

 


#88:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sun May 09, 2004 9:22 pm


Thank you Nicky, that was very much in character.

 


#89:  Author: Dreaming MarianneLocation: Devon PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2004 4:48 pm


*dons cheerleader outfit and waves poms poms*
"Go Matey! Go Matey*

 


#90:  Author: gigagalLocation: London PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2004 7:45 pm


Actcherly...I feel a bit sorry for Lawrie now...

 


#91:  Author: Guest PostPosted: Mon May 10, 2004 9:18 pm


ooooh I don't. Time the stroppy little madam got a wake-up call!

 


#92:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu May 13, 2004 8:25 am


She needs a good talking-to. Why does everything have to be about her?

 


#93:  Author: gigagalLocation: London PostPosted: Fri May 14, 2004 6:59 pm


But all the same, when you're crying it's not too nice to be told off like that!

 


#94:  Author: lizarfauLocation: Melbourne PostPosted: Sat May 15, 2004 2:00 am


I like Lawrie actually. And it never makes sense to me why she's left out of plays or given the starring role. I mean, can you imagine a fantastic hockey or tennis player being in a school and always being left out of the team for character reasons?

But this drabble is really good, i'm enjoying it very much. How is Nicola getting a starring singing part going to go down with the Chalet School's resident soloists Verity-Ann Carey and Margot Maynard, I wonder?

 


#95:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sat May 15, 2004 1:55 pm


lizarfau wrote:
I like Lawrie actually. And it never makes sense to me why she's left out of plays or given the starring role. I mean, can you imagine a fantastic hockey or tennis player being in a school and always being left out of the team for character reasons


What price Nick being left out of the netball team in End of Term? I agree it doesn't make sense but it does seem to be the Kingscote way. She's not being left out for character reasons here though - they just haven't quite appreciated YET how good she is

 


#96: The Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sat May 15, 2004 1:59 pm


They are, of course, about to find out....

Sorry for the lack of story this week - RL interered with a vengeance & I now have flu!!!

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

PART XVI

Any hopes that Nicola had had about the people responsible for producing the play deciding that they could not find a suitable part for her voice were dashed the following lunchtime when she received a message that Mr Denny, the school’s eccentric singing master, wanted to see her in one of the practice rooms as soon as the rest which always followed the midday meal was over.
It had been an uncomfortable night and morning in the Leafy dormitory. Lawrie was indulging in a master fit of sulks and Nicola, however irritated she might be with her twin would not give her away to the other girls. Besides, her conscience was pricking her rather badly as she realised that she had no idea how well her sister had settled in at the Chalet. To be sure when she saw her she was generally with other girls, so presumably she had made some friends. And in the dormitory she had seemed happy enough but there was never any time for private conversation. In any case, she tried to rationalise, it wasn’t just down to her, Ann and Gin must be looking out for her – or Ann, anyway, she corrected herself, grinning at the thought of self-involved Ginty even noticing Lawrie’s existence unless it was forced on her. Nicola threw off the despondent mood and made her way to the music room.

“Come in, Nicola.”
Nicola took a deep breath and went into the music room. She found herself facing not only the music master but Miss Wilmot and Miss Andrews. The maths mistress smiled at her.
“Don’t be nervous, Nicola. Miss Annersley tells us that you sing?”
Nick nodded. “She heard me in the common room – they asked me to. After the play reading.”
“We’d like to hear ‘Once in Royal’” Miss Wilmot said. “Do you want an accompaniment?”
“Not for that, no.” Nicola said definitely. She closed her eyes for a moment, remembering what Dr Herrick had told her. “Try to sing it with regret. Once in Royal David’s City.”
When the last verse had died away Miss Wilmot put up her hand to quell the singing master, who was clearly about to break into raptures, and spoke briskly, for it was no part of the Chalet School training to praise talent too highly to the girls’ faces.
“Yes, well, I think we must use you, don’t you, Mr Denny. You don’t act, I understand?”
“Low side of average,” Nicola owned.
Miss Wilmot nodded. “Very well. Thank you Nicola – I’ll let you know when we’ll be needing you for rehearsals.”

“You okay, Nick?” Miranda asked between bites of Apfelstrudel at Abendessen. “You look a bit – you know.”
Nicola did. “Yep. No. Dunno.”
“Lawrie and this blasted play?” Miranda offered.
Nick, her mouth too full of strudel to answer, nodded.
“You’re definitely in, then?”
“Sounds like it,” Nicola said glumly. “Oh don’t be an ass, Miranda, of course I don’t mind! It’s just Lawrie feels so rotten about it. She does, you know, this isn’t just one of her fusses.”
Miranda supposed that Nick knew better than anyone if that was the case or not and kept her view that with Lawrie it was always a fuss to herself. “Can’t you say something to her?”
“Mmm,” Nicola said non-committantly. “Talk about something else, lets?”

“What on earth is that sister of yours doing now?.” Miranda demanded of Nicola an hour later. Abendessen was over and the Chalet Middles were – supposedly – enjoying an hour’s dancing in the gym before bedtime. Now, however, the dancing had stopped and most of the girls had drifted to something that was happening on one side of the room. Nicola pushed her way through the crowd, Miranda close behind her. Lawrie was declaiming something that the Kingscote girls recognised only too well – one of Caliban’s speeches from Twelfth Night. The onlookers were clearly impressed but there were mutterings too about showing off and bad form that made the actress’s sister try to stop her.
“Lawrie! Not here!” she hissed.
Lawrie ignored her, sensing a captive audience, for for all their disapproval none of the girls were moving away. She was ready to go on for hours if need be.
“The silly ass!” Miranda said disgustedly, suddenly understanding. “Oh come away, Nick, do. Don’t you get it. She thinks it’ll work for her the way it did for you – someone’ll come in and exclaim how talented she is and of course she must be found a better part.”
“Looks like it might work at that,” Nicola said, pointing to the doorway, where Miss Wilmot, who had been passing and had wondered what had happened to the music that should have been coming from the gym at this time – Amy Dunne, one of the prefects, who had been playing for them, having joined the crowd of spectators some minutes ago.
The girls closest to the door began to realise there was a mistress present; the message was passed from girl to girl and the crowd moved aside to let her through. Lawrie, not too caught up in her part to notice, was delighted –the most she had hoped for was that the prefect would tell her colleagues that Lawrie Marlow had exceptional talent and should be made room for – Miranda had hit the nail on the head as far as her motive went. That the mistress in charge of casting should come in at that moment was providence indeed.

 


#97:  Author: cazLocation: Cambridge PostPosted: Sat May 15, 2004 3:05 pm


Thank you for the new post, Nicky. Lawrie is being absolutely typical in this! I'm looking forward to seeing Nancy's reaction.

Hope you feel better soon.

 


#98:  Author: gigagalLocation: London PostPosted: Sat May 15, 2004 6:30 pm


More, please!! And I hope you're better soon! But I'm desparate to see Wilmot's reaction too!

 


#99:  Author: Sarah_LLocation: Leeds PostPosted: Sat May 15, 2004 6:56 pm


I have a feeling she won't respond as Lawrie expects.

 


#100:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sat May 15, 2004 10:14 pm


Love your portrayal of Lawie..spot on.

Am looking forward to Nancy Wilmot's reaction, I somehow feel that L won't get her way so easily at the Chalet.

 


#101:  Author: lizarfauLocation: Melbourne PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2004 9:00 am


[quote="nickyj"]
lizarfau wrote:
I like Lawrie actually. And it never makes sense to me why she's left out of plays or given the starring role. I mean, can you imagine a fantastic hockey or tennis player being in a school and always being left out of the team for character reasons


What price Nick being left out of the netball team in End of Term?

That was a bit different to the treatment of Lawrie - mainly down to Lois Sangster and her thing against Nicola. I don't think games teams were generally anything to do with character at Kingscote - unlike the plays, where the decree seemed to come from Miss Keith.

 


#102:  Author: cazLocation: Cambridge PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2004 9:47 am


But in Autumn Term, when the family's at home for half term, it seems that all extra-curricular activities are about 'character'. When someone asks why Lois is a patrol leader if she's not cut out for it, Rowan and Karen both say 'character training'. Rowan goes on to say something like: "Scared of the ball? Can't catch for toffee? Stick her in the first Eleven." (sorry, don't have the book with me to quote exactly). Odd way to run a school, in my opinion.

 


#103:  Author: lizarfauLocation: Melbourne PostPosted: Sun May 16, 2004 10:49 pm


Actually, you're right - I need a re-read of these books, I think. Marie Dobson is put in the netball team for character-building reasons. A very odd way to run a school.

 


#104:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon May 17, 2004 2:52 pm


An even odder way to win matches and enhance the school's reputation.

 


#105:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon May 17, 2004 3:39 pm


Oh, I'm really enjoying this, Nicky. I think you have the Marlows down to a T. Also looking forward to tea with Joey.

 


#106:  Author: BethCLocation: Worcester, UK PostPosted: Mon May 17, 2004 7:18 pm


Really enjoying this too, Nicky.
I'd always thought Nicola was actually quite good at acting, though - just not compared to Lawrie. Didn't she get praised for her part in The Prince and the Pauper? Although maybe the CS has higher standards!
Anyway, minor point, and please write more soon!

 


#107:  Author: gigagalLocation: London PostPosted: Mon May 17, 2004 7:24 pm


BethC...
I always thought she was sorta distinctly average. Wasn't she only one of the main characters because she was a twin anyway?

 


#108: The Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Tue May 18, 2004 8:10 pm


Part XVII

Nancy Wilmot stood for a full two minutes, watching. That this was no ordinary schoolgirl performance was evident – even in her gentian blue supper frock with the backdrop of wall-bars, Lawrie was Caliban. The mistress forced herself back to the situation in hand, however, and spoke briskly.
“Lawrence, just what do you think you are doing?”
Lawrie stopped mid-speech. “Twelfth Night, Miss Wilmot.”
“Yes, I realise that!” the mistress said, trying not to laugh for Lawrie was so evidently not trying to be cheeky. “What I meant was, why are you doing it? You girls are supposed to be dancing.”
“I wanted to show what I could do,” Lawrie told her. “You’ll want your best actresses to take the leads in the Play.”
The gathered girls gasped in horror at this but Miss Wilmot merely raised an eyebrow.
“Most new girls would be happy to have a speaking part at all, my dear Lawrence.”
“But I’m not most new girls,” Lawrie pointed out – “in more ways than one!” Miranda muttered to Nicola. “Honestly, Miss Wilmot, you must see!”
“What I see is that, whatever your talent for acting, your capacity for showing off is equally great,” the maths mistress said. “Please don’t be so silly again. Now, there is still fifteen minutes left so might I ask that you all go back to what you are supposed to be doing. Amy, can I trust you to see to that much?”
The prefect flushed uncomfortably and followed her to the door.
“Miss Wilmot, I’m sorry. I couldn’t help watching her.”
“No,” Miss Wilmot said slowly. “I don’t blame you, Amy. Give them a few fast dances to shake the spirits out of them, would you?”
“All the same,” she thought to herself as she went on her way, “what we are going to do, I do not know, The play’s fully cast and I don’t have a mind to disrupt it for a conceited new girl, however talented she is, especially having already done it once for young Nicola. Miss Lawrie will just have to wait until next year.” She reached the music rooms at this point and swung into the first to find the book she had left behind that afternoon when she had been auditioning Nicola. Having rescued it she headed back to the staffroom and coffee, but the picture of Lawrie being Caliban would not go away. “If only she wasn’t so good!” Nancy sighed to herself, knowing that, however much of a spoilt brat the girl might be, her acting was on another level entirely to that of the existing cast. “I suppose we shall have to do something! Oh, drat those Marlows! Why couldn’t they have stayed at Kingscote? It’s been nothing but upsets since they arrived!” With which uncharitable thought she went gloomily in to the staffroom, to be besieged by half a dozen of her compeers wanting to know what on earth was wrong to make her look like that.

“Lawrie, how could you?” Nicola, scandalised, caught her twin’s arm as she danced past a while later. “Surely you see by now that that never does you any good? Remember the fuss over Caliban?”
Lawrie grinned at her. “Don’t you believe it. I saw how she looked. Even if she doesn’t give me a bigger part - which she will - I bet she’ll make me an understudy for one of them. And understudies have rehearsals and when that Vi Lucy girl sees how good I am….”
“You’re mad,” Nicola said calmly. “No Upper Vth girl is going to stand down for you, however good you are.”
“If they’re as keen as they say they are on this play of theirs then they will, I bet,” Lawrie said with such certainty that Nicola gave up.
“Stark staring bonkers,” Miranda observed as Lawrie skipped off ahead of them, delighted by the success of her plan. “Then again, she always was in my book.”
“Slang, Miranda? Fine, please,” Blossom Willoughby had come in to tell them that it was time to stop.
Miranda raised her eyebrows at Nicola. “I shall have to ask Daddy for more pocket money at this rate! Sometimes I think this place is as bonkers than Lawrie!”

 


#109:  Author: cazLocation: Cambridge PostPosted: Tue May 18, 2004 8:46 pm


Another fabulous post. Thank you!

 


#110:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Wed May 19, 2004 9:00 am


Oh, that is so completely Lawrie - especially her knowing that she'll end up with a part. Loved Miss Wilmot in that. More soon, please!!

 


#111:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Wed May 19, 2004 10:28 am


FAntastic, you've got Lawrie to a T and she would drive me mad! Can we have some more soon please!

 


#112:  Author: DawnLocation: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Wed May 19, 2004 2:08 pm


This is great (and I've never read the Marlow books - mental note to add to long list of books I'd like to read)

 


#113:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu May 20, 2004 11:46 am


What a little schemer Lawrie is, bet it doesn't work out the way she wants it to.

 


#114:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Thu May 20, 2004 12:50 pm


Bet it does!!! Lawrie is *definitely* determined.

 


#115:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu May 20, 2004 3:46 pm


But would it be good for her character and make her into a good CS girl to get a large speaking part in the play?

 


#116:  Author: Guest PostPosted: Thu May 20, 2004 3:54 pm


I am quite sure that Lawrie would *never* make a good Chalet girl!

 


#117:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu May 20, 2004 4:04 pm


I agree. she would play the part for the greater glory of Lawrie Marlow, not with the utmost reverence demanded of those who had speaking parts in the Nativity plays, and they would soon suss that out.

 


#118:  Author: Dreaming MarianneLocation: Devon PostPosted: Fri May 21, 2004 12:03 am


Oh, well put Jennie!!!

I think one of the things that you are showing up really really well here Nicky is that sometimes the CS don't act in a textbook perfect manner. They are not kind and charitable and they can be insufferably smug about themselves.

Ummmm, as to the Marlow characterisation...have you thought about writing a fill-in book and a proposal for it for GGBP? You are doing a really smashing job on this drabble and I would love to read more!

 


#119:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri May 21, 2004 2:10 pm


I agree with you about the Cs not being kind and charitable at all times. Just consider their attitude of 'Well, you were near the trouble, so we're going to punish you.'

 


#120:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Sun May 23, 2004 7:38 pm


This is fantastic!!

I'm new to the CBB and can see myself getting very quickly addicted...

I'm a huge fan of Antonia Forest and EBD, and both styles are exactly right here - it all reads so well.

I'm so looking forward to reading more of this Very Happy

Helen P

 


#121: The Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sun May 23, 2004 9:28 pm


Hi guys, sorry it's been a little while. RL is taking over. Thanks for all the great feedback - glad you're enjoying it. Fraid you'll have to wait a little longer to find out if Lawrie gets a bigger part in the play......
-------------------------------
PART XVIII

“They certainly work you here!” Nicola sighed wearily, sinking into a comfortable chair in the common room after prep the next evening, conscious of having dealt adequately at least with several geometry problems and a history essay, rather less sure of the long German exercise that Mdle Lachennais had set the special tutorial group. At Kingscote German had been one of those subjects that keen types opted to take as an extra ‘O’ level and neither Nicola or Miranda, or Lawrie either, had known a word when they came. They had thus found themselves condemned twice a week to intensive coaching together with one or two other new girls who were in the same boat, including Ginty, though Ann, being, as Miranda had said, one of those keen types, had passed her O level the previous summer.
Rosamund Lilley, who was next to her, nodded sympathetically. “Don’t I know it! I was new last term and it was all I could do to keep up at first, especially in German.”
“Did you know any?” Nicola asked.
“Not a word,” was the frank reply. “I’d only done French, and even that was of the ‘pen of my gardener’s aunt’ variety. You soon pick it up though, when you hear nothing else around you twice a week.”
Nicola, who was quite a good mimic, had to agree that that did seem to be the case; certainly she knew more than a few words even after less than three weeks.
“Nicola Marlow?” Mary Lou Trelawney put her head around the door at this point.
“Me,” Nick said cheerfully. “Who wants me?”
“Not me, anyway,” was the answer. “The Abbess wants you in the study. And Miranda West if she’s here.”
“She is.” Miranda detached herself from a group by the window. “Any idea what she wants, Mary-Lou?”
“She didn’t confide in me, funnily enough,” Mary-Lou told her. “Spect it’s about the new girls’ tea.”
“New girls’ tea?” Miranda asked as she followed Nicola out of the room. “Another weird and wonderful Chalet School custom, is this?”
“P’raps we have to give an entertainment to the school?” Nicola suggested.
“Wouldn’t Lawrie love that!” Miranda said drily. “Honestly, Nick, if I didn’t know better I’d say you’ve been reading too many of Len’s mother’s school stories. Oh, I say! Help!” and she whistled under her breath as she remembered something Len had said at the start of term about her mother entertaining new girls in the first few weeks.
Nicola looked quizzically at her but had no opportunity to ask, for they had reached the dead-end corridor that led to the study. Clearly Mary-Lou had been right, for Lawrie, Ann and Ginty were there, along with a handful of new girls from other forms.
“Know what it’s about?” Ginty asked.
Miranda shook her head. “Nick says maybe the new girls have to put on a show.”
“Really?” Lawrie brightened, taking this literally. She had spent the day waiting for a summons from Miss Wilmot about changing her part in the play and had been rather glum when the day had almost ended without it coming. Until she had met her sisters outside the study she had, indeed, hoped that this was it, that Miss Wilmot had been so impressed with her talent that she had gone straight to the headmistress.
His sisters groaned. “No, not really, Lal!” Nicola told her.
Lawrie, who had not yet quite forgiven her twin for upstaging her, even if it was only to be temporarily, glared at her.
“You’re not still on about that wretched play are you?” Ginty demanded, catching the look. “You can have my part if you like!” For Ginty, to her secret delight, had been cast as part of the angel chorus. It had not been done at Kingscote, however, to be anything less than indifferent to anything Authority did, and Ginty was still cultivating a casual dismissal of the casting.
“You don’t really mind, do you, Gin?” Ann asked, with the interest of one now secure in her part as anonymous choir member.
“Course she doesn’t. She’s thrilled to bits and the Fifth think she’s awfully queer to pretend not to be,” Nicola said, hitting the nail on the head. Va, whilst liking Ginty, certainly thought her rather odd.

“Come in, girls.” Miss Annersley appeared in the doorway behind them, smiling. “I’m sorry I can’t offer you all seats, but I won’t keep you long. I’m sure most of you know by now that Mrs Maynard, the mother of the triplets and, of course, to give her her pen name, Josephine Bettany, was the Chalet School’s first pupil many years ago. She likes to keep in touch with our present day girls and it has become a tradition for her to ask all the new girls to tea on Saturday in the first weeks of term.” She ignored the startled glances that the other three Marlows threw at Nicola and went on. “You will go immediately after your rest on Saturday afternoon and stay until an hour before Abendessen. There’s normally some music, so you might like to take your violin, Miranda.”
“Yes, Miss Annersley,” Miranda was also watching Nicola.
“You may each choose a friend to go with you,” the headmistress finished up, “and if I know Mrs Maynard she will give you all a memorable time. I won’t keep you any longer – Nicola and Lawrence, will you stay behind please.”
The twins looked at one another in consternation, fidgeting inwardly if not visibly while they waited for the others to give their regulation curtsies – even Miranda – and leave. Miss Annersley regarded them both for a moment, wondering what changes a year at the School might bring in their different but equally determined characters. Then she smiled slightly.
“I actually wish to speak to you on separate matters. Lawrence, perhaps you would wait in the office?”
Lawrie obeyed, casting a curious glance back at her twin, now seated in front of the desk.
“Miss Annersley, I can’t possibly go on Saturday. Mrs Maynard won’t want me there anyway. I….”
Miss Annersley held up a hand to silence her. “It would be very rude to refuse to go, Nicola. I realise that it will be uncomfortable for you but that is for you to deal with. No, no arguments. I expect you to go with the others and to behave as if nothing has happened.” She paused and relaxed slightly. “Don’t look so tragic, my dear, for heavens sake. Nobody’s dead or injured.”
“Knew I’d never live this down,” Nick said dismally. “When I’m in the Sixth I’ll be pointed out as the girl who lost Len Maynard her prefectship.”
Miss Annersley laughed. Most of her pupils were too much in awe of her to speak quite so frankly and she found the Kingscote contingent refreshing in that respect. “Nonsense! And I don’t believe Mrs Maynard knows who the new girl involved was – I didn’t tell her and I don’t think Len did either. So it mightn’t be as bad as you think.”
“It might be worse,” Nicola thought gloomily, though she knew better than to say it out loud. “Having her looking and wondering.”
“Now run along back to the rest,” the Head was bidding her. “Go out through the office, would you, and send your sister in on your way past.”

As she watched Lawrie cross the room and take the chair her twin had vacated, Miss Annersley thought again how alike they were. Both calmly expected things to go their own way, the difference was in their reaction when it didn’t. Of the two, Miss Annersley thought she would rather have Nicola, but she saw possibilities in them both. After all, the School would be a very dull place if it only held the Len Maynards of this world.
“Now, Lawrence, I would like to know what you hoped to achieve by your behaviour in the gym.”

 


#122:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sun May 23, 2004 9:43 pm


Oh good, it looks as if Lawrie is about to get her comeuppance.

 


#123:  Author: DawnLocation: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Mon May 24, 2004 12:43 am


this is so good Nicky

sorry RL is being a pain, hope it improves soon

RL hammer

 


#124:  Author: cazLocation: Cambridge PostPosted: Mon May 24, 2004 8:37 am


Thank you for the new post, Nicky. Like Miss Annersley, I wonder what Nick and Lawrie would be like after a year at the CS.

 


#125:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Mon May 24, 2004 12:29 pm


Thankyou Nicky - this is great! I love Ginty's secret delight at her part in the play - you have captured her exactly.

I wonder who the Marlows and Miranda will choose to take with them as their friends?

 


#126:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon May 24, 2004 1:21 pm


Another great part. I hope Jo isn't too snarky with Nick, though. And looking forward to what Miss A says to Lawrie.

 


#127:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon May 24, 2004 2:10 pm


Yes, please do not let it be behind closed doors - that would be unfair to those of us who have booked ringside seats.

 


#128:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Tue May 25, 2004 10:21 pm


Have just caught up with masses of this. Nicky it is brilliant. Am reading Marlow books at the moment and you definitley have them off to a T.

Looking forward to the tea party.

 


#129:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Wed May 26, 2004 1:49 pm


just joined CBB and found this one - fantastic, well done Nicky! Marlows and CS all in one - such treats! Is there any where I can go to print out just the story and catch up quickly?

 


#130:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Wed May 26, 2004 1:54 pm


Hopefully (if Nicky is willing) I would like to post it on the Sally Denny Library, then you'd be able to print it out without any of the yibble.

 


#131:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu May 27, 2004 3:18 pm


That's a good idea, Liss, it may inspire Nickyj to finish the story.

 


#132:  Author: AbiLocation: Alton, Hants PostPosted: Fri May 28, 2004 2:50 pm


I've just discovered this. I've only read three of them, but this is sooooooo good!

Nicky please come and write some more!

 


#133: The Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Mon May 31, 2004 7:21 pm


Yes, of course Liss, post it anywhere you like. Is this part a bit of a cop out? I really couldn't decide whether to give Lawrie her own way or not. And I promise the next instalment will see them heading for Freudesheim.....
nicky

PART XIX

The direct question floored Lawrie completely; prevarication came easily to her but she somehow could not bring herself to tell a direct lie with those piercing blue eyes fixed on her.
“I wanted to show how good I am,” she said defensively. “That play needs me.”
“I understood that you have been given a part in it,” was the calm rejoinder.
Lawrie twisted her fingers together. “Yes, Miss Annersley. But I should have one of the main parts. Ellen Holroyd said I….”
“That will do, Lawrence,” her headmistress said sharply. “Please don’t brag about yourself.” She sat back in her chair and watched her pupil squirm for a moment before she continued on a different subject.
“Tell me, Lawrence, aren’t you ashamed to be two forms below your sister?”
“We can’t all be good at everything,” Lawrie defended herself.
“No,” the headmistress agreed, “but we can all put what talents we have to best use and put our full effort into everything we do. Your reports from Kingscote suggest that you don’t do that unless it suits you and so, so far, do the reports I hear from your mistresses here. I agree that Nicola is more academically gifted than you are but you should at least be in Upper IVb with girls of your own age.”
It was impossible for Lawrie to go any redder; she wondered briefly about bursting into tears but had a suspicion that Miss Annersley would see straight through her.
“On the other hand,” that lady was continuing, “if it is that you are behind your sister through lack of ability rather than through laziness then I would be doing you a great disservice by persuading Miss Wilmot to give you a bigger part in the play when you have so much ground to make up academically.”
Lawrie caught at straws. “I’ll work like anything, I promise!”
“I’m going to offer you a deal,” Miss Annersley said. “The play is cast and it wouldn’t be fair to take a part away from another girl at this stage. If we’d known what you could do before we cast it it might have been different. But Miss Wilmot has spoken to Mrs Maynard, who has written the play for us, and she sees a way in which the part you have been allotted can be extended to make use of your abilities. You clearly have a talent, Lawrence, I can’t deny that. In return, I want you to work as hard as you can at all of your lessons and be ready for a remove to Upper IVb at half term. If you aren’t ready then your part will be cut back to its current state to allow you to give more time to your schoolwork and you will have to wait until next year. Does that seem fair?”
Lawrie, sensing a partial victory, was not interested in the price of it. She was bored in Lower IVa; the girls were mostly younger than her and while they were friendly enough she missed the banter of Tim and Miranda and the others. Besides, there was the play. If work was what it would take then she would work. Lawrie wasn’t aware of many of her own failings but she did know that she was often lazy, so she nodded.
“I’ll work. Thank you, Miss Annerlsey.”
“Just remember, God has given us our talents,” the headmistress said gravely, “so it is hardly for us to boast about them, don’t you think? We owe it to him to make the most of what he has given us and that sometimes means working at things we don’t like.”
Lawrie frankly stared at her. Religion was not something that the Marlows, Ann excepted of course, had ever given much attention to. Church going for Lawrie had been something she did to keep her mother from nagging her or because, at school, one had to. The idea that personally she owed it to God to work hard was hard to grasp.
The headmistress inwardly shook her head, realising that the School had a much deeper lesson to teach this particular new girl than the one of working hard to gain something she wanted, but she knew that she had said enough for now, besides which the bell for Abendessen would be ringing very shortly. So she rose to her feet, signalling dismissal.
“Remember what I have said, Lawrie. Your part in the play depends entirely on your own performance in the classroom.”
Lawrie bobbed her curtsey and almost danced from the room, jubilant at having, as she saw it, got her own way.

 


#134:  Author: cazLocation: Cambridge PostPosted: Mon May 31, 2004 7:26 pm


Very interesting. I'd forgotten, until that post, how the Marlows (Ann excepted) didn't really think much about religion. They probably think it's talked about almost too much at the CS.

 


#135:  Author: gigagalLocation: London PostPosted: Mon May 31, 2004 7:56 pm


It's actually really intereshting seeing the two schools ideas merged like this...especially with the writing itself being so great.

 


#136:  Author: Dreaming MarianneLocation: Devon PostPosted: Mon May 31, 2004 10:34 pm


I think it's really interesting bringing up the God-business with Lawrie. My temptation is to see her as too fluffy-headed to have a think about it. My instinct tells me she will dismiss it and doggedly pursue the acting brouhaha, but maybe I will be proved wrong?

 


#137:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Jun 01, 2004 2:39 pm


If you're right in that, Marianne, Lawrie has a terrible shock coming to her, doesn't she?

 


#138:  Author: RachLocation: Cheltenham, England PostPosted: Tue Jun 01, 2004 6:28 pm


This is superb! Just as I would imagine Lawrie behaving. Just not understanding the beliefs underpinning the CS ethos in the slightest.... after all, she sees them as made-up stories for people like Ann...

 


#139: The Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Tue Jun 01, 2004 8:32 pm


PART XX

“I say, Nick, what are you wearing tomorrow afternoon?” Miranda leant across the table at lunchtime on Friday and spoke in a low voice.
“Not an earthly,” Nick said through a mouthful of Karen’s famous Kalbsbraten. “At least, that blue thing that used to be Gin’s I should think. Why d’you want to know?”
“Well if you’re not wearing them, lend me your tartan trews?” Miranda asked.
Nicola choked on her mouthful and had to be thumped on the back by her neighbour.
“You wouldn’t dare! Would you?”
“Why not?” Miranda shrugged. “You wore them at Kingscote didn’t you?”
“Well, yes,” Nicola agreed, thinking that this was somehow different but not sure why. “Still, your funeral. Come and get them when we change this evening. This blessed place is sure to have rules about borrowing clothes.”
“Nicola! Miranda! Sit up at once,” Blossom Willouhby commanded from the top of the table. “It’s appalling manners to lean across like that. You can finish your meal in silence, both of you.”

“I say!” Joan Baker, who slept in Leafy with the twins and had come into Nicola’s cubicle to borrow a safety pin for her collar, looked admiringly at the green, blue and red tartan trousers laid out on the bed. “How smashing!”
“They are rather, aren’t they,” Miranda agreed. “Nick doesn’t think I should wear them.”
“I would if they fitted me,” Joan said definitely. “I love clothes that are a bit different,” and she looked dismissively at her plain velveteen frock. “Where did you get them.”
Nick and Miranda grinned reminiscently at one another. “Not the sort of establishment Miss Annersley would approve of us frequenting, anyhow,” Miranda said. “Actually, our esteemed headmistress at the time wasn’t too thrilled either, was she Nick?”
“Did you do anything at Kingscote beside getting into rows?” Joan asked laughingly.
“We weren’t often dull,” Miranda owned, taking the trews and holding them up against herself to make sure she hadn’t grown out of them. “Not too short, are they? I say, Joan, d’you want to come to this do of Len’s mother’s? We’re supposed to ask someone each.”
Joan flushed with pleasure. She knew that she wasn’t popular among her peers, although they certainly liked her more than they had done at first. She had been almost envious of the way Miranda had been welcomed into the bosom of the form; to be chosen as that young woman’s guest was a boon indeed. It wasn’t just about reflected glory either – she genuinely liked Miranda, with her refusal to conform to some of the more old fashioned rules of the school. “Love to,” was all she said, but she went down to Abendessen feeling happier than she had for a long time.
Miranda scooted back to her own dormitory, carefully concealing the precious trews under her blazer, and by dint of not washing made it to the table just in time.

Saturday afternoon was free at the Chalet, but in reality it was expected that you either joined one of the walks or played games, so the driveway was empty when Ailsa Thompson, a quiet girl in Lower VIth to whom Ann had become attached, rounded up her little band the following afternoon. Nick, after much thought, had asked Rosamund Lilley, mostly because she could think of noone else, since the Maynards were obviously going anyway. Ginty had proferred her invitation to Josette Russell, who was by way of becoming a particular friend, though Josette, who was a well brought up girl, was more often than not either startled or shocked by her new classmate. Lawrie had Emerence Hope in tow, a fact which could have been responsible for the slight scowl on Margot Maynard’s face – she was happy to have her friend along but jealousy was one of her chief failings and she did not like to see Emmy chumming with someone other than her. Even Margot forgot her mood, however, when Miranda came racing round from the side door. The tartan trews, offset by a smart white shirt, suited her dark colouring beautifully but it was certain that it was a sight that had never before been seen at the Chalet.
“I say, Miranda, do you think you ought?” Ann asked, feeling that someone should say something and knowing that Ailsa never put herself forward unless she had to.
Miranda had counted on the fact that the two prefects in the party had gone ahead, Ann and Ailsa being more than capable of bringing the rest across the gardens, and had no mind to be thwarted by Ann Marlow.
“Don’t fuss, Ann” she said, in a tone that would have brought trouble if Authority had heard it but that Ann was used to. “Come on, or we’ll be late,” and she hooked her arm through Nick’s and led the way.
“D’you think there’ll be a fuss when we get there?” Nicola, jolted for the moment out of her despondent mood by her friend’s nerve, asked presently as they went through the rose garden to the wicker gate that separated the gardens.
“Nope,” Miranda said confidently. “They’re perfectly decent, after all, not like I’d dug up a mini skirt or something. Do we go through here. I say, wouldn’t Esther love this,” as they came out onto a wide lawn set with deep flowerbeds.
Nicola remembered with a fleeting pang of guilt that she had not sent so much as a postcard to Esther Frewen, had barely thought of her since the end of last term. There was no time for her to brood over the fact, however, for the French windows of the big chalet before them were thrown open and a tall woman with striking black hair coiled over her ears in massive earphones (“how on earth does she get a hat on over those!” Miranda giggled irreverently) was coming to meet them, hands wide in a gesture of welcome.
“Welcome to Freudesheim, my dears. Come away in!”

 


#140:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Tue Jun 01, 2004 8:40 pm


Look forward to seeing how the Kingscote girls deal with joey's welcome speech and he r'little chats' with the new girls!

 


#141:  Author: cazLocation: Cambridge PostPosted: Tue Jun 01, 2004 8:42 pm


Yay, thank you, Nicky. Very Happy It's inteeresting to hear who they're becoming friends with.

 


#142:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Wed Jun 02, 2004 10:49 am


waiting with eager anticipation the events of the afternoon, the reactions to Miranda's trews and in turn to Joey!

 


#143:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Wed Jun 02, 2004 1:03 pm


Oh, hurray, hurray! Am longing to see how it goes at Freudesheim!

 


#144:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Fri Jun 04, 2004 7:20 pm


Thankyou! this is so wonderful and I can't wait to see the next bit.

I think you have got Ann just right - speaking up to Miranda because she knew her friend would be too shy to do so.

Carry on - carry on!!

Helen P

 


#145:  Author: EllaLocation: Staffordshire PostPosted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 7:48 am


Only just found this - and it's brilliant!
I wonder what the Kingscote girls are expecting of Jo, and what sort of impact Miranda's choice of trousers will have!
Nice to see some good treatment of Joan Baker!
Very very interesting - more please! Very Happy

 


#146:  Author: CatrionaLocation: South Yorkshire PostPosted: Sat Jun 05, 2004 12:43 pm


I am a great AF fan and have often thought about the differences between the CS and Kingscote - I am enjoying this hugely - can't wait for the next episode.

(Although I think I have found what I can only describe as an nj-ism - Caliban is in The Tempest, not Twelfth Night)

*Feel awful about pointing this out as I have had so much pleasure from this thread - it's brilliant!*

 


#147:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Jun 07, 2004 6:47 pm


So where's the next installment of this? Talk about cliff-hanging!

 


#148:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Wed Jun 09, 2004 8:53 am


REally enjoying this. Like everyone else wondering what the Kingscote girls will think of Jo. Can imagime Ann really liking her. Wonder what will be said to Miranda about the trews?.

 


#149:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Wed Jun 09, 2004 6:07 pm


Catriona wrote:
(Although I think I have found what I can only describe as an nj-ism - Caliban is in The Tempest, not Twelfth Night)


Aaagh! My English mistress once wrote of me 'Nicky sometimes spoils excellent work with factual inaccuracies'!!! I do actually know both plays fairly well so this is just rank carelessness!

Jennie wrote:
So where's the next installment of this? Talk about cliff-hanging!


Sorry all of you - I've been really slack lately. RL has been very real, not least a friend having difficulties in the course of 'BEING VERY BUSY' (baby finally safely arrived) and an assignment being due on an OU writing fiction course. And am going on holiday in just over a week. But here's a bit more (not the bit you've been waiting for though....). Whoever thought Ann and Joey would understand one another was right tho
Nicky

---------------
PART XXI

Joey Maynard was the perfect hostess. Ably assisted by the triplets and, with more enthusiasm than success, the twins who had followed the three singleton boys in her family, she organised paper games and was in several places at once making sure everyone was enjoying themselves. To be sure she looked keenly at Miranda, Nicola and Lawrie when they were introduced, wondering which had been the downfall of her favourite daughter, but without knowing which of the three was the guilty one, a fact which both Miss Annersley and Len herself had refused flatly to divulge, she could hardly say anything, though she was determined inwardly to find out before the afternoon was over.
Once the games were well started, Ann found herself invited to see baby Cecil who was, at this time of day, safely in the nursery with Rosa. She went eagerly; she was a motherly soul and it had been one of her great woes in the past that the younger members of her family resisted any attempt to mother them. So she had no difficulty in exclaiming over the angelic little face with its surround of dark hair and hearing about the child’s namesake, the Robin.
“She sounds a darling,” she said warmly, after a tale of the old days when the school had been in the Tyrol.
Joey smiled reminiscently. “She was – and is, though she’s been grown up for a good many years now. Tell me, Ann, how are you liking the Chalet so far?”
Ann returned the smile. “I like it. Everyone’s so friendly and the place itself is so beautiful. And I’m enjoying the work, especially the languages.”
She looked into the dark mirror-like eyes and found herself trusting this woman totally. “I wasn’t sure about coming here, Mrs Maynard, though I didn’t tell anyone. It’s not easy starting somewhere new at nearly seventeen and, well, I was to be head-girl at Kingscote.”
Joey nodded sympathetically. “That’s hard. I was head-girl here myself in my time, you know. But you’re settling in and that’s the main thing. You’re a Guide too, I see,” as she noted the trefoil pinned to the collar of Ann’s neat afternoon frock.
“Yes. I was glad to find Rangers here. They didn’t have them at Kingscote, so once I was sixteen that was it. I didn’t mind actually, there were other things – I had a dormitory full of juniors to look after. But it’s nice to be back in the fold so to speak.”
Joey did not miss the wistful tone. “You enjoyed that? Who’s Junior’s prefect this year – Ailsa isn’t it? Why not offer to give her a hand?”
Ann looked thoughtful. “Could I? I’ve wanted to but it seemed, well, pushy.”
“I’m sure she’d appreciate it,” Joey said reassuringly. “There are lots of new ones this term, and as a new girl yourself you might be less scary to them than a full blown prefect. Think about it. And Ann, I know sometimes you probably wonder what would have happened if you had stayed at Kingscote and been head girl. But remember this. God has a plan for all of us and if He brought you here it was because He feels that you can be of service here.”
“I’ll try and remember that, Mrs Maynard,” Ann said gratefully, finding herself comforted by the idea.
Joey smiled warmly. “Now, this young lady needs some attention so run down to the rest, would you, and ask your sister Ginty to come up in say fifteen minutes.”

It was Ginty, quite inadvertently, who caused the trouble. She had been inwardly scornful of the ‘baby games’ though naturally far too polite to show it, and had been glad of Ann’s message. Up in the nursery with her hostess, however, she had been highly resentful of the probing personal questions. Joey had quizzed her about how she liked school – that had been easy enough, since Ginty had settled in with her usual comfort – about her home life and about her future. In some matters, Ginty’s sisters could have told you, she was apt to wear her heart on her sleeve, but they were the things that, in general, mattered the least. If things mattered she kept them to herself, hidden behind the casual, even shallow façade she presented to the world. She had not been abrupt with Joey, naturally, but she had left that lady knowing very little more than she had at the start of the conversation and had been glad to escape and to send a new girl from the second up to be interrogated in her turn.
“Interfering old bat,” she muttered uncharitably to Ann, who looked suitably shocked although she did see that, to some people, the questions might seem intrusive. Someone had suggested music and Miranda was just finishing a Mozart piece on her violin. And Miranda, in her own way as sophisticated as Ginty – a fact which had drawn her to Joan Baker – was equally bored. Not that she minded playing but those footling games – more than once she had caught Joan’s eye and laughed with her, each knowing what the other was thinking. So when Ginty, all innocence, asked Len if they might perhaps have the radio on and dance for a while, she jumped up and seconded the proposal.
“Here, let me.” Len was fiddling with the controls, trying to clear up the signal on a classical programme, and gladly gave way to let Ginty try her luck. That young woman winked at a baffled Ann and twisted the knob until dance music filled the room.
Miranda caught Nicola’s hands and began a dance that was far from the sedate waltzes or lively county dances to which the Chaletians were accustomed. Rock and roll had not yet reached the environs of the Gornetz Platz. Joan, who frequented dance halls at home that would make even the Marlows think twice, held out a hand to Ginty, who accepted with alacrity, glad to find that at least one of the girls here knew about something normal, and Lawrie, not wishing to be left out, pulled Emerence to her feet.
The music and the movements were infectious and soon Len and Con, encouraged by Miranda, were trying their hand too, while the elder ones looked on in varying degrees of amusement. It was this scene which Joey Maynard happened upon when she came down, her youngest daughter safely settled.

 


#150:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Wed Jun 09, 2004 6:26 pm


Oooooo! Thanks Nicky - I imagine Joey will not be impressed and there may be firework before the tea and cakes are served!

 


#151:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Wed Jun 09, 2004 7:02 pm


*waiting eagerly for Joey's reaction*

 


#152:  Author: CatrionaLocation: South Yorkshire PostPosted: Wed Jun 09, 2004 9:06 pm


I am SO enjoying this - more please please please please!

 


#153:  Author: DawnLocation: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Wed Jun 09, 2004 11:28 pm


Goody goody - really looking forward to Joey's reaction Very Happy

 


#154:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2004 8:35 am


That was great - I love seeing the Kingscote girls rocking the boat! It was nice to see someone understanding Ann, though. She's annoying, but I feel a bit sorry for her sometimes.

 


#155:  Author: AbiLocation: Alton, Hants PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2004 12:50 pm


Ooooh, what will Joey say?? Maybe she'll welcome it though... or maybe not Very Happy

 


#156:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2004 1:04 pm


So please don't keep us on tenterhooks for too long, Nickyj.

 


#157:  Author: cazLocation: Cambridge PostPosted: Thu Jun 10, 2004 5:16 pm


Thank you, Nicky! I'm looking forward to hearing Jo's reaction. And Ginty's reaction to her questions is perfectly reasonable - to her, Jo is not much better than a random stranger.

 


#158:  Author: Guest PostPosted: Sat Jun 12, 2004 7:05 pm


brilliant brilliant brilliant!

Totally agree with Ginty for once.

Dying to see Joey's reaction...

 


#159:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 9:50 pm


PART XXII

She stood in the doorway for a moment, her ink-black eyes wider than usual, watching her eldest daughter and Miranda gyrating their hips rhythmically and – in her view, suggestively. Joey prided herself on being up to date and not prudish but having her salon turned into a common dance hall was more than she could bear.
Crossing the room she snapped off the radio. “Enough of that, I think, girls.”
“Mrs Maynard, there was no harm in it, honestly,” Miranda, sensing disapproval, told her hostess.
Joey Maynard looked her up and down, eyes resting finally on the tartan trews. “I don’t think I need you to tell me what is appropriate, my dear,” she said calmly. She did not add ‘especially in that get up’ but she meant it, and Miranda knew it.”
The matter might have ended there and the rest of the afternoon passed peacefully if it had not been for Margot Maynard’s devil. Jealousy was one of the youngest triplet’s besetting sins and even years of training had not suppressed it; Margot had sat fuming while Emerence danced with Lawrie, refusing to join in despite longing to, and by now was in a thoroughly bad mood. So when Ann, by way of smoothing things over, suggested that they might have some more music, she saw her chance to take her revenge, if not on Lawrie directly then on her sister.
Joey was mollified by the suggestion – Ann had a way with grown-ups. “Do you sing, Ann?”
Ann shook her head hurriedly. “Not more than most. But Nick’s rather good.”
“I wouldn’t think Nicola would want to push herself forward, here of all places, after what she did.”
Every eye in the room turned to Margot who flushed deeply, already regretting that she had spoken.
Joey looked carefully at the youngest triplet, not missing the frantic signals and head shaking from Len and Con. “What are you saying, Margot?”
“I…. nothing.”
“She means,” Nicola herself said in a forced voice, head high, “after I got Len demoted as form prefect. Isn’t that it, Margot?”
Margot flinched at the scorn in the other girl’s voice.
“Margot?” It was her mother.
“Yes, Mamma.”
Joey turned and fixed Nicola with a long, cold stare but said nothing to her.
“Shall I ring for Anna to bring tea, Mamma?” Seeing that Len was speechless with rage, Con leapt to the rescue.
Her mother snapped back to the situation. “Yes please, Con. Betsy, would you and Ann and Ailsa mind setting the table?”
The afternoon was a failure after that, though the tea was an excellent one. Len, so angry with her triplet that she could hardly look at her, did not say a word and Nicola, playing with her food in a way that would normally have brought a reproof from both Ann and the head girl, was mentally counting the minutes until she could decently leave. Miranda was carried off for a chat with her hostess and returned fifteen minutes later looking relieved that it was over.
“She asked me, very nicely of course, if my mother knew that I was going out to tea dressed like this,” she told Nicola in an undertone afterwards, while Lawrie was being interviewed. “I told about Mummy and Daddy being divorced and that last hols had been Daddy’s turn so she hadn’t seen them and she was ever so nice after that. Poor Miranda, with no stable family to guide her, no wonder she’s gone off the rails a little bit, that sort of thing. Forgot all about the trousers.” Miranda giggled – the divorce had been an amicable affair many years before and she had never seen herself in the role of victim because of it.
“You didn’t tell her the trews were mine then?” Nick asked with a glimpse of humour. “She’s clearly not going to talk to me anyway, so you might as well have.”
“I…er, may have forgotten to mention it. She didn’t actually ask, you know. Look, Nick, don’t worry about it. Another half hour and we can leave – your Ann will see to it that we don’t hang around a minute longer than we have to.”
And Ann, surprisingly Nick thought – although Ann, at the Chalet School, did seem to be a more understanding and less fussy person than Ann at home or at Kingscote – did just that. It was getting chilly, she said, and some of them hadn’t brought blazers. It was very kind of Mrs Maynard to have given them such a jolly afternoon but they really must be going. Betsy, understanding fully, had backed her up and Joey, very conscious of the atmosphere, had agreed. She tried to keep her daughters back for a word but Len was too quick for her and raced ahead with barely a goodbye.
“Nick, I’m so sorry!” Once they were safely through the gate into the school gardens Len slowed her pace and let the others catch up. “I wouldn’t have had that happen for the world.”
Nick managed a smile. “S’okay.” She shivered, more from nervous reaction than any real feeling of cold.
“Nick, put this on.” Ann shrugged out of her blazer and put it around her sister’s shoulders. “That was lousy for you.”
Nicola pulled it round herself gratefully, too tired to speak. She had had an uncomfortable afternoon even before Margot’s words; when it had all come out she had felt physically sick and that feeling was still not far from the surface.
It was a subdued procession that made its way up the drive. Con had her arm through Len’s, as if to hold her back, and even Ginty had been startled out of her usual self-absorption and flanked her sister protectively while Lawrie muttered things about scratching Margot’s eyes out. The Marlows might fight among themselves but they were loyal and now they had closed ranks, even Miranda a bit of an outsider as she followed with Joan and Emerence. The instigator of all the trouble dragged her feet along between Betsy Lucy and Ailsa Thompson, scared of what she had started.

 


#160:  Author: cazLocation: Cambridge PostPosted: Mon Jun 14, 2004 10:41 pm


That was fantastic. I was going to mention the bits I particularly liked, but then realised I was listing the whole post again!

 


#161:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 1:31 am


Oh dear!
Margot's Devil has done it this time........

 


#162:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 10:20 am


I can see things getting a lot more uncomfortable and messy before they get any better....

 


#163:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 4:37 pm


Yes, I think you're right. A shame Jo can't update her technique a little. Or that she can't judge which girls will respond, and which won't.

 


#164:  Author: Dreaming MarianneLocation: Devon PostPosted: Tue Jun 15, 2004 8:59 pm


Mmm but that's Jo for you, crashing in where unwauted. What do you think Commander Marlow would make of her?

eta: Sorry, forgot to say, great work nickyj really really enjoying this thank you


edit: was to merge two of Dreaming Marianne's posts together ...Carolyn

 


#165:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2004 9:08 am


I reckon Commander Marlow would think she was an interfering silly woman, but would get on very well with Jack. At least Jack has some common sense.

 


#166:  Author: FionaWLocation: Johannesburg, South Africa PostPosted: Wed Jun 16, 2004 4:10 pm


I hope Joey has nightmares about dancing trews (the horror! the horror!) for weeks and has to be dosed by Matey.

This is drabulous, thank you so much! Very Happy One of my favourites on the board at the moment - not least because of the beautiful way you've got AF's style, which I enjoy very much.

 


#167: The Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Thu Jun 17, 2004 9:47 pm


Just a bit. I'm off to Switzerland (Valais) on Sat morning; will try to post a bit more tommorrow night before I go to keep you going

Nicky

PART XXIII

“My dear girls, what has happened?” Hilda Annersley came down the drive to meet them, her face concerned. Despite her assurances to Nicola, since the party had left she had had doubts of the wisdom of sending them without a member of staff.
“Mrs Maynard found out about it being Nick,” Miranda said, since nobody else seemed inclined to speak. She coloured as she felt the headmistress’s eyes on her – she had hoped to get in and change unnoticed – but thankfully that lady was too concerned about the situation to say much just then.
“Come and see me after church tomorrow, please, Miranda,” she said quietly. “Betsy, you’d better come to the study and tell me all about it.”
“Please, Miss Annersley, I think Nick would like to have some supper and go to bed.” It was Ann, of course.
The headmistress looked down at the pale little face. “You do look all in, my dear. Run along upstairs, by all means. Ann, if you go to the kitchen one of the maids will give you some bread and butter and milk for her. The rest of you had better go in and change,” with another glance at Miranda’s colourful legs.

Betsy left the study an hour later, chastened by the comments that although she could hardly have prevented Margot’s outburst she could, and should, have known that the dancing was not of an appropriate style for the younger girls.
“As I understand it, if Ann Marlow had not had to smooth things over after the dancing, none of the rest would have happened.” Miss Annersley had wound up. “So much of the responsibility is yours, and I am disappointed in you. That is all. Now, I think that you had better send Miranda West and Ginty Marlow to me.”

Ginty, coming out of the Sixth form Splashery which she had chosen to use to tidy her hair for the simple reason that it lay on the way from her common room to the study, ran into Miranda and the two made their way to the study together.
“What d’you think she wants?” Miranda asked. “I don’t see how we could have known that Mrs Maynard would mind the dancing. I mean, I know she’s going to tear strips off me over what I wore but that doesn’t explain why she wants you.”
Ginty grinned. “I’d no idea Nick had brought those things to school until you turned up in them. I know Ma told her not to – she didn’t like them at all, only since Nick had had the row over getting them she thought she ought to let her keep them. You might have known there’d be a fuss.”
“Reckoned without meeting Annersley on the doorstep,” Miranda said ruefully.

Miss Annersley, it seemed, did think that they should have known that their dancing wasn’t the done thing on such an occasion and scolded them roundly for rudeness to their hostess.
“Honestly, Miss Annersley, we didn’t think there was any harm in it,” Miranda protested, Ginty looking rather shattered at the stiff lecture. “It’s just dancing – noone thought anything of it at Kingscote.”
“Was that extraordinary outfit of yours the norm at Kingscote as well?” the headmistress asked dryly.
“Not exactly the norm. But it was worn” – Miranda forbore to mention that it was not she who had worn it there – “and nobody minded.”
“Well here we have a certain standard of gentility in both dress and behaviour,” the headmistress said more gently. “I accept that you both thought that you were behaving acceptably but you let down the school and insulted your hostess this afternoon, and I think that if you had stopped to think you would have realised that.”

That subdued Miranda, who until now had seen both episodes as something of a joke. By the time that they were dismissed to Abendessen, with instructions to go to bed immediately afterwards and to write apologies to Mrs Maynard the following afternoon, Ginty was ready to cry and Miranda, who never did, wasn’t that far behind her. Miss Annersley had been deliberately harsh, feeling that both girls had rather too much of a tendency to go their own way regardless and determined to nip it in the bud there and then.

 


#168:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Thu Jun 17, 2004 9:53 pm


Justice CS style...not somehting they would have expected.

Well thought out and excecuted.

 


#169:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 8:15 am


yes, and this gets to be more and more interesting, so looking forward to lots more.

 


#170:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 9:17 am


It's interesting to see the differences in the way the girls behave and the justice tht is meteed out between the two schools. Will be great to see what happens next.

 


#171:  Author: BookwormsarahLocation: Cambridge, UK PostPosted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 9:55 am


Oh this is gorgeous. The same injustice towards Nicola that is seen in the AF books, the way that Len manages to forgive and behave decently when Margot is being a complete monster...Enjoy Switzerland, but please write more soon!

 


#172: The Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Fri Jun 18, 2004 9:47 pm


Just tying up some loose ends. Off on hols now but promise faithfully to write some more while I'm away. It's half term at the CS very shortly
Nicky

PART XXIV

It seemed to a relieved Chalet School staff that peace reigned for the whole of the week following the eventful tea party. The quietness of Sunday helped to soothe Nicola’s shattered nerves and the days that followed were so full with lessons, hockey practices and play rehearsals that she had little time to brood. True, in the few quiet moments there were she was given to lapsing into a grey mood but by the time the week was up she was on the way to being herself again. Len was slower to recover herself. It was the first time in her life that she had found herself up against her mother; she felt that Joey, in cutting Nicola dead, had been unfair, felt let down and had no idea how to reconcile that. Hard work was always a solace to her but Upper IVA was a quieter place than usual at present.

Margot Maynard was as thoroughly in Coventry as Nicola had been a few weeks ago. Very little had been said to her officially – the Head had told her that she was a nasty, vindictive little girl and that as she was so lacking in Christian sentiment her part in the Christmas Play would be given to someone else. Her sisters cut her dead and even loyal Emerence was shocked by her tale telling and was distant. Part of her was desperately sorry she had spoken, but she was too scared of her sister’s temper and Nicola’s scorn to try and put it right with either of them, besides which her devil was still active, telling her that it was a fuss about nothing. So Margot felt herself ill-used and brooded over the whole affair, her mistresses complaining of inattention in class and work badly prepared.

Lawrie, on the other hand, was working hard for the first time in her life. She loved what had been done to her part and she had no intention of losing it so she went steaming ahead until her formmistress was heard to comment that it was amazing what she could do when she tried and that at that rate she would be a cert for Upper IVb at half term. Rehearsals were held twice a week and there was no doubt in Miss Wilmot’s mind by then that she had a real treasure on her hands.
“I thought she’d overplay it,” she confided to Sharlie Andrews after a particularly difficult rehearsal. “She’s a bumptious young woman as a rule, but that just fell away. And she knows her lines, which is more than can be said for most of them tonight. I shall be grey by the time this play is ready.”

“Coming to Guides, Nick?” Con Maynard looked across at her as they packed up after prep and mending the following Saturday.
Nicola nodded without enthusiasm. True to her promise to the Head, she had been giving the Guide Company a chance and had been enjoying the activities. But try as she might she could not feel that any of it mattered, that it was something she wanted to be a part of, she had been too badly disillusioned for that. She was used to doing things wholeheartedly and the fact that she could not feel like that about this made her uncomfortable with herself.
At inspection she stood at the end of Josette Russell’s patrol, to which she had been temporarily assigned, and watched Lawrie, her tie crooked, being pulled into place by Mary-Lou Trelawney, she bandaged Miranda with a will during the first aid practice that followed but by the end of the meeting she was resolved that she would go to Miss Annersley and could honestly say that she had given it a fair trial and it wasn’t for her.

“I think it’s a good thing, Hilda.” Nell Wilson, one of the school’s first Guiders, said bluntly. It was Monday evening, the prefects were on duty and a select gathering of staff, augmented by Miss Wilson and Mdle Berne from St Mildred’s, were enjoying coffee in the Head’s salon. Hilda Annersley had taken the opportunity to put her proposal to them.
“I’m not so sure,” Rosalie Dene, who had been part of the first Company, said slowly. “The School’s always been united over Guides; it seems a shame to disrupt that just because of one girl’s prejudice against it.”
“I don’t think that’s what we’re doing,” Miss Wilmot chipped in. “I’ve always been a bit uncomfortable about it being compulsory, and it is, you know, for all we say otherwise. Young Miranda’s right about that. The girls aren’t going to desert in droves just because they can, though I’m sure we’ll lose some. I know it sounds like heresy but there is more to school life than Guides and there are other ways to learn team spirit and so on.”
“We’re decided then,” Hilda said. “As from half term, any girl who wishes to withdraw from the Guide Company may do so, so long as she devotes the time to either games or another hobby. Rosalie, type up a notice for me in the morning, would you?”

 


#173:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Jun 19, 2004 12:07 pm


Great stuff, Nickyj, the Marlows are influencing the CS as much as the CS is influencing them.

 


#174:  Author: AbiLocation: Alton, Hants PostPosted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 10:33 pm


*cheers* It's so long since I've been on the board that there were THREE new bits for me to read! This is really good Nickyj, and I'm glad they've changed their minds about guides.

Wonder what the Marlows will get up to next?

 


#175:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 11:27 pm


*even better now that I have finally read Autumn Term*

 


#176:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Tue Jun 22, 2004 1:53 pm


As wonderful as ever. THank you Nicky. Hope you are having a fabulous and inspirational holiday.

 


#177:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Jun 26, 2004 3:30 pm


I hope she has a good holiday, too, and I also hope that she gets lots of good ideas for the rest of the drabble.

 


#178: The Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 4:04 pm


PART XXV

The next excitement was half term. It was only a short break this time so no major excursion had been planned; those who lived near enough would go home and those left behind would be entertained with day trips.
The Maynards were going home, of course, with several of Upper IV who had no other plans. Len had asked if she might stay at school but had been turned down flat.
“I think you need to go home more than most,” the Head told her. “It’s time you had this out with your mother. You can’t go on as you have been – I know you’re unhappy over it.”
“It’s not just Mamma, Auntie Hilda, it’s Margot. I know she’s my sister and of course I love her but I don’t feel I like her very much just now.”
“Then it’s time you sorted that out as well, my dear,” was the uncompromising reply. “It’s not like you to hold grudges, Len. And remember, it was your own loss of self control that led to this whole situation; think of that when you are blaming others for their part in it. Now, will you promise me you’ll try, with both Margot and your mother?”
Len nodded reluctantly. “I’ll do my best, Auntie Hilda, and saints couldn’t do more.”

The Marlows were going home as well, but on their part there was nothing but rejoicing.
“Home, home, home!” Lawrie sang tunelessly as she dressed. Nicola, ramming the last few things into her case, said nothing but breathed a sigh of relief. She had had enough of school right now. Three whole days away from it seemed like heaven after the upheavals of the last few weeks. She thought briefly how nice it would be if home meant Trennels and Rowan’s practical common sense to put things into perspective. She had a feeling that Rowan would say it was all a fuss about nothing. She’d never been one to waste time wishing for things she couldn’t have though, so she turned her thoughts to happier things.
“Lawrie, Miss Annersley wants to see you before brekker.” Josette Russell put her head round the dormitory door.
“Cripes, what’ve I done now?” Lawrie yanked her tie straight and ran off, combing her hair with her fingers. Nicola, ready, threw herself on the bed on her back, staring at the ceiling and wishing that breakfast was over and it was coach time.

“Don’t put your case there, Nicola, or it’ll go on the coach,” Miss Wilmot, standing at the foot of the stairs directing operations, told her.
Nicola looked up at her. “Isn’t that where it’s supposed to go?”
The mistress consulted her list. “’Marlow: A, G, N, L – Collecting’ it says here. And if my list says so then it’s true.”
Nicola, baffled, sought in the crowd for Ann as being the one who would know; she’d thought their plans were definite, train to Interlaken and then to Geneva. Instead of Ann, however, her eyes fell on a tall young woman in a well cut tweed coat, standing by the door surveying the chaos with an amused air.
“Rowan?” Disbelieving, Nicola dropped her case and fought her way through the crowd.
“Hullo, Nick. Been getting into all sorts of trouble I suppose.”
It was Rowan, Rowan who should have been a thousand miles away, but instead, somehow, was here at the Chalet School. Nicola looked up at her, a huge lump in her throat, suddenly realising, as she had after that first half of a term at Kingscote, how much she had minded the past six weeks. She bit her lip fiercely, one couldn’t possibly cry here. It was ghastly how she kept wanting to lately, gave her some idea how Lawrie must feel at times.
“Here, what is it?” Rowan, seeing, pulled her gently through the half open door to the relative privacy of the drive. “You have been in a row, haven’t you?”
Nicola nodded, not trusting herself to speak.
“Bad?”
Another nod. Rowan slipped a steadying arm around her sister’s shoulders. “Tell me later. If you like. Or not.” It was the old brusque Rowan but there was a softness in her voice that had not been there before. “Where are the rest?”
“Rowan!” Lawrie flew out of the door, her coat trailing over her shoulder. “Ann said you were here! How? Why?”
Rowan held her at arm’s length and regarded her with mock seriousness. “Well you look like this place suits you, anyhow. Mum says you’re idling in Lower IV, lazy blighter that you are.”
“Not any more.” Lawrie hopped from one foot to the other. “I got my remove.”
“Should think so too,” Rowan said calmly. “Making you work are they? What did they bribe you with?”
“Beast!” Lawrie cried indignantly. “Maybe I just worked, did that occur to you.”
“Nope,” her elder sister said unkindly. “What was it?”
“Bigger part in the Christmas play,” Nicola, recovered from the wanting-to-cry feeling but still glad of the comforting arm about her shoulders, said bluntly.
Rowan laughed and ruffled her youngest sister’s hair.
“Rowan, how the dickens did you get here?” Ginty demanded, appearing from the crowd which had begun to spill down the steps and onto the drive.
“Plane, train, car. Mums thought it’s be good for me to have a break; they paid for the ticket and Mr Tranter said he’d mind the farm so I thought I’d come and see where my tiddy sisters were living these days. Talked Mum into letting me drive up to meet you.”
“D’you have a licence now?” Lawrie asked suspiciously.
Rowan laughed, remembering the time she had turned up at Kingscote in the car, wearing extra lipstick to make her look old enough to drive. “Cheeky brat. All above board this time, I promise you. Now scram and get your coats and things, I want to get off.”
“You don’t want to see the place?” Ginty asked.
“Not unless you’ll be devastated if I don’t. One boarding school’s very much like another I suspect and I’ve had my fill. Now scoot, I’ll wait here. And try and pick up Ann on the way, would you?”

 


#179:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 4:08 pm


This is so very, very Marlowe, it's almost uncanny.

 


#180:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sun Jun 27, 2004 9:58 pm


That is great and so like Rowan.

 


#181:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:45 am


Wonderful! Very Rowan, very Marlowesque! I'm loving it!

 


#182:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:50 am


brilliant brilliant brilliant

Rowan is the best!

 


#183:  Author: Ruth BLocation: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 4:38 pm


This is fantastic! Have only read Autumn Term of AF's but from that the characters are so well done. Its a real achievement to get EBD and AF's style into one drabble.

Boss was out today and had nothing to do, so I caught up with this all in one go!

 


#184:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Mon Jun 28, 2004 6:46 pm


Yippee! I've been looking forward to more of this all week Very Happy

I can only echo what everyone else has said about how like Rowan this is - but what has caused the 'softness that wasn't there before'??
Most intrigued!

Love Lawrie's line 'Cripes- what've I done now?' Very very Lawrie!

 


#185:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 11:18 am


ooh, I missed that bit.
Has Rowan met a nice doctor whilst up on the Platz?

 


#186:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 1:28 pm


Where's the next part, then?

 


#187:  Author: FionaWLocation: Johannesburg, South Africa PostPosted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 2:49 pm


Wonderful! thank you so much for all the new instalments since I last looked! Laughing

 


#188:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 9:16 pm


In which nothing much happens, I'm just making the best of having Rowan around for a few days, she being my second favourite Marlow. As to what she's been up to since we last saw her, have to wait to find out. Sorry!
Nicky

PART XXVI

“The first thing I’m going to do, when there’s a decent amount of money in the bank, is put in central heating at Trennels.” Rowan stretched herself luxuriously in the salon at the Marlows’ chalet in Lausanne, on the shores of Lake Geneva.
“Won’t that cost a fortune?” Ann, curled in an armchair with a mug of hot chocolate, asked.
“We might have to do it a bit at a time,” Rowan consented, getting up and sauntering to the sideboard to pour herself a schnapps. “Want some?”
Ann laughed and shook her head. “How is everything at home?”
“Good enough. Harvest safely in, calves sold. Been a good summer.” She kicked off her shoes and tucked her feet under her on the couch, and Ann thought for a moment that she was going to say more. She changed the subject abruptly, however. “What’s the row with young Nick? She seems awfully glad to get away from this school of yours. Now Lawrie I expected to hate it and she’s full of beans.”
“Cos she’s got her own way,” and Ann launched into the story of Lawrie and the play.
“Wretched little show off,” Rowan said scathingly. “Still, this head of yours seems to know how to handle her. You can get the blighter to do anything if you bribe her with something she really wants. Anyway,” dismissively, “I’m not interested in Lal at this precise moment, amusing though her exploits are. Nick nearly cried when she saw me this morning and that’s not her style at all. What’s the row?”
She nursed the brandy, taking occasional sips, while Ann told what had happened.
“Little bully!” Rowan said bluntly. “This Len child, I mean.”
Ann stared at her. “You don’t approve of what Nick did, surely?”
“Don’t be more of an ass than you can help. Of course I don’t. I can see why she did it – if it had been me at that age I’d probably have hit her first. But the other girl had no right to bully her like that about Guides, none of them did. And as for the rest sending her to Coventry, when she’s only been there a week, if that’s not bullying I don’t know what is. What I don’t see,” reflectively, “is how it got so out of hand. So Nick and this other girl had a scrap and Nick got her face slapped. She probably deserved it. But interviews with the Head and demotions and parents being involved? What are they on at that place? I mean, can you see Keith getting involved in something like that? Or Kay reporting them in the first place?”
“You always said Kay was a rotten head-girl,” Ann reminded her, “and you didn’t think much of Keith either.”
“True,” Rowan admitted. “But they both had more sense than this. Strikes me the only person who really deserved what she got was the kid who told tales to her mother about it.” She sighed and got up to pour herself another drink. “I can’t tell you how glad I am to be finished with school. Can you honestly see me curtseying to the Head and following all these crazy rules?”
Ann laughed again. “Nope. Oh, okay then, just a splash,” as Rowan held out the schnapps bottle invitingly.
“Didn’t know you drank, Ann.” Nicola padded into the room in pyjamas and bare feet. “Say, warm in here, isn’t it. Can I have some?”
“Absolutely not,” Rowan and Ann said together.
“You can have my hot choc if you like,” Ann offered as consolation. “It’s still hottish.”
Nicola threw another longing glance at the brandy but knew she was beaten. “I will then, thanks.”
“Since you’re up you may as well be comfortable.” Rowan made space on the couch. “Why are you up, anyhow? Must be gone eleven?”
“Nearer twelve,” Nick, who had looked at the hall clock on the way past, told her. “Couldn’t sleep.” She looked across at Rowan. “Has Ann told you?”
“The whole sorry tale,” Rowan assented. “Honestly, Nick, you’re an ass sometimes.”
“Know that,” Nicola said airily. “Never thought there’d be such a fuss.”
“Would you have cared if you had?”
“Probably not. I was mad. Said things.”
“Your problem, young Nicola, is that you’re too much like me. Only you mind in a way I never did. Look, Nick, so this Mrs Maynard has her knife into you. Why should you care? She’s just some two-bit kid’s author. You got a well deserved smack in the face and if this school of yours had any sense that’d have been the end of it.”
Nicola hugged her knees, balancing the hot chocolate on top of them. “Rowan, you’ve no idea how much I’ve wished you were there this term.”
Ann, forgotten in her arm chair, coloured at this. She had honestly tried that term not to fuss, to try and fill the gap that she knew Rowan’s early departure from school had left, feeling that somehow that had been behind Nicola’s troubles the previous term. Hurt, she set down her half-full glass.
“Think I’ll turn in. Night, both of you.”
“That,” Rowan said firmly when she had gone, “whilst no doubt flattering to me was a beastly thing to say in front of Ann. She tries every day to do what she can for you ungrateful lot. You might try and think of her feelings a bit now and then.”
“Don’t row me, please, Rowan, not tonight.” The colour drained from Nick’s face, she was still, for her, desperately fragile and being told off again, however much she knew she deserved it, was more than she could deal with.
Rowan set down her glass, took the mug of chocolate from her sister and put it down too, then took the clammy hands in hers.
“You’ve had a really ghastly time of it, haven’t you.”
Nick nodded miserably. Rowan, in a completely foreign gesture, pulled the younger girl to her, one arm tightly around her, resting the fair head on her shoulder while her sister cried away the strain of the past six weeks.”

 


#189:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Tue Jun 29, 2004 9:27 pm


Oh!

That was brilliant of Rowan, and very well told.

 


#190:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 11:16 am


Brilliant, so very Rowan-ish.

 


#191:  Author: Ruth BLocation: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 12:22 pm


Well said Rowan!

 


#192:  Author: cazLocation: Cambridge PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 8:04 pm


Oh, poor Nick! This is really, really good. And Rowan is great, too (of course).

 


#193:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Wed Jun 30, 2004 10:30 pm


That was lovely, thankyou! Rowan is my second favourite Marlow too and it's so good to see her in here Smile

Looking forward to the next bit as soon as you can manage it Nicky Very Happy

 


#194:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 8:23 am


I was hoping for more, already.

 


#195:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 11:36 am


Wonderful. Loving Rowan being in it too, poor Nick she still struggling with it all, and poor Ann - she had been trying!

Loved Rowan's viewpoint on the CS and Joey's butting in!

 


#196:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 3:16 pm


Fantastic story. Love the Marlows and it is nice to see Rowan again. Thank you for lots of lovely story. Wonder what would happen if Rowan and Jo met?

 


#197:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu Jul 01, 2004 3:24 pm


Well, I wouldn't put money on Jo, that's for certain!

 


#198:  Author: EllaLocation: Staffordshire PostPosted: Fri Jul 02, 2004 9:49 pm


It's such a great mixture of EBD and AF!
A meeting between Rowan and Jo would make very interesting reading! Shocked
Glad to see Nick has someone to help her try and sort out her troubles. Poor old Ann - she always gets trodden on!
Have a great holiday, Nicky. Very Happy
I'm settling down to wait for more!

[Those trouser's of Nicola's do seem to have a lot to answer for!]

 


#199: The Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sun Jul 04, 2004 12:36 pm


So what exactly has Rowan been getting up to in her family's absence????
-----------------------------

PART XXVII

“Feel better for that?” Rowan asked presently.
“M’sorry.” Nick sat up, scrubbing at her eyes with her pyjama sleeve. “Guess I know how Lawrie feels wanting to howl all the time when you can’t possibly.”
Rowan laughed. “Lal brings half her hassle on herself. Look Nick, remember your first half a term at Kingscote? By the time you went back after the exeat nobody cared any more about the row you’d been in, did they? This’ll be like that, I promise you. Now, that’s midnight,” as the clock chimed in the hall “and you’re going back to bed. Take these” – holding out the half-full glass and mug – “with you and for heavens sake don’t wake Lal or Gin.”
Nick looked down at the quarter inch of brandy in the glass. “Not for me, I s’pose?”
“You suppose right. Thought it’d do as a peace offering. Now scoot, I want to go to bed,” and she motioned to the heap of bedclothes at the end of the couch.”
Nick took the hint and got up. “One small sip?”
“G’night, Nick!”

Ann was sitting up in bed in the room she shared with Ginty, looking white and tired, when Nick crept in, careful not to disturb the sleeping figure in the other bed, and held out the glass.
“Rowan sent this. Ann, I’m sorry, that was a rotten thing to say. You’ve been a real brick this term.”
Ann took the glass gratefully. “I know I’m not Rowan, Nick. And I know that you and Lal and Gin think I fuss. But….”
Nick nodded. “I know. And I didn’t mean….well…”
Warmed by the brandy, Ann smiled. “If we were a normal family we’d probably hug and make up now but I presume you don’t feel a burning need to do that?”
Nick smothered a giggle. “Heavens no! I like our weird dysfunctional family ways – that wouldn’t be us at all.” She drained her chocolate and dumped the mug on Ann’s bedside table, yawning.
“Bed,” Ann said firmly, emptying her own glass and snuggling down under the covers.

Half term was a riotous affair for the Marlows after that. Nicola woke the next morning bubbling with spirits, matched only by Lawrie’s elation at her remove to Upper IVb and the resulting certainty of her part in the play. Rowan announced her intention of casting aside her farmer cares and ‘playing with the children’ and even Ann relaxed, laughing at the younger girls and enjoying a glass or two of the light country wine of the district with Rowan at lunchtime. They spent Saturday morning in Lausanne but found it unbearably crowded so in the afternoon they took to the lake, sailing up to Montreux on an old-fashioned paddle steamer. On Sunday the sun shone so brilliantly that even Ann agreed that it couldn’t hurt to miss church for once so they took the train and then a cable car to a viewpoint overlooking the mighty Aletsch glacier. Even Lawrie was silent as she stood gazing around at the three hundred and sixty degree vista. Below them the great sheet of ice stretched in one direction as far as the eye could see down to the valley and in the other, in an almost perfect L shape, up to the base of the Jungfrau. Turning away from the glacier the Matterhorn dominated the skyline.
“Some day,” Nicola sighed, looking across at the rugged, squared off peak.
“Nick! You wouldn’t! Not really?” Ann demanded.
“Well, maybe not. But it’d be rather splendid to say you had, wouldn’t it?”
“Assuming, of course, that one lived to tell the tale,” Rowan agreed drily.
Nick grinned and turned back to the glacier. “Is that a hut down there, right on the edge of the ice.”
The others peered down. Below the peak on which they stood, the mountain shelf fell to the ice below in a series of steps, the lateral moraines left by the retreating glacier, and on the lowest a sturdy wooded hut flew the red and white Swiss flag from its roof.
“Looks lived in,” Ann shuddered. “And no, we can’t go down there. It’s far too dangerous.”
Nick, who had been about to suggest that very thing, subsided and agreed that in that case Rowan’s suggestion that they have something to eat and drink in the little wooden chalet on their own peak was a good one.
The twins were reluctant to give up their view so, having ordered, they darted back out again, with orders to go no further than the little restaurant terrace.
Rowan sipped her wine and sat back on the old oak settle that served as a bench. “This is the life,” she signed. “And I must say, Ann, it seems to suit you.”
Ann smiled and nodded. “I love it. All this, and the school as well, now I’m used to it. Even don’t mind that much not having been head girl at Kingscote. Miss Annersley hinted that they might make me a perfect next term – a couple are leaving at Christmas.”
Rowan laughed, but not unkindly. She found herself liking this new Ann more than she ever had, was reminded of a comment Patrick Merrick had made during that memorable Christmas Play in the Minster. He had only know of Ann from her sisters as a fusser and had commented that, as Mary, nobody could have been further from fussing. Rowan mused that Ann-playing-Mary had somehow, in these new surroundings, become the real Ann. “Three months ago you’d have been fretting in case the brats caught cold or fell over the edge.”
“Save the return train fare if they do,” Ann joked. “What about you, Rowan? I’m not the only one who’s different.”
“The cares and worries of a farmer’s life,” Rowan said airily, “are bound to mature one.” She stopped and contemplated her wine glass for a moment. Growing up, on the rare occasions when Rowan had felt the need to confide in anyone it had been Karen to whom she’d turned. But Kay, in her incomprehensible marriage to Edwin Dodd, had put an insurmountable distance between them and Rowan had been left to her own counsel.
“I met this chap,” she said suddenly, casually.
Ann choked on her wine. “You…. Rowan! When? Where? I’d no idea you were going in for that – thought it was all work and no play.”
Rowan shrugged, colouring slightly. “Friend of the Merricks, came to stay with them after you lot cleared out.”
“One of Patrick’s friends? Rowan, you cradle snatcher!”
“One of Anthony Merrick’s friends, actually,” her sister said haughtily. “I was having dinner there – Mrs M has this idea that I’m lonely without my rabble family, though truthfully I think it’s that she misses Patrick, who has been banged off to another boarding school. Remind me to give Gin his new address, by the way. Is she still silly over him?”
“When she remembers she’s supposed to be,” Ann said frankly. “Sorry, that was catty, wasn’t it?”
“For you, yep. But sounds like Gin to me.”
“School’s too busy to think about outside things much is what I meant,” Ann told her. “They have no concept of free time – everything’s organised. Anyway, never mind Gin’s love life – I want to hear about yours.”
“Have to wait, here come the kids,” Rowan muttered as the twins, sensing that lunch might be ready, came in with a rush of cold air.
“Won’t Gin be sick she missed this,” Lawrie said with satisfaction, sinking onto the bench as the waiter put a bowl of thick goulash soup in front of her.
“Gin’s an ass,” Rowan said briefly, tucking into her own soup.

In the end Rowan and Ann did not have a chance to resume their conversation. In the daytime either the twins or Ginty were always around and in the evenings Mrs Marlow, recalled to the fact that the point of bringing her daughters to Switzerland rather than leaving them to carry on boarding at Kingscote had been to see something of them, cancelled her social engagements for the last two nights. Rowan had no intention of discussing her romance in front of her mother so the subject was dropped until she was saying goodbye to her sisters in the school drive on Tuesday morning.
“I’ll write and tell you the rest when I get a second,” she promised. “Bye Lal – be good, if you’re capable of such a thing. Gin, shall I give your love to Patrick if I see him?”
“Thought he was at school?”
“Home for half term in a week or so,” Rowan told her,, putting a hand on Nicola’s shoulder to hold her back a moment.
“Mind you remember what I said, young Nick,” she said quietly. “Don’t let them get you down.”
Nicola grinned, waved and ran up the steps to where Miranda, who had gone with Joan Baker and her folks to Interlaken for the weekend, was waiting.

 


#200:  Author: BookwormsarahLocation: Cambridge, UK PostPosted: Sun Jul 04, 2004 1:53 pm


Caloots, caloots! a new part! Brightened up a headachy Sunday Laughing

I like the new Ann (I always felt the old one was rather hard done by), and am keeping my fingers crossed for Nick on her return...

 


#201:  Author: CatrionaLocation: South Yorkshire PostPosted: Sun Jul 04, 2004 2:53 pm


Absolutely loving this! And still chortling over Rowan's description of Joey!

 


#202:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Sun Jul 04, 2004 4:54 pm


Lots of new parts to read! Thanks Nicky!

 


#203:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Sun Jul 04, 2004 7:00 pm


Thankyou!

I'm pleased to see Ann in a nice light for once - I like her anyway - she's the only think I disagree with Nick about.

So when can we expect the next bit? Smile

 


#204:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sun Jul 04, 2004 7:24 pm


Lovely, lots of new story!

 


#205:  Author: Dreaming MarianneLocation: Devon PostPosted: Sun Jul 04, 2004 11:42 pm


Oh, wow, can't wait to hear more! Rowan really deserves something nice to happen, hope it works out well for her.

 


#206:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 11:38 am


Anxiously awaiting more story!

 


#207:  Author: FionaWLocation: Johannesburg, South Africa PostPosted: Mon Jul 05, 2004 2:13 pm


Very Happy And I!

 


#208:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 11:32 am


Me 3! This is great!

 


#209:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 12:38 pm


me 4!

more please

would a small chant be inappropriate here?

 


#210:  Author: Ruth BLocation: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 12:41 pm


Me Five! Does that qualify as a quorum for chanting?

*Starts to chant anyway*

 


#211:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 2:55 pm


How about a loud chant?

 


#212:  Author: DawnLocation: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 7:27 pm


Grabs the drums to make a nice loud NOISE

drummer drummer drummer drummer drummer drummer

 


#213: The Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:40 pm


Oh, okay then, since you chant so nicely. How can I resist that little line of drummers????
Nicky
------------------------------------------------

PART XXVIII

Len Maynard sat cross-legged on her bed in the room she shared with her triplet sisters, an open book on her lap, staring into space. Con, laying on her stomach across the room with her dark hair falling into her eyes, looked up from Mansfield Park.
“Len, you’ve got to sort it out sooner or later.”
Len tossed the book aside and rested her chin on her hands, elbows on her knees.
“I know. I just don’t know how.”
It was so unlike Len to be at a loss as to what to do that Con snapped shut her own book.
“Let’s go for a tramp,” she said. “We’ve not been ut today and we can think about what to do on the way.”
Her sister nodded unhappily. The Maynards, like any family of their size, had their fair share of spats, but this was the first real trouble that Len had known at home and never before had she been really at odds with her mother. It was with a heavy heart that she fetched her coat and followed Con out into the sunshine.

“Len, what is it?” Joey Maynard looked across the deserted table at her eldest daughter. “You’re not still brooding about this business with that Nicola girl, are you?”
Len, who had stayed there at the end of Mitagessen, nursing an almost cold cup of coffee, in the hope of some private conversation, grasped at the opening she was being given. The long walk in the fresh air had cleared her head on one matter at least.
“No, Mamma. Nick and I are friends these days.” It was, perhaps, a slight exaggeration; they were friendly enough but there was still a certain reserve between them at times, an indication that neither girl had quite got over the difficulties at the start. But it was, Len knew, what she wanted to be the case.
“Friends?” Joey’s eyebrows shot up into her black fringe. “After what she did to you?”
“I did it to myself,” Len said staunchly. “I was the one who slapped her, remember. I got what I deserved. And … and I think you were horribly rude to her that afternoon.” There, it was said. No going back.
To say that Joey Maynard was flabbergasted was to put it mildly. Never in all her thirteen years had Len stood up to her in that fashion. Margot had rebelled at regular intervals, of course, even Con questioned her on occasion, but Len never.
“You do, do you?” she asked, recovering herself.
“Yes, Mamma. Whatever happened, she was our guest and you’ve always taught us that we must treat guests well, whether we like them or not.”
Joey had no defence against that one, it was something she had insisted on from the time the girls were first old enough to be in company. “I think I had a right to be if I was,” she said slowly. “She had rather a nerve to come here at all.”
“Miss Annersley made her, I spect,” Len said sensibly. “She didn’t want to. Anyway, I like her, both her and Miranda.”
“Miranda.” Joey sighed at the awful memory of those tartan trews. “The girl who dresses like a shop girl.”
“She doesn’t!” Len flared, then calmed herself. “I know it was unusual, but she didn’t look cheap.I thought it suited her.”
Joey could hardly believe her ears. “Well you needn’t think your father and I are going to let you dress like that!” she retorted.
“I don’t want to,” Len told her. “But I do want to be friends with both of them and I mean to be and… you’ve always liked my friends before.”
Perhaps Joey secretly knew that she had been unreasonable, perhaps she just sensed that she was losing the battle, in any case she held up her hands in a gesture of surrender.
“You’re not a little girl any more, Len. I can’t choose your friends for you. And I’m proud that you can be so forgiving, in any case.”
It was only a partial capitulation and Len knew it but she seized it gratefully. “Thank you, Mamma.”
“Oh, and Len,” Joey called her back as she made for the door, “do make things up with Margot. I’m sure she didn’t mean to say what she did.”
“She did, Mamma,” Len said quietly. “She was jealous because Emmy was pally with Lawrie. All the same,” with the memory of Miss Annersley’s words to her, “if she says she’s sorry we’ll forget it happened.”
Joey sighed; she knew her youngest triplet and knew that in her current mood she was unlikely to make the first move. Not for the first time that term she wished that her daughters had stayed little girls.

 


#214:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Tue Jul 06, 2004 8:48 pm


Ooh! I bet that was a difficult conversation! Well done Len! And well done Joey for recognising when to give in. Thanks Nicky.

 


#215:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 9:13 am


proof of the power of chanting - thanks Nicky

and well done to Len for making her mother squirm!

 


#216:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 10:13 am


Hurrah, Joey has been wrong-footed with her own words. What a dreadful snob she seems to be, using the term 'shop-girl'. What's wrong with earning an honest living?

 


#217:  Author: FionaWLocation: Johannesburg, South Africa PostPosted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 1:14 pm


Don't be silly! you can only really make an honest living out of marrying a doctor! And doctors DON'T marry shopgirls!

PS to our beloved authoress - if you think the line of drummers is irresistible, wait til you see the cancan girls!

 


#218:  Author: Sarah_LLocation: Leeds PostPosted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 1:38 pm


I've never read the books about the Marlow girls, so probably I'm missing something out here, but what was so wrong about the tartan trews? Confused
I'm loving this story, even though I know nothing about the backgrounds of the Marlows.

 


#219:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 2:35 pm


FionaW wrote:

PS to our beloved authoress - if you think the line of drummers is irresistible, wait til you see the cancan girls!


let's try the cancan girls then - looking forward to more of this, and a little gentle persuasion never helps!

Sarah - tartan trews were frowned upon in Marlow-land too - it was a rather classy piece of teenage rebellion on the part of Miranda and Nicola that took them shopping in a 2nd hand shop and buying trousers to replace their nasty uniform dresses. I think they were seen as a touch 'modern' for well brought up school girls!

 


#220:  Author: ChelseaLocation: Your Imagination PostPosted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 2:54 pm


Okay, I've got to ask - what are trews??

 


#221:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Wed Jul 07, 2004 3:26 pm


trousers - I think its something to do with the scottish pronounciation.

 


#222:  Author: FionaWLocation: Johannesburg, South Africa PostPosted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 2:27 pm


piano
*begins to sing*

CAN can you write more STOry
of the lovely MARlows and their
tartan trew-ew-ew-ew-ewsers?

*is rapped over knuckles by miss annersley for sloppy grammar, but sings on undeterred as a line of chalet cancan dancers dressed snappily in tartan enters from the left, keeping highkick time to my fabulous singing*


Last edited by FionaW on Thu Jul 08, 2004 2:39 pm; edited 1 time in total

 


#223:  Author: ChelseaLocation: Your Imagination PostPosted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 2:35 pm


Nell wrote:
trousers - I think its something to do with the scottish pronounciation.


But why would Joey be so upset about that? The girls were wearing trousers begining on the Island (they wore then on a picnic and Hilda says something about that being okay on skinny young girls not stout women, like herself). Is it where they were being worn?

 


#224:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 3:07 pm


No, I think Jo was objecting to the trousers just so that she had something to object to. All the females wore trousers when she took them up the Sonnalpe in 'Joey & Co in Tirol', on the famous occasion when they all got lost in the fog.

 


#225:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 3:25 pm


Thank you Nicky for more of this story. Looking forward to the reunion back at school.

 


#226:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 3:34 pm


Was it not also something to do with their tartenness and the fact they were bright....I don't really know though!

 


#227:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 3:37 pm


I think that it was also personal pique - they didn't fall over to worship the great authoress, and they committed the crime of introducing a modern sort of dancing to the hallowed precincts of Freudesheim.

 


#228:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 3:42 pm


Loving your song Fiona!

Trumpet Trumpet Guitar piano

*finds a band to accompany tuneful ditty*

 


#229:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Thu Jul 08, 2004 7:47 pm


I love this!!!! Would it be possible for you to send it as a word doc?
*giggling at various comments*

 


#230:  Author: Guest PostPosted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 7:37 am


FionaW wrote:
piano
*begins to sing*

CAN can you write more STOry
of the lovely MARlows and their
tartan trew-ew-ew-ew-ewsers?

*is rapped over knuckles by miss annersley for sloppy grammar, but sings on undeterred as a line of chalet cancan dancers dressed snappily in tartan enters from the left, keeping highkick time to my fabulous singing*


You'll have to do better than that, Fiona, I want to actually SEE those tartan cancan dancers!!!!

Just kidding. Anoither crazy week in RL but there is some more written & I promise faithfully I will post it tommorrow afternoon!
Nicky

 


#231:  Author: FionaWLocation: Johannesburg, South Africa PostPosted: Fri Jul 09, 2004 1:38 pm


well, nicky, it's easy to see them! just take this pretty little cake labelled 'eat me' and sit back...
that should perk up RL no end Smile

 


#232:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 2:11 am


*sigh* No more? Awwwwww!!!!!

 


#233:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 12:40 pm


No more, and it's tomorrow afternoon.

 


#234:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 5:41 pm


Jennie wrote:
No more, and it's tomorrow afternoon.


Gosh you're a demanding lot! Here's today's first instalment, which is just a tidying up one so rather dull and soon to come the beginning of the new half of the term and a new development in Ginty's life
--------------------

PART XXIX

It was a subdued half-term at Freudesheim all in all. Margot’s temper had subsided but she kept herself very much to herself, taking long walks or hiding herself in a corner of the house with a book, an unheard of occupation for her in the normal course of events, so that nobody noticed that the black mood had changed from a fit of the sulks to genuine unhappiness. Regret for what she ahd said coupled with the realisation that her friends, even, as she saw it, her sisters, had deserted her led her quickly into self-pity. Con did her best to be friendly, and Len, given an opening would in all likelihood have done the same, for she was too generous a soul to go on being angry, but Margot avoided any opportunity for private conversation until the last night.
“Look, Margot,” Con, tired of the atmosphere in the bedroom, said coaxingly while Len was in the bathroom, “won’t you tell Len you’re sorry for landing Nick in it with Mamma? It’s beastly us fighting like this. I know you’re unhappy and so’s Len.”
“She hates me,” Margot said dully.
“She doesn’t, not really,” Con ruged. “She was angry, that’s all. She wants to make it up as much as you do.”
It is probable that Margot would have capitulated and much that was to follow would never have happened, but at that moment Joey came in with a pile of laundry and the conversation had to cease. Margot, who felt as uncomfortable with her mother as she did with Len, rolled over and pretended to be asleep and by the time that Joey left the room she was genuinely so. In the morning it was a scramble to get everything together in time and so the Maynards went back to school with the matter still unresolved.

“Hullo, Len. Good holidays?” Running up the stairs to Leafy to put her things away, Nicola Marlow ran, literally, into the eldest Maynard. “Ready to do battle again.”
“Good enough.” Observant Len noticed the change the few days away had wrought in her form-mate. “You look like you had a good time.”
“Fabulous,” Nick told her. “Rowan flew across – literally – to see us and we went up to the Aletsch glacier for the day.”
“The Valais?” Len looked envious. “I’ve always wanted to go there.”
“Get your folks to take you next hols,” Nick suggested.
Len shrugged. “There’s so many of us that excursions are a bit of a headache,” she said. “Papa keeps talking about getting a bigger car but it never quite happens. Have to wait till there’s a half-term trip from here.” She changed the subject. “Rowan’s the farmer one, right? It must be nice to be so much the youngest.”
Nick laughed. “They don’t spoil us, you know! And everywhere I go there’s always an older sister who’s been there first and done it better. I always envy Miranda, being a one and only.”
Len looked thoughtful. “I suppose that’s something Felicity will have to put up with, though she’s so much younger than us people might have forgotten. It gets a bit tiresome being the eldest at times. Didn’t your older ones ever get tired of looking after you?”
“Looking after us?” Nicola raised her eyebrows. “Giles used to let us tag along after him sometimes when he was home, he and Rowan were great pals and they used to put up with us. Kay always had her head in a book, even in those days. Only Ann ever fussed – when we couldn’t hide from her,” with a reminiscent grin.
Len frankly stared at her; this was outside her scheme of reference. She had no opportunity to say any more, however, for at that moment Betsy Lucy, who had been unpacking her own things in the little room always given over to the head-girl and was now on her way to join her own crowd in the Sixth form room, demanded to know what they were doing hanging around there and they had to separate. Len thought no more about it for the moment but reflecting on it later she wondered if it was upbringing that had made the Marlows so different from the run of the mill girls at the Chalet.

 


#235:  Author: Dreaming MarianneLocation: Devon PostPosted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 5:52 pm


Quality as ever Nicky, thank you for taking the time to write this.

I think part of the confusion over the trews thing is that the trousers caused a brouhaha in the Marlows book, not CS, where it was okay, at least towards the end of the series. And yes, I think it was the brightness that caused the upset.

 


#236:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 6:31 pm


See, aren't I good to you

PART XXX

It was, Biddy O’Ryan insisted later, all Hilary’s Burn’s fault, that lady having observed over coffee that morning that it was to be hoped that the second half of the term would be quieter than the first had been and that the Marlows might finally have settled into their various forms and be no more trouble. That, as several people had pointed out, had been tempting fate with a vengeance and, in fact, the school had been back less than twenty four hours when a new problem arose.

It began with Ginty Marlow, who awoke on the following morning with a feeling that she had forgotten to do something. Pulling on her blazer to go down to Fruhstuck, since the mornings were apt to be cold at that time of year, she found that the letter to Patrick which she had spent most of the half-term Sunday writing and which she had intended to give to Rowan to post when she got home was still reposing in her blazer pocket.
“Hell!” she muttered.
“Slang, Ginty. In fact, that expression is strictly forbidden here, as you should know by now. Double fine, please, and don’t use it again.”
Katharine Gordon, the games prefect, passed on, leaving a now doubly disgruntled fifth former staring after her. Ginty wondered briefly how anyone would know if she didn’t pay the fine, letting her mind dwell on a picture of the grandees of the school sitting round the prefects room table with the open fines box in front of them, counting the money, making a list from memory of all the fines they had handed out and then, finding themselves several centimes short, interrogating each girl in turn until the non-payer confessed in floods of tears. She was seeing herself trailing weeping to the study to confess to Miss Annersley and await explusion when the sound of the breakfast bell brought her back to the problem of her letter. She didn’t want to put it out to post with the other letters; there was always the chance that Miss Dene would notice the address and ask questions and she suspected that writing letters to boys was another thing that was against the archaic rules of this place. Never having felt the need to try it she didn’t even know if it had been allowed at Kingscote, vaguely remembering from her IIA days a row involving one of the then Lower VIth and a boy; then again, when there had been all that hoo-hah about the telephone calls Keith, for all her fussing, had never suggested that she thought Ginty was doing anything improper – not in that way.
Ginty didn’t understand why Patrick hadn’t faded into memory this term the way he always had at school in the past – Rupert and Rosina, perhaps, or the fact that this time end-of-term didn’t mean Trennels and the Merrick’s New Year party and hunting together, though she supposed skiing would be fun it would have been good to be able to learn together –but since he hadn’t the need she felt to feel in contact with him was too great for her to risk being stopped. The only course of action was to run down to the gate and intercept the postman as he left with the day’s mail. That held its own risk, since if he was late arriving or lingered over collection she would be late for her first class, but needs must. The decision made she raced through her breakfast and then found that it was to no avail since the staff appeared to have chosen that morning to linger over second cups of coffee.

 


#237:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 6:37 pm


Dreaming Marianne wrote:
Quality as ever Nicky, thank you for taking the time to write this.

I think part of the confusion over the trews thing is that the trousers caused a brouhaha in the Marlows book, not CS, where it was okay, at least towards the end of the series. And yes, I think it was the brightness that caused the upset.


Yes, I think it's the fact that they're loud that upsets Joey. Though, although yes the girls at the CS wore them for gardening and expeditions I suspect that well brought up girls in CS land did NOT go out to tea in trousers of any sorts.

I don't recall anyone at Kingscote objecting to them, the fuss was about where they bought them not what they were. Which just goes to show that the Kingscote girls really were a common crowd with no sense of taste or decorum, don't you think? Wink

 


#238:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Sat Jul 10, 2004 8:15 pm


*happy at more* Do you know, Nicky, I have quite a few of the AF books on general principles, but I've never read them- could never get into them, somehow. I picked up Cricket Term today and am now going to make a dedicated effort to get through them over the Twelfth. The one good thing about the Twelfth being that it's an extended bank holiday...

 


#239:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Sun Jul 11, 2004 7:42 pm


Thankyou Nicky for 2 more lovely parts Very Happy Very Happy Very Happy

Only just managed to get on here after 2 days of RL hecticness so was particularly thrilled to find you'd posted these!

Looks like Nick and Len could end up being quite good friends... and will Nick's comments about family life rock the boat for the Maynards?

I'm finding Ginty just as irritating here as in the real Marlow books - a sure sign of your quality writing Nicky!

 


#240:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Jul 12, 2004 11:55 am


This is just so good, Nicky! I loved the notion of Len being confronted with a family where the eldest *doesn't* have to run after all the rest - no over-developed sense of responsibility for Giles and Kay!!!

 


#241:  Author: FionaWLocation: Johannesburg, South Africa PostPosted: Mon Jul 12, 2004 2:53 pm


Thank you Nicky! Very Happy

 


#242:  Author: FionaWLocation: Johannesburg, South Africa PostPosted: Mon Jul 12, 2004 2:55 pm


Thank you Nicky! Very Happy Two llovely ones.

 


#243:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Jul 12, 2004 3:22 pm


Jo had better not be told, or she'll go barmy!

 


#244:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 12:32 pm


Nicky, i just love this! Wonderfully written and very close to the AF books!

Agree with Helen that Ginty's still as annoying here! Joey's really will love Len adn Nicky becoming friends especially if that means Len doesn't want to look after the little ones!!

 


#245:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 10:34 pm


Anyone know where Nicky is? I want more. Lots more....especially since I'm half way through 'End of Term' and only have 'Cricket Term' to read as I don't seem to have Attic Term. Nicky, I need this drabble...

oh, and ta for the attachment btw! Laughing

 


#246:  Author: MatthewLocation: Birmingham, England PostPosted: Tue Jul 13, 2004 11:28 pm


Have just caught up with this and it is excellent! Am really enjoying the crossover having read the first of the Marlow books. And isn't it nice to see a new girl not bow down and worship at the altar of Joey Maynard!

 


#247:  Author: Guest PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 3:52 pm


Lisa_T wrote:
Anyone know where Nicky is? I want more. Lots more....especially since I'm half way through 'End of Term' and only have 'Cricket Term' to read as I don't seem to have Attic Term. Nicky, I need this drabble...


Nicky is here and has written the next couple of parts but they're scribbled in a notebook because she only has a chance to write on the train at the moment but she will do her very very best to type some more of it tommorrow Smile

 


#248:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 6:14 pm


Then I suppose we'll have to wait..
*pulls sofas and eats into position*
*contemplates the trampolines and harnesses*

 


#249:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 10:12 pm


*settles down on the sofa next to Lisa*

*offers popcorn around*

*looks at Nicky expectantly...*

 


#250:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 10:20 am


Well, it's tomorrow now...

 


#251:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 10:41 am


Nell wrote:
Joey really will love Len adn Nicky becoming friends especially if that means Len doesn't want to look after the little ones!!


although I was reading Rebel last night and in it Joey is very surprised that Gill Linton is looking after Joyce so much as apparently she was more used to elder sisters letting their juniors stand on their own two feet! And, of course, she doesn't remember that when it comes to her own family!!

PS More please Laughing

 


#252:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 8:52 pm


Oh.... I thought we'd have some more by now Sad

Nicky? Nicky?? Nicky???

Please! Pretty please....!!

 


#253:  Author: DawnLocation: Leeds, West Yorks PostPosted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 11:13 pm


Checks behind the sofa in case Nicky is hiding there - sadly not, but do find a new supply of Baileys Very Happy

 


#254:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 9:19 am


what? still no more?

please can we have some before the weekend? Pretty please with a cherry on top?

*grabs the bottle of baileys off Dawn and settles down to wait*

 


#255:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 9:22 am


Sits on the sofa and looks huffy because there's no more of this.

 


#256:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 10:08 pm


*joins the huffy brigade*
*makes big pleading eyes at Nicky*
*decides to find someone who looks sweet and cute enough to do this without looking ridiculous!* Laughing

 


#257: The Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 12:23 pm


I feel really guilty and am really sorry and if I ask really nicely will you all forgive me? Pretty please????

On the basis that it wouldn't be a real CS term without some physical drama as well as all the emotional stuff, here is:

PART XXXI

“Ginty Marlow, you’re to go to the study please.”
Ginty, her errand safely accomplished before morning school, was her usual cheerful self again by Break and now looked up from her desk where she was hunting for her poetry book.
“Me? Now?”
“You. Now.” Katharine Gordon, the messenger, told her.
With a relatively clear conscience Ginty shrugged and did as she was told. In the study, however, she found a very grave headmistress and, laying on the desk, unopened, the letter that she had handed breathlessly to the postman not two hours before.
“We don’t censor your mail, Ginty, but we can’t have you girls carrying on correspondence with boys without your parents’ permission.”
“Mum and Dad don’t mind,” Ginty defended herself. “Patrick isn’t… he’s a family friend. The Merricks live next door. Only he’s at school now, of course.”
“Isn’t he the boy you read ‘O’ level questions to the night before his exam?”
Ginty, as both her younger sisters had done, cursed her previous headmistress for the tales she had clearly told in their reports. “Yes, Miss Annersley. But the fuss wasn’t about it being Patrick – I mean it would have been the same if it had been a girlfriend.”
“Be that as it may, if you wish to correspond with this boy while you are here then you must ask your parents to write and give their consent. Now you had better go. I will overlook this time your foolish behaviour in trying to smuggle the letter out of school but I really don’t want to see you in here again this term.”
“No Miss Annersley.” Ginty took back her letter, bobbed the regulation curtsey and trailed off to her classroom, kicking herself again for not having given it to Rowan to post as she had intended. It had been true enough that her parents, in the normal scheme of things, would have no objection to her writing to Patrick, but she wasn’t sure they’d forgotten that the whole telephone affair had almost gotten her expelled from Kingscote – Ginty, being Ginty, had by now convinced herself that she had escaped this fate only by the skin of her teeth – and she didn’t want to rock the boat. Nor did she want to have to explain why it mattered so much that she should be able to write during term-time; it never had before. Morevover, correspondence from home was wont to become Marlow family property and Nick, at least, might reasonably expect to read letters from Patrick since, as Ginty had recalled more than once with a twinge of guilt, he had been her friend long before Ginty herself had known him to speak to.
Ginty’s moods, as Monica could have told you, were apt to soar and then crash down, and her gloom persisted for the rest of the day. Upper VA, who had seen very little of this side of her so far, did their best to find out what was the matter but they found themselves snubbed so thoroughly that in the end even faithful Josette gave up and went off on her own concerns.

The next afternoon, being Thursday, was games for the Vths, and since most of Lower VI was also free it suited Miss Burn to arrange a match between the first and second elevens, with the best of the rest filling in the gaps of the absent team members. The remainder were packed off to the next field under the eye of Katharine Gordon, who had a slight cold and had been forbidden to play, although, as she herself observed, she would have been warmer playing than standing watching, even with her big coat on. Still, she had been at the School for long enough to know better than to try and argue with Matron, so she took her little band off to practice cheerfully enough.
Ginty, in her brand new place as centre forward for the first eleven – it had not take Blossom Willoughby, the hockey captain, more than a couple of weeks to realise that this particular new girl was a very talented player – felt her mood start to lift a little as the game began and in all probability the fresh air and exercise would have brought her back to her usual self, if it hadn’t been for a careless tackle by Jo Scott fifteen minutes into the game. Jo, though she played hockey with the enthusiasm with which she did everything, was no more than an average player and was only there at all because Jean Ackroyd, the second’s normal centre forward, had a music lesson at that hour. She went for the ball, by her own account later on slipped, and came crashing down with her opponent underneath her. Unhurt, she pulled herself to her feet and turned to extend a helping hand to her formmate, but Ginty lay where she had fallen, her face white and the sparkle gone from her blue eyes.

 


#258:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 12:29 pm


The plot thickens!

 


#259:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 12:41 pm


ooops oops oops *hopes this doesnt lead to a lavendar style feud between the Marlows and the School*

 


#260:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 3:12 pm


Oh no!!!!
*goes over to the wibbling corner*

 


#261:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 3:33 pm


Vikki, stop being a spineless jellyfish!

 


#262:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 3:34 pm


Shan't!!!! Wink

 


#263:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 4:02 pm


Oh, go on!

 


#264:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 4:44 pm


Nope! Sorry!

 


#265:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 8:26 pm


*Shamelessly goes over to join Vikki in the wibbling corner*

Thankyou Nicky - now how long do we have to wait to find out how Ginty is? She may be insufferably annoying but I don't want anything too bad to happen to her!

 


#266:  Author: Dreaming MarianneLocation: Devon PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 8:47 pm


Oh no! Poor Ginty! Is she pale, still ,and to all appearences - dead?

 


#267:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Sat Jul 17, 2004 10:29 pm


*g* well, if she is, maybe she'll start to reform in true CS style. Then again, I think Lawrie and Nick would go Rolling Eyes Rolling Eyes if they had two Anns instead of one!

*torn between the 'waiting patiently' corner and the 'wibbling corner*

 


#268:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 2:54 pm


More lovely posts. Hope Ginty doesn't recover too soon - would love to see what Nick and Lawrie make of her ill. Could see great clashes between Ann and Matron too, if Matey made it so Ann could only visit now and again.

 


#269:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 3:01 pm


Feels that it's about time Nickyj posted some more of this.

 


#270:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 8:49 pm


Oh yes Jennie I quite agree!

Nicky...???

 


#271:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 11:43 am


we'd like some more please...?

 


#272:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 12:58 pm


please?

 


#273:  Author: Ruth BLocation: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 1:13 pm


pretty please with sugar on the top?

 


#274:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 1:41 pm


I think we might have to start chanting again....

*takes a deep breath before launching into it*

 


#275:  Author: Dreaming MarianneLocation: Devon PostPosted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 2:40 pm


*leaps on top of soapbox and waves banner*

PLE-EASE!
PLE-EASE!
PLE-EASE!

 


#276:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 3:33 pm


Please? See, I've spent the entire afternoon reading this from the very beginning - and am very upset now I've got to the stage where I've run out of stuff to read! Preeeety please?

drummer drummer drummer drummer drummer drummer drummer

Look, another row of drummers just for you. And a lone guitarist Very Happy Guitar

 


#277:  Author: MatthewLocation: Birmingham, England PostPosted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 5:22 pm


Just my thing! Here's a few more:

Guitar Guitar Guitar Guitar

Now, more story please!

 


#278:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 9:52 pm


megaphone piano

Oh dear. All this noise isn't working. Does anyone know if Nicky is OK?

 


#279:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 10:35 am


Sending this back to the top as a reminder.

 


#280:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Thu Jul 22, 2004 11:15 pm


...and back to the top...

 


#281:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Jul 23, 2004 1:42 pm


.........to the top again!

 


#282:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 12:13 am


and back to the top again

 


#283:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 1:11 pm


....and again....

 


#284:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 4:51 pm


*watches as the drabble gets dizzy from being bumped, and throws up in the corner of the forum!*
(that's the drabble throwing up, not me, by the way!!!) Rolling Eyes

 


#285:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 10:25 pm


So where is Nicky? Is she OK? Confused

 


#286:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 3:09 pm


Helen P wrote:
So where is Nicky? Is she OK? Confused


She's fine but her final course assessment was due this week so she's been in a flap. Normal service will now resume! Nicky
------------------------

PART XXXIII

“Please, Miss O’Ryan, would you excuse Nicola Marlow?” Betsy Lucy came into the Upper IVth room where a lesson in European history was in full swing. “Miss Annersley wants her.”
Nicola’s face paled as she capped her pen and took her blazer from the back of her chair, the good mood generated by half term draining away. She had no idea what she could be in a row about now, but then there were so many things in this place that she had never dreamt could be against the rules until she did them.
“D’you know what I’ve done this time, Betsy?” she asked dismally as she closed the classroom door behind her.
To her surprise the head girl smiled sympathetically down at her. “It’s nothing like that, Nick. Wait here a moment, would you?” and she disappeared into Upper IVb, returning with a scared looking Lawrie, hastily straightening her crimson tie, in tow.
“Nothing’s wrong at home, Miss Annersley, is it?” Nicola, shaken by Betsy’s sympathetic manner and refusal to say why they had been sent for, did not wait for her headmistress to speak.
“Not at home, no” the headmistress said gravely. “Twins, Ginty had an accident at hockey this afternoon. She sprained her ankle rather badly and there’s some damage to her back, though we don’t know what yet.”
“Her back?” Nicola asked. “That’s serious, right?”
“We’re hoping not,” Miss Annersley told her. “They’ve taken her along to San and we’ll know more in an hour or two when they’ve finished examining her.”
“But it could be serious?”
“Yes, Nicola, it could.” It had never been the policy of the Chalet School to shield the girls from unpleasant truths – “I won’t have then turning out spineless jellyfish,” Madge Russell had said once, early on.
“Oh.” Nick could not process the picture of flighty Ginty perhaps crippled forever, unable to ride or play games, or even walk unaided. She looked helplessly at Lawrie, who was staring at her lap, hands playing with the pleats of her tunic.
“Buck up, Lal,” she whispered, though without conviction. She turned back to the headmistress. “Has someone called the parents?”
“Your sister Rowan is motoring them up from Lausanne now.”
“Rowan’s still there? That’s something. Mum’s no use in a crisis,” Nicola said with relief.
The headmistress frowned at the disrespectful comment but then recalled the message that had come from Ann and realised that the Marlow parents were, perhaps, not themselves conventional. She wondered momentarily if a lack of parental involvement in their lives was the explanation for behaviour that she had found incomprehensible at times. This was no time for such analysis, however, and she pulled herself back to the present.
“You’ll think me very heartless but I think the best thing for you now is to go back to your classes,” was all she said. “There’s nothing you can do for your sister except pray for her and I will send for you as soon as there is any more news.”
“Yes, Miss Annersley.” Nicola got to her feet and pulled at her sister’s arm. “Lal, come on.” She got her sister out into the corridor and dragged her along to the nearest Splashery, which just happened to be their own, where she made her wash her face in cold water.
“D’you think she’s dead and they’re not telling us,” Lawrie asked, her face muffled by the towel with which she was drying it.
“Oh Lal, honestly! You heard Annersley. It’s just her back – that’s not life threatening.”
“It can be if it’s broken. Peter said … a boy at his school did it playing rugger.”
“Well Gin wasn’t playing rugger,” Nicola said firmly. “Look, Lal, let’s go see for ourselves. This San of theirs isn’t far – we walked there the Saturday before halfterm.” She took their coats from their pegs and sat down to change her shoes. “Only you have to quit howling. I won’t walk along the Platz with you in floods.”
“’Kay.” Now that there was something definite to do Lawrie allowed herself to be bullied into coat and shoes and five minutes later the two were running across the gardens.

 


#287:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 3:45 pm


Oh dear. Glad to see more though, and that you're ok!

However, drabble instincts are making me query: What's the weather like? (gales to blow them into danger?) Is it very cold? (icy roads etc...) Aggh. More soon please!

 


#288:  Author: MatthewLocation: Birmingham, England PostPosted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 5:29 pm


Pleased to see that there's more of this and glad that you're in a position to write more. And Laura, what a suspicious mind you have! I think you've been reading the RCS too much! Laughing

 


#289:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 7:51 pm


Thankyou so much Nicky!!

Glad to hear you are ok... I just hope Ginty will be too!

I too immediately started wondering just what was going to happen to Nick and Lawrie on the way to the San - so I must have a suspicious mind too! Or I've read far too many drabbles recently... Very Happy

 


#290: The Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 10:41 pm


PART XXXIV

“Now what?” Lawrie turned to her sister as they stood outside the low white building of the Marani Memorial Sanatorium, to give it its seldom used full name – it had been called, Nicola recalled Len telling her, after the father of the first head-girl of the school who had died in a concentration camp during the war. At the time she hadn’t been very interested but she had to admit to herself now that it was a rather splendid way of remembering someone, much more so than the usual statues or fountains.
“Nick, I said what now,” Lawrie said insistently. “Do we walk in the front door and ask?”
“Don’t be an idiot,” Nick said brutally. “In case it’s not occurred to your feeble little brain we’re not meant to be here. D’you suppose they won’t recognise the uniform and pack us straight back to school?” with a flick at her regulation gentian blue coat. “I…oh, damn!” as she looked over her sister’s head into the clear-cut features of Joey Maynard.
“I suppose I should hardly be surprised at that sort of language from you,” that lady said icily. “Aren’t you out of bounds?”
Nick nodded, biting back the retort that was on the tip of her tongue.
“Then you can just come with me and once I’ve delivered these,” with a nod at the basket of books at her feet, “I’ll drive you back to school and you can explain yourselves to Miss Annersley.”
“Nope,” Nicola said calmly.
“What did you say, young woman?”
The built up tension over her sister’s accident coupled with her now well rooted dislike of Len’s mother overcame Nicola’s usual control and she came within an inch of stamping her foot like a baby. “I said we’re not coming with you. We’re none of your business anyway. We’ll go back by ourselves when we’re good and ready and that won’t be till we know the truth about Ginty.”
That stopped Joey in her tracks; she recalled the phone call that had called her husband over to the school on his free afternoon. “Is it your sister who had the accident?”
Nick nodded. During the long walk she had almost managed to convince herself that Gin would be okay but now reality was washing over her and she felt suddenly and violently sick.
Joey’s voice and face softened immediately; whatever feelings she had about Nicola Marlow she could not hold onto when she saw the frightened face at her shoulder. For all her attitude, as she saw it, Nicola was just a little girl who was a long way from home. She put a comforting arm around her shoulder.
“Let’s see what we can find out,” she said practically. “Someone will call the school and let them know where you are. This way,” and she led them through a small door set to the side of the big glass ones that Lawrie had been eyeing apprehensively.

“You’re sure?” The clipped tones were unmistakably Rowan’s and Nicola wrenched herself from Joey’s grasp and hurled herself around the corner.
“Steady!” A young man in a white coat, not many years older than Rowan herself, caught her by the shoulders. “Where’s the fire.”
“Nick, what the heck…”
“They wouldn’t tell us how bad it was,” Nicola told her. “We came to see.”
“We? Is Lal here as well?”
“How is she?”
“Going to be fine,” Rowan assured her.
“Really truly?” Reaction set in and Nicola found her legs unwilling to hold her up.
Rowan flung a steadying arm around her. “It’s okay, kid, don’t go off on me. Honestly. Strained some muscles, she’ll have to stay here for a few weeks, but she’ll be on her feet by Christmas.”
“Christmas?” To Nicola that seemed a long way away.
“It’s only six or seven weeks,” her sister said briskly. “Actually the doctor thinks it’ll be less than that, and knowing Gin she’ll be clamouring to hunt with Patrick at New Year. Now tell me how you got here. I don’t suppose it’s an official visit – or is it?” with a quizzical look at the dark haired woman who had come round the corner with Lawrie.
“I found them outside and brought them in to find someone who knew about their sister before I drove them back to school,” that lady said.
“Kind of you to go to the trouble for the brats,” Rowan said cheerily. She extended her hand. “Rowan Marlow.”
It was shaken warmly. “Joey Maynard.”
For the life of her Rowan could not help an icy edge creeping into her voice. “I’ve heard of you, Mrs Maynard. I’ll look after the twins from here, thank you.”
“Oh, I’ll drive them back to school,” Joey said cheerfully. “I live next door. You’ll want to be with your other sister.”
“Mum’s with her,” Rowan told her. “So’s Ann. For that matter, Gin’s asleep, so they can spare me for half an hour. No need to trouble.” She hustled the younger girls away and Joey, feeling herself snubbed, went off on the errand that had brought her there in the first place.

 


#291:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Sun Jul 25, 2004 10:54 pm


*cringe* and just when Joey was coming round! Can't blame Rowan, though.
Nicky, I'm also glad you're back. I've read through all four Kingscote books plus Falconers Lure and I'm hooked. Now your work is done mayve you can oblige with lots more? Laughing

 


#292:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 12:31 am


Thank you Nicki, I'm glad that Joey managed to overcome her dislike of Nicola for long enough to offer the two of them some comfort, just a pity Rowan couldn't accept her gesture in the manner in which it was intended - more fireworks ahead between the Maynards and Marlows methinks.

 


#293:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 9:01 am


hurrah! perfect start to a Monday morning, lots more Marlows
thanks Nicky

 


#294:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 10:09 am


Two lovely posts, thank you Nickyj

 


#295:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 4:07 pm


That's great Nicky! More soon please!!!

 


#296:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 8:33 pm


Thankyou!

The dialogue between Joey and Rowan rang very true - I could really imagine it.

Can we have the next bit now please?

I'm not over-endowed with patience where drabbles are concerned... Smile

 


#297:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Jul 26, 2004 8:38 pm


More loveliness, Nicky!

Quote:
“D’you think she’s dead and they’re not telling us,” Lawrie asked, her face muffled by the towel with which she was drying it.


Classic Lal!!

 


#298:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Tue Jul 27, 2004 1:41 pm


Thankyou Nicky. Nice to see this back. Loved the scene between Rowan and Jo. Also expecting more fireworks between Marlows and Maynards.

 


#299:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 6:08 am


Helen P wrote:


Can we have the next bit now please?

I'm not over-endowed with patience where drabbles are concerned... Smile


oh, all right then......
-------------

“I suppose she’s only heard Nicola’s side of the story,” she said to Jack that evening when the babies were in bed and they were relaxing with after dinner coffee, “but she was almost rude. And after all, if one of ours behaved like that in someone else’s house I’d hope that any adult on the scene would put her straight. Still, I suppose for all her clothes and make-up Rowan can’t be that old, so perhaps one should make allowances.”
Jack, who felt that sometimes his wife interfered just a little bit too much in the upbringing of other people’s children, agreed that it was a bit unnecessary of Rowan to have snubbed her but suggested that with the accident she might not have been herself. Joey, who honestly could not see that anyone could have any grudge against her as a result of the whole affair earlier in the term, thought that perhaps that was the case and determined to go ahead regardless and befriend the elder Marlows in their time of need.

“Miss Annersley, I’ve brought the brats back to you,” Rowan smiled grimly at the Chalet School headmistress; sizing her up as an improvement on the ineffectual Miss Keith, however much she might think some of her ways archaic. “I hope you won’t be too hard on them. They were awfully worried about Gin and it was a bit rough to be sent back to class and not to know.”
She did not say that in her place she would have done exactly the same but Miss Annersley could see that that was what she meant. She liked what she had seen of Rowan Marlow, who seemed a capable young woman, and, feeling that perhaps she had been a bit unfair on the twins, she accepted the implied rebuke without argument.
“Perhaps it was a little harsh on them,” she agreed. ”We’ll say no more about it. But next time you want to see your sister please come and ask me and I’ll do my best to arrange something. We can’t have you roaming the Platz by yourselves, you know.”
“I’d like to take them tomorrow evening,” Rowan told her. “They couldn’t see Gin today but the doctor says she’ll be fit for a short visit tomorrow. I’ll pick them up after afternoon school and bring them back in time for supper.”
Perhaps because she felt that she had been unreasonable earlier, perhaps from a suspicion that if she said no Rowan would go ahead anyway, the headmistress assented easily.
“It won’t hurt them to miss prep just this once,” she said. “I’ll ask those concerned to excuse it. But it must be understood that it can’t be a regular thing, Rowan. Other visits will need to wait until the weekends.”
“I won’t come,” Lawrie said bluntly.
The other three stared at her, and she went on hurriedly. “I mean, I can’t. There’s a play rehearsal. We’re doing my scenes, I couldn’t possibly not be there.”
“Lal, you heartless brute!” Rowan said with feeling.
“M’not,” Lawrie protested. “Gin’s going to be okay, you said so. You can give her my love and say I’ll see her at the weekend. There’s some choc in my blazer left over from half-term you can take her. But I can’t miss the rehearsal.”
“The play must go on, in fact,” Miss Annersley said.
Stunned at finding an ally in such a quarter, Lawrie turned to her.
“You think I’m right?”
“I think your argument has certain merits, yes,” was the quiet reply. “You’ve made a commitment and you are sticking to it, and that is important. I’m sure the rehearsal could be rearranged but yes, it would be inconvenient to a lot of people. Performers often have to be ‘heartless brutes’ as your sister put it if they’re not to let people down and if you have learnt that lesson this early then that will stand you in good stead in the future.”
Rowan looked at Nick and dared her to laugh, both of them being of the view that Lawrie had been born heartless when it came to things she wanted. Lawrie ignored them, nodding with satisfaction – it was not often that she found Authority in agreement with her views.
“Just you and me then, Nick,” Rowan said with a grin. “I have to got off.”
“You’ll tell me if there’s any news before then?” Nicola begged.
“I will but there won’t be,” Rowan said, shaking hands with Miss Annersley and leaving the twins to go back to their friends.

 


#300:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 10:25 am


This is good. Why can't Jo understand that the Marlow's might just be far more independent than she has allowed her brood to be. I don't condone rudeness, but she ought to realise that not everyone appreciates her interference in family relationships. After all, if she hadn't behaved very badly for a mature women on the day of the fateful tea-party, this coldness would not have come about.

 


#301:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 10:46 am


love it that Miss Annersley doesn't see straight through Lawrie - Crommie would have been down on her like a shot! And that Rowan and Nick don't give her away.

thanks nicky!

 


#302:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 11:54 am


Thankyou Nicky that was wonderful!

Nice to see Rowan and Miss Annersley understanding one another so well - and I love the bit where Hilda surprisingly agrees with Lawrie!

I continue to marvel at the way you mix AF and EBD's styles so effortlessly and it all seems so REAL!

 


#303:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 2:56 pm


Loving this. Is Miss Annersley in for a shock with Lawrie too?

Hope to see more of Jo and the Marlow's, she could stand a little shock. Are we to see Patrick bumping off school to come and see Gin?

So many questions, only one thing will answer them - more please!

 


#304:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 3:03 pm


oh I hope not Ginty! I'd much rather he came to see Nick- what about the Sprog, Nicky? Surely Nick would have found a way to take him with her? and Patrick would prob be interested...

Does anyone else notice that Crommie uses the 'the question is not can you but may you' as well? Maybe we could have Crommie come over to the CS- I'd love to see how she'd get on with Hilda and Nell, and whether Nell would lose her reputation for sarcasm. There are times in the Kingscote books where Crommie, much as I like her, makes me both grin and wince- and Miss Wilson never manages that, reputation or no reputation!

 


#305:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Wed Jul 28, 2004 9:15 pm


What a brilliant idea Lisa - Miss Cromwell is my favourite school story teacher of all time!

Re: The Sprog - hasn't he died by now? He did so in Peter's Room - have you not read that one? Sorry if I've just broken some bad news Confused

 


#306:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 12:37 am


Thanks Helen - I did wonder what happened to him, have just read Attic Term and wondered why he wasn't mentioned.

 


#307:  Author: BookwormsarahLocation: Cambridge, UK PostPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:56 am


Hurrah, another new part! Just reread Autumn Term and was struck again by how exactly right the characters are. I am glad that Tim Keith didn't get her way and come to the CS - although I would love to see her and Mary-Lou in battle... I can imagine her turning up randomly and making life difficult for all and sundry. Infact, thinking about it, I'd rather have OOAOML than Tim anyday...

Sarah, who has just moved back to Cambridge and is suffering the nightmare of unpacking a *very* full carload...

 


#308: Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 8:13 pm


I really didn't want this to happen, okay. But it insisted on writing itself this way. My small sparkling purple leaf doesn't seem to realise whose story it is!!!

PART XXXVI

Upper IVA, who were just getting used to the bright, cheerful Nicola Marlow that Kingscote had known, found her rather subdued that evening. The news of the accident had spread through the school, of course, and Lawrie, at least, was enjoying her new position as a minor celebrity, even the great prefects stopping her in the corridors to ask for the latest news, so nobody commented when the elder twin was not in the commonroom after Abendessen. Miranda tracked her down to a music room, sitting on the piano stool, her elbows resting on the shut lid.
“What are you doing in here?”
“Practising.”
That brought a laugh; despite the fact that she loved to sing and was, supposedly, learning the piano, it was well known that the lessons bored her and she rarely played outside of them.
Her best friend smiled briefly.
“Thinking, then.”
“Ginty?”
“Uh-huh.”
“Want company?”
“Nope.”
“Okay.” Not one whit offended at being told to go away Miranda left her to it and Nicola went back to her thoughts.
If asked she could hardly have said what she was thinking, certainly she didn’t know why Ginty’s accident had shaken her so badly. It wasn’t as if she was her favourite sister – if it had been Rowan, natch one would have been devastated. But next to Ann – in her more Ann-ish days that was – Nicola had always rather thought she liked Gin least. It wasn’t just the business with Patrick, though that did make a difference, of course, nobody could like a sister who stole someone from you like that, and at the time she’d even gone so far as to wish a nasty accident on both of them. Not that she’d really wanted it to happen, of course, only now that it had she supposed that she might feel guilty about it. She gloomed by herself until the bell rang for Middle School bedtime then raced upstairs, determined to be in bed and feigning sleep before the rest came in asking where she’d been.

“Better, Lawrie!” Nancy Wilmot said with relief. Lawrie had been in trouble over that line for the last three rehearsals; not that there was anything wrong with how she had said it but each time she had stopped afterwards and cursed under her breath because to her it sounded wrong. Nicola could have told her that this was normal, remembering Eddi’s Service, but Nicola, with her usual disconcern over such matters, only came to those rehearsals which directly involved her.
Lawrie smiled down at the mistress. “I couldn’t get it right before. Now I know how it should sound it’s okay.”
“I’m glad of that,” the producer said drily. “Now let’s move on. Vi – where is Vi Lucy?”
“Matron sent for her, Miss Wilmot,” Jo Scott, still white and unlike herself even though the news of Ginty continued to be good, said from the side of the stage. “Something about a drawer in a mess.”
“I wish you girls would learn to keep your things in order,” the mistress snapped. “I’m tired of lessons and rehearsals being disrupted in this way. I don’t suppose anyone else knows her lines, or is prepared to read them? That way at least we needn’t waste the time. Lawrie, why aren’t I surprised? Do you want the book? No, I thought not.”
She sat back in her chair and watched as Lawrie switched from a crabby innkeeper to a dashing young man before her eyes. This year’s Play hinged on a contemporary family who had been brought up without understanding the real meaning of Christmas, though they had presents and dinners enough for several households. Vi’s part of the eldest boy, a lad of twenty-one who had just left Cambridge and spent six months gadding about the Continent and gambling at the tables at Monte Carlo before coming home for Christmas, was the one Lawrie had craved since the first reading and she was not going to pass up the chance to show what she could do.
“Miss Wilmot, I’m sorry.” Vi herself came hurrying in a few minutes later.
“So I should think,” the mistress hissed. “It’s disgraceful for a girl of your age to be hauled off to tidy her things. Well you can sit there and watch, Josette has just got this right and I don’t want to interrupt her.”
Vi, chastened, sank into a chair and watched in growing dismay as Lawrie played the part in a way she never could.

 


#309:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 8:16 pm


can anyone tell me why when I wrote "plotbunny" (with a gap between the words) at the top of the above message it came out when I submitted as "small sparkling purple leaf"???? Is my pc having a nervous breakdown? Is my small sparkling purple leaf playing tricks on me because I told it off?? Look, it just did it again!!!!
Nicky, bemused

 


#310:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 8:28 pm


Nicky its the auto censor turns on my our squeen - she thought there were certain words we were overusing and so turned the auto censor on to show us...and small sparkling purple leaf stayed that way cos its kind of fun!

 


#311:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:04 pm


It did that to me too the other day!

And what on earth does natch mean?

 


#312:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:13 pm


Marlow speak for 'naturally' as far as i can gather!
*thinks the marlows have a language all their own*

 


#313:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 9:14 pm


Lisa_T wrote:
Marlow speak for 'naturally' as far as i can gather!
*thinks the marlows have a language all their own*


Ohh! Well that makes sense then! I didnt think of that! Thanks!

 


#314:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Thu Jul 29, 2004 11:15 pm


Hooray! Another bit!

I am up far too late, but am very glad I decided to check out the CBB before going upstairs!

Thankyou Nicky Smile

 


#315:  Author: Louise PostPosted: Fri Jul 30, 2004 6:35 am


Have just read the entire thing in one sitting and have printed it out for more readings in the future! It's wonderful - you write very well and manage to combine all of the most interesting things about both series. Thankyou! please write some more!

 


#316:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Jul 30, 2004 4:02 pm


Yes, the interval between posts is far too long, isn't it?

 


#317:  Author: gigagalLocation: London PostPosted: Fri Jul 30, 2004 5:01 pm


This is so good! Your writing style's so good, and I keep forgetting it's not actually the real books that I'm reading! Please, please, please write some more. Sooon.

 


#318:  Author: Dreaming MarianneLocation: Devon PostPosted: Fri Jul 30, 2004 6:40 pm


So what's Gin up to as she languishes palely in bed?

 


#319:  Author: AliceLocation: London, England PostPosted: Fri Jul 30, 2004 8:15 pm


Nooooooo, I'm another one who's just read the whole thing in one sitting and now there's no more! Hope there's some more soon please.

 


#320:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 6:35 pm


Dreaming Marianne wrote:
So what's Gin up to as she languishes palely in bed?


Funny you should ask. There was some concern a while back as to whether the accident would turn her into a Real Chalet School Girl. I will let you judge.....

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

PART XXXVII

“You never did tell me about that friend of Anthony Merrick’s, you know, Rowan.” Ann said suddenly. “I forgot all about it in all the fuss.” It was a week since Ginty’s accident; the invalid was coming along nicely and Ann, who had been given leave to miss games to come and see her, was strolling on the terrace at the San with her sister.
Rowan coloured. “I don’t know there’s anything to tell yet. He’s fun to be with. He’s staying for a while, doing some translation work for Mr M.”
“The scholarly type, eh?” Ann asked.
“Actually he’s doing an agriculture degree,” Rowan told her. “Only he was ill and can’t go back until next term.”
“Well, that’s what I call planning for the future,” Ann laughed.
“I didn’t plan it,” Rowan protested. “Though it could be useful. Keep it to yourself, Ann – it may come to nothing and I don’t want to listen to the rest ragging for the next six months.”
Her sister laughed again. “I won’t tell if you keep me posted. Look, Rowan, must you go back so soon?”
“Fraid so,” Rowan sighed, although she did not look altogether sorry – it had been a good break but she was longing to get back to work – and play. “The farm won’t run itself, you know and I can’t expect Mr Tranter to look after things for too much longer. Gin’s on the way to recovery so there’s no real reason for me to stay.”
“It’s not Gin I’m worried about,” Ann said thoughtfully.
“Nick?” Rowan asked. “She’s become awfully clingy, and it’s not good for her. Another reason I should go. She’s always been perfectly able to stand on her own two feet and she’ll do it again once I’ve gone. I say,” with a sudden change of subject that, if it hadn’t been for the concern in her eyes, Ann would have taken as a lack of caring about the younger girl “can’t you tell Gin’s getting better?”
Ann looked puzzled. “What do you mean? I mean she is, of course, but….”
“My dear girl, she asked me to be sure to bring her some lipstick in the morning, and she’s had Kay send out that frilly bedjacket thing that Grandmother sent her from Paris, that Mums wouldn’t let her pack because she’d have no use for it at school.”
“She’s feeling better all right, in that case,” Ann agreed. “But why on earth does she want lipstick in here? Who does she think is going to see her?”
“Well my guess is that young doctor, Entwistle isn’t it,” Rowan said with a sly grin. “He’s very attentive, and quite handsome.”
“But he’s years older than her!” Ann was scandalised.
“Eight, to be accurate,” Rowan agreed. “He’s got one more year at medical school – this is some sort of intern year. Dr Jack was telling me – he’s a protégée of his. Oh, don’t flap, Ann, it’s just a crush. He’s not going to be interested in her, if she is a pretty sort of girl. For one thing she’s his patient. If it amuses her to fantasise about him then what’s the harm. Maybe it’ll spur her on to getting well faster. In any case…..uh-oh.”
“What?” Ann, who had been leaning on the balcony rail beside her, looking troubled, turned, to see Joey Maynard bearing down on them.

 


#321:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 6:40 pm


Oh, no!!! I can see another reason for Joey and Len to fall out with her then...

So that'll be two of the triplets against her already...oh dear. This does not bode (sp?!) well!

 


#322:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 7:07 pm


Oh dear!!!!

*sits back and waits for the fireworks*

 


#323:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Sat Jul 31, 2004 8:52 pm


*Giggles= Oh, yes - I love that idea, Reg is led astray, then Len doesn't have to marry him!
Though it probably won't turn out like that. Still,, there is alway's Joey's reaction to look forward to.

 


#324: Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 8:55 pm


PART XXXVIII

“Rowan, I was hoping to bump into you,” that lady said cheerily. “How is young Ginty today? My husband says he’s very pleased with her progress.”
“She’s feeling much better, thank you.” Even Ann was startled by the sudden change in her sister’s manner.
“I was wondering if you and your mother might like to come to Kaffee und Kuchen tomorrow afternoon,” Joey went on. “It must be dull for you up here and I know your sister rests in the early evening. Anna – my factotum, you know – has made a batch of the most delicious lemon biscuits. She’s an absolute treasure like that.”
Rowan stared. Even Mrs Merrick, who could do the social butterfly bit with the best of them, was not in the habit of accosting total strangers with such babble. “Thank you, but no. Mum likes to sit with Gin even when she’s sleeping.” It wasn’t wholly true; Rowan knew that her mother was bored away from the distractions of her friends and the shops in Lausanne but she felt justified in the lie. So far the trouble of the first part of the term had been kept from Mrs Marlow and both Rowan and Ann wanted it to stay that way. For all her general disinterest in her children’s lives, their mother was wont to be excitable about school troubles.
“I suppose I can understand that. I know how I’d be if it were one of mine,” Joey said. “Well, you’ll come, anyway, I’m sure.”
“I’m afraid not,” Rowan said, very composed and very much on her dignity. “I…. Mrs Maynard, I know you’re trying to be kind and I don’t mean to be rude but I don’t think that it would be a good idea.”
Joey could not pretend she did not know what this was about and so took the bull by the horns. “Because of what happened between Len and Nicola?”
Rowan held back a laugh. “Heavens no. They’re schoolgirls, Mrs Maynard, they had a squabble. So your daughter slapped my sister’s face – well, I know Nick and I’m sure she asked for it.”
“Then why do you snub me at every turn?” Joey asked, honestly curious.
“It’s not because of your daughter’s behaviour, it’s because of yours, Mrs Maynard.” Rowan spoke with brutal candour, as only someone who has not that long left school can to another adult. “I think you were horribly unkind to Nick. Yes, she caused some trouble. But think about this for a moment. She’s fourteen years old, she’s in a strange country and in an environment that is utterly foreign to her. I’m not talking about language differences. I’m not sure how much you know about English girls’ schools, I suspect not very much, for all you write about them. This Chalet School of yours is like something out of a pre-war story book. I’m sure it’s excellent academically – in fact, from what Ann and the others tell me it’s probably tougher than Kingscote was. But to be pitched from a normal environment into one where girls curtsey and aren’t allowed to say ‘beastly’ and goodness only know what else, it’s enough to throw any kid off balance. Plus Nick had all the Guide business to contend with. There’s no excuse for her behaviour but neither was there any excuse for yours.”
Joey was staring at her by this time. “I don’t see…..”
“What I see, Mrs Maynard, is that my independent, self reliant young sister was crying in my arms at half term because of your treatment of her. So you’ll excuse me if I don’t want to come to tea with you right now. Perhaps when Len brings Nick home, as I believe she wants to, and you welcome her, I’ll feel differently. Now, if you’ll excuse me, we need to be going. Nobody will love us if I’m late getting Ann back to school. Good-day.”
She swept off, a shell-shocked Ann in tow.
“Rowan!” that young woman exclaimed once they were safely in the car. “How could you tell her off like that – you barely know her!”
Rowan shrugged slightly shamefacedly, knowing that she probably should have maintained a dignified distance and made a polite excuse. But she was young enough to feel a certain satisfaction at having got some revenge, though she knew Ann would hardly approve of that. “I know. Sorry. But it’s time someone took that woman down a peg or two. Oh, don’t look like that, Ann. I won’t do it again. Just – well, you didn’t see Nick.”
Ann let it go; it would hardly do for she and Rowan to scrap over it and anyway it was done. She turned the conversation back to Ginty’s infatuation and the subject lasted until they were pulling up in front of the Chalet.

 


#325:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 9:03 pm


Ooh. I bet that was a shock for Joey. How is she going to take it?!

 


#326: Re: Chalet School and the Marlows Author: lizarfauLocation: Melbourne PostPosted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 9:58 pm


Brilliant, Nicky. Great to hear Rowan saying the things to the adult Joey that we would all like to say ... Smile

 


#327:  Author: MatthewLocation: Birmingham, England PostPosted: Sun Aug 01, 2004 10:02 pm


How glorious to see Joey so well and truely snubbed! Well done Rowan! Laughing

 


#328:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 8:05 am


Yay for Rowan, it was about time someone told Jo to stop trying to run everyone's lives for them!

 


#329:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 9:24 am


Oh, bravo! That was superb! Hurrah for Rowan!

And I liked Ginty having a crush on Dr Entwhistle... Very Happy

 


#330:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 11:03 am


Wow! I love Rowan.

I can't wait to see Joey's reaction to that!

 


#331:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 11:15 am


inspired as usual, thanks Nicky

Now, is Joey going to actually pay some attention to Rowan, or is she going to feel very hard done by and appalled by the rudeness of young people today?

 


#332:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 3:05 pm


The unchanging Jo - how well she's shown in this drabble.

 


#333:  Author: gigagalLocation: London PostPosted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 5:04 pm


Ooh, that was amazing! I like Rowan even more after this!

 


#334:  Author: Dreaming MarianneLocation: Devon PostPosted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 5:58 pm


Rowan rocks!!!! Go Rowan, Go Rowan!!!!

Hmmmm, Ginty and Reg.....they don't ruin another couple do they?

*retracts claws, jumps off soapbox and slopes off in search of saucer of cream*

 


#335:  Author: EllaLocation: Staffordshire PostPosted: Mon Aug 02, 2004 6:44 pm


Ow! Well that's Joey well and truly stamped on with both feet! Shocked
Good for Rowan for saying what nobody else dares to!
Nevertheless, don't think that's going to help Nicola's cause...
Ginty and Reg - inspired idea! - does that mean she's forgotten Patrick, or have I missed something somewhere? Embarassed

Brilliant! Thank you Nicky! Very Happy

 


#336:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 12:21 pm


EEeeek! Well, that's told Jo! *g* More would be lovely soon, please, Nicky...

 


#337:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 3:49 pm


Well done Rowan. Can definitley see Ginty with Reg.

Last edited by Susan on Wed Aug 04, 2004 1:48 pm; edited 1 time in total

 


#338:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 3:50 pm


She'd keep him well under her thumb!

 


#339:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 8:57 pm


Afraid it was inevitable from the moment the wretched brat set foot in the CS.....

PART XXXIX

“Vi, what’s wrong with you these days?” Mary Lou Trelawney had been curled up on a rug in front of the stove in the Senior common room, re-reading Little Women, but had glanced up to see her friend staring out at the thick fog which had enveloped the Chalet for the last two days. “Draw those curtains, do. It’s bad enough knowing it’s out there without looking at it. Now,” as her friend drew the thick drapes across the windows, “come and sit down and tell us what’s the matter. You’ve been glooming for the best part of a week.”
“Wouldn’t you if you were losing your part in the play to a new girl, and a fourth former at that,” Vi said glumly.
“Rot!” was Mary Lou’s rejoinder. “Who’s said anything about Lawrie Marlow getting your part?”
“Nobody, yet,” Vi admitted. “But you’ve seen her – or no, you haven’t, have you? You were packing some things up for Ginty. Someone else tell her.”
“She was very good,” Josette said reluctantly. “I forgot she was her, if you know what I mean. But you’re good as well, Vi.”
“Not that good,” Vi said honestly. “I couldn’t pretend to do it after that. So it’s no good saying that Willy hasn’t said Lawrie’s to do it, when I’m going to have to give it up myself.”
“Vi, don’t be a dope,” Mary Lou told her. “They’ve already messed the Play up once for that child, they’re not going to do it again, however good she is.”
Josette and Jo looked at one another. Both had been there and both knew what Vi was saying. The Play was the thing, every one of them wanted it to be as good as they could make it, and if that meant Vi giving up her part then so be it.
“Want me to come with you?” Josette asked.
Vi shook her head. “But you do see that I have to?”
“Being you, I suppose so,” Mary Lou said. “It’s decent of you – I know how you feel about that part. Hopefully Willy will say no.”
“She won’t though,” Barbara Chester, who had also been present on that fateful evening, put in. “Any ass can see that Lawrie is miles ahead of the rest of us. Rotten for you, Vi.”
“I’m going to go and get it over with,” Vi said firmly, getting to her feet.

“Vi, my dear, there’s no need for this,” Miss Annersley protested. “We’re very pleased with your performance and Lawrence has a very good part already.”
Vi, who had already has this argument with Miss Wilmot, that lady having decreed that the final decision must lie with the Head, sighed inwardly. “You didn’t see her, Miss Annersley. She was Frederick, not some schoolgirl acting him, however well, but actually him, if you know what I mean. Lawrie’s a conceited brat – sorry, child,” as her headmistress’s eyebrows went up at the slang, “but she’s wasted on that inn-keeper.”
The Head looked at her closely. “Are you sure, my dear? You’re giving up a lot.”
Vi nodded sturdily. “I know. But…well… the play’s the thing, isn’t it.”
“Yes,” Miss Annersley agreed. “Very well. Lawrence has shown a great deal of maturity and commitment, I must say – I don’t believe she has missed a rehearsal – so I will let you make your very generous gesture. Shall we make it a straight exchange of parts.”
“I’d like to do the inn-keeper,” Vi owned.
“Then it’s settled. Send Lawrence to me, my dear.”

 


#340:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 9:56 pm


Poor Vi!!!!
Sad Sad

 


#341:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Tue Aug 03, 2004 11:32 pm


poor Vi indeed....i can see their point but it would do wonders for Lawrie if this had been set during JANE. A better actress than Lawrence Marlow!! Shocked Shocked

 


#342:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 8:29 am


Oh, Vi is such a sweetie!! I hope Lawrie is made to appreciate it.

 


#343:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 1:54 pm


Very generous of Vi. Hope Lawrie appreciates it and doesn't see another part she fancies.

 


#344:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 7:51 pm


I bet she takes it as her due!

 


#345:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Thu Aug 05, 2004 4:03 pm


Lawrie had better appreciate it. ALthough I have a hideous feeling that that won't be the case; merely that someone will need to buy her a new hat... Rolling Eyes

 


#346:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Fri Aug 06, 2004 9:19 am


can we hope for any more of this any time soon, nicky?

had a random thought on the way to work this morning - it would be equally tough for a CS girl to settle into Kingscote - or would the sudden relative freedom go to her head?!?

 


#347: Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Fri Aug 06, 2004 8:48 pm


PART XXXX

“Coo! Can you drive in this? I swear it’s thicker than half an hour ago.” Nicola Marlow pulled her scarf tightly around her neck as they came out of the San. The school had woken again that morning to fog and the definite feeling that winter was coming; blazers had been de rigeur and the men had been hard at work stoking the great furnace that heated the radiators, but it had thinned to a thick mist by lunchtime and nobody had thought it necessary to stop Nicola’s visit.
Rowan, whistling carelessly, assured her that of course she could, though in her heart she was not sure. If she had been by herself she would have gone back in and resigned herself to spending the night in a chair in Ginty’s room, but there was Nick to think of. Still, it was a good road all along the Platz and the chance of there being much other traffic on it was slim. She started the engine with a confidence she didn’t feel and pulled slowly out of the wide driveway. Visibility was not much more than twenty feet and she had no wish to land them in a ditch, so she hogged the middle of the road, trusting to the fact that any car that might be coming the other way would have its headlamps on full and would be going as slowly as she was. Her luck held; it was a good five minutes before they met a vehicle and when it crept to a halt alongside her Dr Maynard’s fair head was poked out of the window.
“Rowan, what the devil are you doing out in this?” He knew her well enough by now to speak his mind; to him she was no more than a schoolgirl. Joey, feeling that she had not come off well, had not told him about the scene between them.
“Trying to get the kid back to school. I hoped it’d be clearer at that end.”
“Well it’s not,” Jack told her. “Worse, if anything. Look, Rowan, the Hotel Jungfraublick is about twenty yards ahead. Pull in there and get yourselves indoors until it clears. I’ll call the school and let them know Nicola will be late. Have you got plenty of cash?”
“Enough,” Rowan nodded, putting the car back in gear. “Thanks, Dr Jack. Tell Mum as well, would you?”
“Sure thing.” The doctor drove on slowly and Rowan crept forward until she saw the hotel sign and a broad parking place beside the road.
“Okay, kid. Wrap yourself back up,” she said briskly, pulling on her own scarf and hat. “This is where we leave the old bus.”
“It’s thicker,” Nicola said unnecessarily, standing by the side of the road while her sister locked the car.
“Not scared, are you?” Rowan asked, remembering that Nick had, not that long ago, been afraid of the dark.
“Not scared exactly, just a bit creepy,” Nicola told her, not altogether truthfully.
Rowan laughed. It certainly was eerie, a thick wall of grey encasing them on all four sides. She knew well enough where the hotel should be but it might as well not have been for all they could see of it. “You’d better take my hand; hate to lose you in this,” she said lightly.
Nick, comforted by the warm grasp, felt better. “Which way?”
“Down here,” and the elder girl led the way off of the main road.
They had been walking for less than five minutes, though it seemed a lot longer, when Nick stopped short. “Shouldn’t we be there by now?”
Rowan, who was beginning to think the same and wondering if they had walked right past the hotel, forced a note of cheerfulness into her voice.
“It’s set a fair way back and this path isn’t straight. We’re still on it, anyhow,” digging her toe into the gravel to make sure, “and it must go somewhere. They don’t build paths over the edges of precipices, do they?”
She felt her sister shudder and regretted the attempt at a joke. “Nick, don’t be silly. Even if we did miss the hotel we couldn’t get really lost. We’ll keep going for the moment at any rate, I think – it’s too cold to stand around.”
They walked on, the younger girl gripping her sister’s hand more tightly than was comfortable. The fog was not getting thicker, at least, and in fact they had been going for another five minutes and Rowan was just deciding that they had better, after all, go back, when a patch of it lifted and, in the gathering dusk, she saw that they were standing in a clearing among the trees at the end of what appeared to be a maintenance trail.
“Oops!” she said ruefully. “Must have walked right past. Hundred and eighty degree turn. Odd that it should be so thin just in that one bit,” and they plunged back into the mist, with nobody to tell them that the fog was generally lighter within ten or fifteen feet of the edge of the shelf.

 


#348:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Fri Aug 06, 2004 8:51 pm


Robin wrote:
had a random thought on the way to work this morning - it would be equally tough for a CS girl to settle into Kingscote - or would the sudden relative freedom go to her head?!?


I suppose it'd depend on which CS girl! It must be easier because Kingscote doesn't have the pressure to conform to a type that the CS does. Might be fun to explore (no, I'm not volunteering!!!)
Nicky

 


#349:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Sat Aug 07, 2004 10:22 am


Nicky!!! That was not a nice thing to do!!! Surprised

"Odd that it should be so thin just in that one bit,” and they plunged back into the mist, with nobody to tell them that the fog was generally lighter within ten or fifteen feet of the edge of the shelf. --- Aagh! Shocked

What I never really understood - how does the shelf work? I mean is it like pretty green plateau on the edge of a mountain and if you walk off the edge its a sheer drop down - or what? Confused


Last edited by Laura on Sat Aug 07, 2004 11:23 am; edited 2 times in total

 


#350:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Sat Aug 07, 2004 10:54 am


Eeeek! But if the fog was thinner, and they'd kept going they would have noticed. Wouldn't they?


I think you're right about the shelf Laura - at least, that's how I imagine it too.

 


#351:  Author: Dreaming MarianneLocation: Devon PostPosted: Sun Aug 08, 2004 9:45 am


oh no! Can't you swap is nickyj so it's Lawrie and Ginty, not Nicky and Ro? Oooh, and tack Marie Dobson and Lois Sanger on as well.

 


#352:  Author: Guest PostPosted: Mon Aug 09, 2004 12:58 pm


Dreaming Marianne wrote:
oh no! Can't you swap is nickyj so it's Lawrie and Ginty, not Nicky and Ro? Oooh, and tack Marie Dobson and Lois Sanger on as well.


oh yes! How about Lois appearing at St Mildreds...... have to think about that one. Marie Dobson is more of a problem - on account of her being, well, dead.

 


#353:  Author: Dreaming MarianneLocation: Devon PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 5:29 pm


Mere detail! Oh, I know, she can be a figment of Lawrie's imagination, with her long slender finger tips parting the cubey curtain, Lawrie can sleepwalk then scream, and Matey can dose her up with warm milk and half a disprin!

 


#354: The Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 8:21 pm


PART XXXXI

Rowan was kicking herself by now for not having stayed at the San, or at the very least with the car. She knew they must be heading back to the road but she could feel Nick starting to shiver and to be truthful she was feeling the cold herself. Thanking her stars that the twin holding her hand was Nick and not Lawrie, since she would certainly have been complaining and possibly having hysterics, she had just determined that at the first building they came to, however unlikely, she would knock and ask for shelter when a dark shape loomed in front of them and they found themselves at the foot of a flight of wooden stairs leading up to a broad balcony, above which the hotel sign shone dimly.
“I do believe we’re saved!” she said dramatically.
“To be out in this weather!” The innkeeper had hurried to the door at the sound of their footsteps.
“We were driving back from the San and the fog became so thick we had to stop,” Rowan told him. “We walked right past the first time.”
With the San so close, the hotel people in this part mostly spoke fair English, so the man understood the gist of her words. “The path, he splits,” he explained. “You will have gone to the edge of the shelf, nicht wahr?”
“The clearing in the trees,” she told him. “Is that right at the edge? Heck, I’m glad I didn’t know that at the time!”
This was beyond him, so he nodded and showed them into a cosy room.
“It is the bar, you understand, but nobody else will come in this weather,” he told them, following them to take their wraps and hang them by the stove, “and it is warmer in here than in the salon where the stove is almost out. Ah, you are from the school?” as Nicola divested herself of her big coat to show her gentian tunic and blazer.
Nicola nodded. “Ja, mein Herr. We were visiting my sister when this happened. Does the fog come like this often?” She spoke in halting German, just to see if she could she said later and grinned when he clearly understood her and replied in the same language. Then he turned to Rowan.
“It is Fraulein’s first winter here, doubtless.”
“It is,” Rowan agreed. “How long will it last?”
He waved his arms expressively. “Who can say. Yet I think it clears slightly even now. An hour, perhaps two. You have left the car by the roadside? That will be safe. Now, some coffee, perhaps? Or would das Madchen prefer schokolade?”
“I’d actually prefer a glass of wine,” Rowan said with a smile. “Nick?”
“Me too?” Nick, feeling more herself now that they were safe indoors, suggested.
Her sister laughed. “I suppose it can’t hurt just this once. It was rather an unpleasant ten minutes, wasn’t it. Very well, mein Herr, one large glass of wine and one very small one please.”
The man did not seem to think this an odd request, returning presently with a tray with two large glasses and two carafes.
“What’s the other one for?” Nick asked, nodding at the second as her sister poured wine from the first.
“To water down your wine, my dear,” Rowan said with a grin. “It’s what they do for kids in these parts, I believe. All the same, I wouldn’t recommend it. Here,” and she pushed a half full glass across the table. “And for heavens sake don’t tell anyone I let you do it!”
Nick laughed. “Imagine what they’d say at school. I say, Rowan, isn’t this rather fun.”
“I’d sooner have been spared it,” Nick said drily.
The younger girl wriggled contentedly, her insides warmed by the first sip of wine. “I like adventures when they’re over. I say, Rowan, d’you have to go home tomorrow?”
Rowan sipped her own drink and nodded. “Yep. The cows are calling me – I hear them in my sleep. A farmer girl can’t run away from her work for too long, you know.”
“I know. Just, well it’s nice to have you here is all.”
“Not like you to be clingy,” Rowan said lightly.
“I’m not!”
“You are, you know, and that’s fine but now it’s time for you to stand on your own two feet again,” her sister said firmly. “You’re starting to enjoy the place now, aren’t you?”
“Mmm, s’pose,” Nicola had to admit. “I say, Ro, did you really tell Len’s mother where to go?”
“Who told you that?”
“Gin,” Nick grinned. “You were outside her window – she heard the whole thing.”
Rowan flushed at the thought of what else Ginty might have overheard. “Did she say anything else?”
“Should she have?” Nicola asked curiously.
“Nope,” Rowan brushed it aside. “Now, you’re going to be okay, aren’t you?”
Nicola nodded. Now that she was warm and dry she felt that she could cope with anything and while it had been fun to have Rowan here she supposed she had been a bit clingy and school life was full enough without running after someone else. She took another long sip.
“Could get used to this.”
“Sitting in a bar with a glass of wine? Don’t you dare! I say Nick, I do believe it’s clearing. Looks like we’ll get you back to school after all. And Nick, I’d prefer it if you didn’t say anything to anyone about this. Let them think we waited at the San for it to clear.”
“Don’t want people to know you lost us in the fog, huh?”
“Something like that.” Rowan knew now that it had been irresponsible of her to attempt to drive in those conditions. “Now tell me about this blasted Play Lal’s so keen on. Is she still angling for the main part?”
“She’s got it.”
“Incredible. But inevitable, being Lal,” Rowan said resignedly. “She’ll be insufferable now. You’d better tell me the whole sordid story.”

 


#355:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 9:27 pm


Likeing this, but glad I read those few parts all in one go!

 


#356:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 10:30 am


Phew! Glad they are safe Nicky, another lovely part.

 


#357:  Author: Sarah_LLocation: Leeds PostPosted: Wed Aug 11, 2004 1:09 pm


I wonder if the school will smell the wine on Nick?

 


#358:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Thu Aug 12, 2004 4:33 pm


I doubt the school woulod be bothered if they did. They have been known to give the girls watered down wine themselves in the past. though admittedly with a big meal and not normally after a nasty shock...

 


#359:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 9:51 am


nicky, this has sunk way too far down the list, so I'm bumping it up again in the hope that you'll be nice and reward us for our patience with some MORE

thanks Wink

 


#360:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 10:16 am


Sunday has come and gone without the regular updates of this? Will the world now come to an end?

 


#361:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Mon Aug 16, 2004 10:51 pm


Thankyou Nicky - fantastic to have 2 new parts to read in one go!

I'm very glad Rowan and Nick didn't disappear over the edge of your cliff Smile

You can post the next bit as soon as you like - I'm back from my holidays now Wink

 


#362:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Wed Aug 18, 2004 11:25 am


Nicky? Nicky?

We're not just going to sit here quietly and wait, you know! Ignoring us won't make us go away.... Trumpet megaphone

 


#363:  Author: BookwormsarahLocation: Cambridge, UK PostPosted: Fri Aug 20, 2004 9:14 am


bawling More typing please

 


#364:  Author: Guest PostPosted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 2:02 pm


Please Nicky, may we have some more?

 


#365: Chalet School and the Marlows Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 4:15 pm


Dear Miss Annersley,

I am very sorry that Nicky has not been handing in her prep lately. She tells me that she has not been feeling herself but this is no excuse and I have spoken very seriously to her. She has written a long story to make up for it and has promised that she will keep up to date in future. If she does not please punish her accordingly. Regretfully, I have to take her out of school on Thursday morning for five days as she wants to go and play with her friends in France but I am sure that you will understand that rock-climbing and abseiling are vital skills for a girl of her age (especially, if I may say so, in your school, where an unusual number of girls appear to fall over cliffs and need rescuing). I will ensure that she sends in another batch of homework before then.
I remain, yours respectfully, etc etc

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

PART XXXXII

“I” Miranda West announced, tossing Vanity Fair onto the floor with scant regard for damage to its spine “am bored.”
Nicola, sitting with knees hugged to chest in the opposite corner of the windowseat, reached down to pick it up, smoothing the crumpled pages.
“There’ll be a row if anyone sees that,” Con Maynard, sauntering over to peer over their heads into the fog and wonder if it was thinning at all, as sundry members of Upper IV had been doing all afternoon, said. “What’s Becky Sharp done to upset your applecart anyway, Nick?”
“Not mine, hers.” Nicola pushed the book across the seat to her friend.
“She’s boring,” Miranda said. “She’s a catty little…. well, never mind,” catching Nicola’s eye in time to remember that there were things one might not say here, even in the safety of the commonroom.
“What’s boring,” Nicola, who could see Con beginning to fire up in defence of one of her favourite heroines, cut in “is this,” with an expressive wave at the grey shrouded window. “It’s been more than a week.”
“Vi Lucy says it’s starting to freeze,” Con said. “I had to go and fetch a clean hanky and I met her on the stairs. Some of that crowd have been along to see your Ginty – Vi said to tell you she’s doing well by the way – and she says Willy said on the way back that there’d be snow before nightfall. And it’s barely November.”
“Well that’d be okay,” Nicola said with enthusiasm. “I want to learn to ski.”
“Too early,” Heather Clayton, another ornament of the form, said, looking up from her embroidery. “It doesn’t settle enough – at least, we’ve not skied in November since I’ve been here.”
“Well anyway, it’d be better than this blasted fog,” Nicola stretched her legs and dropped down onto the floor. “There must be something we can do. Lal, what are you up to?”
Lawrie, sprawled inelegantly on a rug, looked up at her through her fringe. “Reading my part.”
“You were word perfect last night,” her twin, who had been there because they had been walking through one of the scenes where she was onstage to sing, said, snatching the exercise book from her hand and snapping it shut.
“Oh well, s’pose I was,” Lawrie said immodestly. “But it’s more interesting than my library book.”
“Shouldn’t pick things because you like the picture on the cover, should you,” Nicola, who had never understood this particular foible, jeered. She preferred to know something about a book before she started, since it was a matter of honour with her to finished a book once begun, though she supposed that list of Crommie’s had been reading blind, but that had been sort of recommended, and anyway she’d had no choice. “What is it this time? ‘The Little Marie-Jose’?” picking the volume up from the rug where it had been lying. “Sounds ghastly. Who wrote it? Elinor Brent-Dyer? Nevererdover.”
“Her school stories are pretty good,” Con, who had followed her over, put in. “But some of the rest is the most awful tosh.”
“Anyway, nobody’s asking you to read.” Nicola went back to her original train of thought.
“What’s happening?” Lawrie sat up, looking interested.
“Dunno yet.”
“Charades?” her twin asked hopefully.
Those around them laughed. “Some of us have enough with play rehearsals,” Joan Baker, who was immensely proud of her small part but struggled to learn her lines, said. “All the same, Nick’s right, let’s do something. Len, you’re good for ideas.”
Len had been curled up in a chair, pretending to read but in reality thinking unhappily that tomorrow would be the first birthday in their lives when they had not had some sort of party. Usually they went home, taking friends with them, but this time Len herself had made an excuse, claiming that nobody else in the school had that privilege and anyway they were too busy with the play. Joey had gone home hurt, knowing that the rift with her eldest daughter had not yet been properly healed. Part of Len had wanted to accept the invitation but she felt too that if she couldn’t take her chosen friends with her happily she didn’t want to go at all. And there was the problem of Margot as well. So she had said no and her sisters, for their own reasons, had backed her up. Now, however, she shook off her black mood and, as Lawrie had done, sat up and looked interested.
“What did you people at Kingscote do in this sort of weather?” she asked.
“We didn’t have this sort of weather,” Miranda told her. “Not for days on end, anyway.”
“It rains often enough at home, though” Rosamund Lilley put in. “What about then? We used to go to the pictures but you could hardly do that from school, I suppose.”
The three Kingscote old-girls looked at eachother and shrugged.
“Got wet?” Nicola offered. “If we wanted to, I mean. It was only rain – it’s what waterproofs are for.”
The Chalet girls laughed. “Yes, well nobody is going to let us go out in that, even if we wanted to,” Len said firmly.
“Can’t say I want to.” Nick shivered, thinking of that ghastly ten minutes in the fog with Rowan. “But nor do I want to sit around in here all afternoon.”
“What I’ve wanted to do since I got here,” Lawrie said “is play hide and seek all over the house.”
“Lal, you baby!” Nicola jeered.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Miranda said slowly. “I see possibilities. It’s a real rabbit warren. Have to dodge the staff and the prees of course.”
“We can’t go racketing all over the school just as we like,” Len pointed out. “There’d be an awful row.”
“Then we’ll be quiet about it.” Miranda, who was ready to do anything to make life more interesting at the moment, said. “Who’s game?”
“No fear.” Con Maynard stood by her sister. “You’re mad.”
“Well I’m in.” Joan Baker who, like Miranda, was no reader and liked to be doing something, even something that she might otherwise have dismissed as babyish, said. “Ros, you’ll play, won’t you?”
Rosamund, who was a quiet creature who generally followed Len Maynard’s lead, shook her head, but Betty Landon and Alicia Leonard were volunteering and Heather Clayton, one of the most featherbrained girls in the school, had added her voice. Emerence Hope, never one to miss out on a mad scheme, turned to Margot with the suggestion that they might hide and hunt together. But Margot, who would have liked nothing better in her usual frame of mind, would not be part of something that was instigated by the Marlow twins, whom she was still blaming for her current unpopularity and the trouble at home – like Len she was unhappy at the thought of their birthday being spoiled and, while knowing it was partly her fault, could not bring herself to do anything about it. So she shook her head and wandered off to the vacated window seat, leaving seven of the adventurous eight to slip from the room while Lawrie, who had insisted on being ‘it’ on the basis that the game had been her idea, stayed behind to count to a hundred.

 


#366:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 5:52 pm


*giggles*
So EBD is alive in EBD's make-believe world??



Why do I have a feeling that this oh so innocent game of hide and seek is going to end up with them all in some kind of row? Confused

 


#367:  Author: Guest PostPosted: Sat Aug 21, 2004 9:12 pm


cos its the Cs and cos it's a drabble!!! And if poor Nick's involved, of course she'll get into trouble! Crying or Very sad

 


#368:  Author: EmilyLocation: Land of White Coats and Stethoscopes. PostPosted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 3:03 pm


Oh no! Have spent the last few days happily reading this from the beginning and smugly ignoring the chanting, and suddenly there is no more! Help! More please, nicky, this is wonderful!

 


#369:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 3:31 pm


Emily wrote:
Oh no! Have spent the last few days happily reading this from the beginning and smugly ignoring the chanting, and suddenly there is no more! Help! More please, nicky, this is wonderful!


Awww, go on then
-------------------------

PART XXXXIII

Nicola, with some idea of hiding in one of the dormitories, headed for the back stairs, where she felt safe enough to run up two at a time. Her original idea suddenly seemed too obvious and she went on up as far as she could, to the top floor where the maids had their bedrooms and where she had never been. Peeking around doors she realised her mistake – there was nothing else up here – there was nobody to tell her that the boxrooms for which she had been hoping were on the other side of the house – and she could hardly invade one of the private domains of the servants. She had been counting in her head and, knowing that Lawrie could never resist cheating and speeding up at the end, knew that she was in danger of being caught if she went back to the main floor. Then to her delight she saw an alcoved window, with a blanket curtain drawn to one side. Tucking herself onto the windowseat she pulled the curtain across and settled down to wait.
The window looked out onto the gardens and she watched as the fog swirled across them, lifted momentarily and then obscured them again, wondering if Miss Wilmot had been right and the weather was changing. Certainly it was cold here; the top floors were unheated during the day and she had not brought her blazer. Hugging herself for warmth she peered down into the garden, marvelling at how small everything looked from up here, then catching her breath as she saw someone move across the lawn. She blinked, disbelieving, but when she looked again the figure was still there. Even from this distance she could see the uniform blue coat and beret and crimson scarf; in any case, common sense told her, if it had been one of the maids on legitimate business they would hardly be skirting the edge of the lawn in such a furtive manner. The figure turned, as if to make sure nobody was watching, and from her height Nicola saw a definite flash of distinctive red-gold curls.
“Margot Maynard,” Nicola said aloud. “What the heck is she doing out there? There’ll be the most ghastly row if she’s caught, especially after everything else.”
“Found ya!” Her curtain was whisked back and Lawrie stood there, triumphant. “Talking out loud, you lunatic.”
Nick grinned absently. “One to you. Lal, I have to go. Don’t say anything to anyone, let them think I’m still hiding.” She dropped down from the windowseat and ran off, leaving her twin staring after her.
She had no plan as such as yet, only a determination to go after Margot – if Margot it was – and stop her getting into any more rows. Nick was definite friends with Con these days, getting to be that way with Len, and for their sake alone she would probably have wanted to save their sister. But she had felt a certain affinity with the youngest triplet as well at times, thinking that if she had been brought up in such a restrictive atmosphere she would want to fight people too, and it was mostly for Margot’s own sake that she wanted to bring her back unnoticed. That ghastly afternoon at Freudesheim was almost forgotten, in Nick’s eyes Rowan had evened the score.
She was heading to the cloakroom when common sense told her that it would be mad to go alone. Even after Ginty’s accident, on a sunny afternoon, she had had Lawrie with her, and the adventure with Rowan had taught her that the weather on the Gornetz Platz was something to be feared. She briefly considered and dismissed Miranda; she’d have to find her first and anyway, as likely as not Miranda would say that Margot deserved a row and in any case didn’t Nicola think it’d be better to go to Authority, the way she had after that Changegear incident. Better run to the common room and make sure it was Margot – hopefully she’d be there still sulking over her book – and then consult with the others what to do.
But she had not been mistaken, a quick glance around the common room told her that the youngest triplet was missing.
“Caught already?” Len looked up. “I say, Nick, you look bothered. Not caught by a pree were you?”
Nicola saw her ally in her planned adventure. “Len, d’you know where Margot is?”
Len glanced around. “Thought she was here. Why?”
Nick caught her arm and pulled her to the door. “Think she’s gone out.”
“Out? In this?” Len stared at her.
“Come on! Tell you as we go!”
The empty peg in the Middle School splashery was all the evidence Len needed that it had been her sister who Nick had seen in the garden. “Boots,” she said definitely, grabbing her coat from its peg and wriggling into it, remembering what Con had said about Miss Wilmot predicting snow. “I say, Nick, d’you think we’d better tell someone?”
“No time,” Nick told her. “She’s had a good ten minutes start. Lal knows I’ve gone somewhere; if they find us missing she’s safe to tell that much so they’lll know we’ve not been kidnapped or something. Where are my gloves – oh, okay! Ready?”
She flung open the garden door and the fog swirled in. “Come on.”

 


#370:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 3:53 pm


Ooooh. I was worried that Nick in the cold was gonna get pneumonia or something.. but where on earth is Margot going?

More please! Very Happy

 


#371:  Author: EmilyLocation: Land of White Coats and Stethoscopes. PostPosted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 7:33 pm


Very Happy So obliging, oh wondrous authoress! Would it be greedy to ask for more?

 


#372:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Sun Aug 22, 2004 10:02 pm


When I read the letter to Miss Annersley at the beginning of yesterday's bit, I assumed 'Nicky' was Nicola Marlow! Spent a good minute or so trying to work out who was supposed to have written the letter, and had just plumped for Rowan when the penny dropped... doh! Embarassed

Thankyou for 2 lovely new parts Nicky!

My mind is racing now wondering:
- where Margot has gone
- what will happen to Nick and Len as they look for her
- what will happen to the rest of the hide-and-seekers

 


#373:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 3:11 am


Cor. Two new bits again, thank you Nicki.
When we will find out where Margot was going, and if Nick & Len catch her, or if they all get lost in the fog?

 


#374:  Author: EmilyLocation: Land of White Coats and Stethoscopes. PostPosted: Mon Aug 23, 2004 9:14 am


I thought exactly the same, Helen- glad there's someone else as dopey as me!

 


#375:  Author: Lisa_TLocation: Belfast PostPosted: Tue Aug 24, 2004 1:10 pm


It's all Nicky's fault for having the same name as her main character. Most careless I call it! Laughing Laughing Laughing But then i seem to remember Lulie doing the same thing in Pagan.


*worried about Nick and Len*
*worried about Margot*
*wondering when there'll be more!*

 


#376:  Author: geebengrrl PostPosted: Fri Aug 27, 2004 12:14 am


Hopefully Nick's famous knife with 16 blades will get them out of trouble as it has done so often before?

 


#377:  Author: Dreaming MarianneLocation: Devon PostPosted: Thu Sep 02, 2004 8:54 am


No no, this mustn't be allowed to slip!

Nicky???????

Pleeeeeeease????

Very Happy

 


#378:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 4:00 pm


Thank yuou Nickt this is a fabulous story. Hope they find Margot before anything too dreadfull happens.

Ermm I'm all caught up and nothing more to read!

 


#379:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Fri Sep 03, 2004 8:58 pm


AAAAAARRRRGGGHHHHH!!!

I've caught up, only to drop over a cliff and bounce on a tramploine. Fun as bouncing might be i would love to be rescued soon.

 


#380:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 3:55 pm


It seems a long time between episodes.

 


#381:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Sat Sep 04, 2004 4:33 pm


*hint hint!*

 


#382:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Mon Sep 06, 2004 11:31 am


still no more? please Nicky? we've been waiting fairly patiently since 22nd August....
hope you're alright!

 


#383: please, more!!! Author: SamP PostPosted: Tue Sep 07, 2004 2:25 pm


i've just discovered this story (thanks to the GO mailing list) and have spent all day at work reading it from the start. please, please, give us more!! its fantastically good, nickyj

 


#384:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 9:15 am


I want more!!

*wails annoyingly*

Alas, according to GO, Nicky has sprained her wrist and is therefore not typing. Grr.

 


#385:  Author: Miss DiLocation: Newcastle, NSW PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 5:17 am


Nicky don't you have another hand? Can't you run out and purchase some voice recognition software? Please!

 


#386:  Author: Guest PostPosted: Thu Sep 09, 2004 2:46 pm


Or dictate? Pleeeeease Nicky????

Very Happy

 


#387: Wonderful!! Author: FelixLocation: Bristol PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 5:59 pm


I was going through the GO archives at the weekend and found out about this fabulous story. I have just reached the end tonight and really hope Nicky's wrist is recovering so we can have more!

I have always loved the Marlows because they were cool but they seem so different in this setting, almost as if they are the bad guys! It takes a lot to get my poor little head round it!!

Where is Margot going I ask myself!

 


#388:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 7:38 pm


Hi guys

I'm really really sorry, I know I should have come along and explained myself but I was scared that if I read the messages I'd think 'can't hurt to do a bit' and set myself back, so it was easier to stay away. Thanks for all your kind wishes. The wrist is still strapped up and will be for another month at least but I can type, albeit slowly and not for long. Dictating wasn't really an option - my offline-friends think I'm mad - and I forget who suggested typing with one hand..... I've been doing that at work and my right hand is aching!!!!

Anyway, it will come in short installments fpr the moment (but I'll try and make them regular). My excuse for doing this against my doctor's orders is that, as every Katy fan knows, muscles waste when they're not used...

So.... and no, it doesn't solve the cliffhanger, just creates another one

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

PART XXXXV

Lawrie looked after her twin, wondering if she should go after her. But after all Nick had admitted that she had been caught and Lal, who was apt to be single minded about these things, decided that in that case it was all right and went in search of her next victim. In a fit of logic she had decided that it was best to start at the top of the school and work downwards and it was that thought which had brought her unerringly to Nicola’s hiding place. With none of her sister’s qualms she peeped curiously into the maids’ bedrooms, surprised to find cretonne curtains, cushioned chairs and comfortable looking beds; she’d expected that the maids lived in quarters not unlike those in that odd book Nick had brought back to Sara Crewe and which she’d read because her sisters had insisted and actually quite liked. But her quest soon drove her along and she was rewarded with the discovery of Betty and Alicia in the same dormitory – one hiding under a bed and the other in the curtained off wardrobe area.

“Oh, bother!” Joan Baker, hiding, like Nicola, in a curtained off windowseat, exclaimed involuntarily. She had heard stealthy footsteps that must mean Lawrie was coming just at the moment that a sneeze had overtaken her. She was not surprised, therefore, when the curtain covering her hiding place was whisked back; the startled look that spread across her face was on seeing not Lawrence Marlow but Betsy Lucy standing before her.
“B…b…betsy,” she stammered.
“Joan, found you!” Lawrie, hearing her voice, came running round the corner and skidded to a sudden halt as she saw the head-girl. “Heck!”
“Quite,” Betsy said drily. “And perhaps now one of you would like to explain exactly what is going on?”
The two looked at one another helplessly. Left to herself Lawrie would have tried to bluff it out but Joan had been longer at the School and knew that any attempt to avoid punishment now would be found out in the long run. She was saved the trouble of explaining, as it happened, however, for at that moment Hilary Wilson appeared with Heather Clayton in tow.
“I had to run up to the dormitory for my thimble,” the prefect said, in response to Betsy’s quizzical look, “and lo and behold I found Heather here under my bed. She says” in a tone of disbelief “that she was playing hide and seek.”
“I was!” Heather, who had known how it must look hiding in someone else’s dormitory, protested.
“Is that it?” Betsy turned to her two captives.
They nodded mutely.
“How many of you?” Betsy smothered a desire to laugh; in her experience this was one thing that had never been tried at the school before.
“Only eight of us,” Lawrie told her. “The rest said no.”
“Glad some of you had some sense,” Betsy said drily. “And how many of the eight are still at large?”
Lawrie counted frantically on her fingers. “Three.”
“You’d better go and find them, the three of you,” Betsy said resignedly, seeing no other sensible way out of the situation. “Tell anyone you meet that I sent you. I want to see you – all eight of you – in the prefects room in one hour. Understood?”

 


#389:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 8:27 pm


Love Betsy's solution, what else could she do but let them carry on searching! Laughing

 


#390:  Author: EmilyLocation: Land of White Coats and Stethoscopes. PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 10:33 pm


Hurrah! It's back! Glad you're getting better nicky (and not JUST because I want more drabble, honest!)

 


#391:  Author: Kathy_SLocation: midwestern US PostPosted: Tue Sep 21, 2004 10:46 pm


But this is a nice kind of cliff! At least Betsy's response. Not so sure what might happen if Nick has gone off somewhere....

*glad it's back*

 


#392:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 12:04 am


LOL!
Think this one might make it into the CS book of 'Legends'......

 


#393:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 12:16 am


Thank you Nicky. Nice to see this back. Hope Nicola is back in an hour.

 


#394:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 8:45 am


hurrah hurrah it's back
thanks v much nicky and although we all want more asap don't over do it otherwise we might have to wait even longer!

hope nick gets back in time

 


#395:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 10:25 am


Hooray!

*jumping for joy*

*considerably startling baby feeding in arms*

Thankyou Nicky - hope Nick is back within the hour, but somehow feel she won't be...

 


#396:  Author: Ruth BLocation: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 10:41 am


Thank you Nicky! Hope the arm keeps improving! We very much want more of this but don't overdo it!

 


#397:  Author: LissLocation: Harrow, London PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 11:17 am


Hurrah for more!

 


#398:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 4:23 pm


Thanks Nicky! Hope your wrist gets better soon (and not just for selfish reasons! Very Happy )

 


#399:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 4:46 pm


Thank you , Nicky.

 


#400:  Author: Dreaming MarianneLocation: Devon PostPosted: Wed Sep 22, 2004 6:19 pm


Thank you Nicky!

Am so relieved to get little installment as have spent ridiculous amount on "End of Term" just to get my Marlow fix!

Take care of that wrist, it should be insured for your skills!

 


#401:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 6:36 pm


PART XXXVI

It was an outwardly composed but inwardly quaking group of girls which approached the prefects’ domain an hour later. With three of them searching it had been a matter of ten or fifteen minutes before the remainder of the party had been found. Miranda, it is true, had slated Lawrie for being silly enough to be caught but it had been at that point that she had noticed Nicola’s absence and she had dropped the subject.
“Lal, you know something!” she urged as they waited to be summoned in.
Lawrie turned a frightened face to hers but at that moment the door opened and Betsy waved them in.
“I thought you said there were eight of you,” she said blandly, counting rapidly.
Lawrie felt her heart sinking into her house shoes. “There are, I mean, I thought there were.”
“Were there, or weren’t there?”
“Yes,” Miranda cut in, seeing that Lawrie was about to tie herself in knots.
“Well then?” Betsy continued. “Are you telling me that someone is so well hidden you can’t find her?”
“Ye-es,” Lawrie said slowly, and not wholly untruthfully.
Betsy looked at her impatiently. “Who is missing exactly? And before you have any silly ideas about it being sneaking to tell me, I mean to find out if I have to go down to the common room and take a roll call.”
“Nick,” Miranda said frankly. “Oh, don’t be an ass, Lal!” as Lawrie made to protest. “Betsy, we’ve looked everywhere. Anyway, she’d have given up long ago and gone back to the common room. She’s not daft.”
The head girl’s frown deepened, though she could hardly see that anything could have happened to Nicola, more than likely she was still hiding, cornered by a member of staff.
“Nobody’s seen Nicola since you started this silly game of yours then? Emerence, what the dickens are you crying for? I don’t for one moment suppose anything’s happened to her.”
“Pu…please, I think Margot’s missing too,” Emerence gulped.
“Margot?” Betsy demanded. “Was she a part of this?”
“No,” Emerence scrubbed at her eyes with the sleeve of her blazer. “But she wasn’t in the common room and Ros said she went off ages ago and…. I looked in the Splashery and her things are gone.”
“And you didn’t think to mention that before?” Betsy’s tone was cutting. “One of you – Miranda – scoot downstairs and make sure she’s right and see if Nicola’s things are missing too, though why those two might have gone off together I can’t imagine. She looked from Emerence to Lawrie. “If any of you know anything about this, I need to know now.”
“I…I saw her. Nick, I mean,” Lawrie said, looking thoroughly scared. “I caught her, she was hiding in a window alcove in the attic and she said something out loud, about someone being in a ghastly row if she was caught. When she saw me she said to pretend I’d not seen her and ran off.”
“She saw Margot outside and went after her.” Betsy drew the obvious conclusion. “Oh, the silly child! Lawrence, you’d better come with me to the Head. The rest of you go quietly back to your common room and for pity’s sake stay there.”
The snow that Miss Wilmot had been predicting had begun to fall half an hour earlier and by the time that Miranda arrived in the library with the news that not only Margot Maynard and Nicola Marlow were missing but Len Maynard’s outdoor clothes were gone as well it was a veritable blizzard.

 


#402:  Author: JoeyLocation: Cambridge PostPosted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 6:47 pm


Oo, thank you Nicky!

This is one of my favourite drabbles. I love AF and you've really sustained her style, and made her characters and EBD's react to each other realistically.

Right, I'm going home now. I've been here since 8.30 this morning and the phones have finally stopped ringing. That was a lovely note on which to end my working week, so thanks again.

 


#403:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 7:00 pm


Thanks Nicky! Really really glad to see this back Very Happy

 


#404:  Author: Dreaming MarianneLocation: Devon PostPosted: Fri Sep 24, 2004 7:27 pm


Yes, thank you Nicky!

 


#405:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 5:10 pm


PART XXXVII

“Which way now?” Nicola pulled her scarf more tightly about her throat as they slipped out of the garden gate and onto the highway, forcing her voice level. Not for anything would she have Len Maynard know that the silence of the fog gave her the creeps.
Len peered into the greyness to where the lights of Freudesheim were just visible. “Not home, anyway,” she said firmly. “She won’t want to see Mamma. I do wish we might fetch Bruno, he’d be such a help, but we’d be sure to be seen.” Let’s go towards the San to start with, see if there’s any sign of her. How much of a start did she have?”
Nicola shrugged. “Twenty minutes or so? I say, Len, isn’t it quiet.”
Len slipped an arm through hers companionably and Nick, though startled, did not pull away. They did not dare run, since they could see only a few feet in front of them, but they went at a good pace and only stopped for breath when they reached the point where the road was joined by two fairly good paths.
“Think how she’d think,” Len said to herself. “Where would she go? Where would I go? No, that’s no use, she’s not me. I’ve never been able to get into her head when she’s like this. Oh help,” and she sent up a swift prayer for guidance.
“D’you think she’s really running away or just angry?” Nicola asked as they stood there.
Len stared at her. “What d’you mean?”
“Well,” Nicola said calmly, “if it was me and wanting to get away from everyone, I wouldn’t stay on the road. Someone might drive past, one of the doctors say, and find me. But if Lawrie flew off in a temper she’d want to be found and taken back and have everyone say ‘poor old Lawrie’. You know Margot, I don’t.”
“Then the question’s just which path,” and Len looked from left to right. Her triplet was quite capable of attention seeking but this was not that, the eldest was sure. “That just goes to that old hotel under the pines,” with a nod left. “Let’s try right.”
Someone asked the two girls later on why they had not gone for someone in Authority, knowing that one girl lost would be better than three, and all they could say was that they had wanted to save Margot the row. But that was much later and a lot was to happen before then. For the moment they trudged on, finally leaving the trees behind them and coming out into a wide green meadow.
“It’s clearing,” Len said with relief, realising that she could see, just, the wooden fence that crossed the field a little way ahead. “I say, is that snow?”
Nick held a hand out and nodded. “Miss Wilmot was right. I say, Len, do you know where we are?”
“I think so,” Len said cautiously. “We’re not far from the edge of the shelf but if we go left there’s an old barn, the sort of place she might have made for. I only hope this snow doesn’t get any worse,” with a glance at the sky. She had been at the Gornetz Platz long enough to know what those yellow clouds meant.
Nicola followed her, wondering if they had been foolish to come, wondering also how they expected to find one missing girl, even within the confines of the Platz. The snow began to fall more and more thickly and ten minutes later, when Len tripped on a log, there was already a white blanket to cushion her fall.
“Help me up,” she said breathlessly. “Oh, bother this weather! Which way were we heading,” and she lost her head completely and did the worst thing she could have, which was to turn in a complete circle trying to trace their tracks. Nicola, who had a useful bump of locality generally, gestured in the direction she had been facing.
“I’ve not moved, I don’t think. So that way.”
Len, shivering not so much with cold as with the sudden realisation of their predicament, nodded and set off, no longer thinking of anything but finding the barn where they could wait out the storm. Nicola, no less scared, and startled by the suddenness of the change in weather, trudged behind her. Thankfully, as she said later, they had not linked arms again, otherwise there might have been a double tragedy. As it was she was in time to pull up short when the ground seemed to give way and Len, with a shriek that Nicola heard for months afterwards, plunged out of sight.

 


#406:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 5:25 pm


Another cliff??! Honestly, you lot. Thanks very much for more though!

Hope Len is ok! am hoping is merely a snow drift... Confused

 


#407:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 5:35 pm


Laura wrote:
am hoping is merely a snow drift... Confused


Just an idle question, if one triplet falls over the edge of the Platz does that make the other two twins? Twisted Evil

 


#408:  Author: EmilyLocation: Land of White Coats and Stethoscopes. PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 7:37 pm


Well that would depend on whether she survived or not, wouldn't it Nicky??? You wouldn't kill Len, surely?

*taking comfort in the fact that 'Authority' has to ask TWO girls at some point why they went...unless Len is present in a ghostly form*

Wonderful new bit, thank you!

 


#409:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:10 pm


*gives Nicky a LOOK*


Stop being a tease and post more! PLease????

 


#410:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 8:16 pm


nickyj wrote:
Laura wrote:
am hoping is merely a snow drift... Confused


Just an idle question, if one triplet falls over the edge of the Platz does that make the other two twins? Twisted Evil


No it does not! Because the other triplet survives!! Evil or Very Mad

Pleease can we have some more?!

Edited to compensate for the fact that I cannot type!

 


#411:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 9:08 pm


Vikki wrote:
*gives Nicky a LOOK*


Stop being a tease and post more! PLease????


Shrivelling under Vikki's Miss Annersley like glare and meekly doing as she is told:

“Len!” Nicola might have been scared but she was not one to lose her head in a crisis. With a memory of something she had read somewhere she dropped onto her front and wriggled across the half-inch deep snow until she reached the spot where Len had disappeared. Peering down through the still falling snow she saw with horror that she lay on the edge of the shelf with an almost sheer drop to the valley below.

 


#412:  Author: EmilyLocation: Land of White Coats and Stethoscopes. PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 9:30 pm


*squeak!*

 


#413:  Author: ChelseaLocation: Your Imagination PostPosted: Sat Sep 25, 2004 9:45 pm


GET BACK HERE AND RESCUE LEN!!

I know she gets rescued 'cause she is around to be questioned about going after Margot without telling an adult

 


#414:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 11:35 am


However, then she noticed that Len was in fact holding onto a small but very strong shrub a mere foot down from where Nick was...

Nicky please come back and rescue len!!

 


#415:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 5:39 pm


*wibbles*


That was MEAN!!!!!!

 


#416:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 5:52 pm


Oh, let her fall. Give one of the other tris a chance to shine for a change!

Nice cliff Nicki.

 


#417:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 6:05 pm


Sorry, couldn't resist! Won't leave you in suspense any longer (much!)

PART XXXVIX

For a moment Nicola’s world swam before her eyes. When it steadied and she forced herself to look again, however, she realised that what she had taken for the tops of the clouds only a couple of feet below was actually freshly fallen snow. As she watched a crimson glove appeared and a moment later Len herself surfaced, white faced and coughing. Nicola reached down to her and it was a matter of moments before Len was safely off of the ledge and back on firm ground. It was only then that the horror of what could have been sank in for Nick and, turning away, she was suddenly and violently sick.
Len crouched beside her, too shaken to say anything, and presently Nick recovered herself and looked up.
“M’sorry. Only….”
“I know,” Len took her hand and helped her to her feet. “When I went over, I thought for a moment that was it,” her voice trailed off.
“Are you hurt anywhere?” Nicola changed the subject, knowing instinctively that neither of them should dwell on what might have happened. “Because if not we should get going. You’re soaked through and it’s cold standing around. Funny, it almost looks like it’s getting dark.”
Len pulled back the edge of her glove so that she could see her watch. “It is getting dark. It’s almost five o’clock.”
“Jesus!” Nick looked at her in horror. “We’ve been gone more than two hours. And we still don’t have an earthly where we are, do we?”
Too shaken to raise an eyebrow at her friend’s language, Len looked around her. “Actually, I think I do,” she said. “There’s only one part I know of where there’s a ledge like that,” with a gesture towards where she had fallen. “We’re right behind that new hotel, only about half a mile from the San. If we walk straight away from the edge we’ll be on the road in ten minutes.”
“What about Margot?” Nick asked, recalling the purpose of the expedition. “And that barn you were talking about?”
“We’ve been gone almost three hours,” Len said sensibly. “They’ll know she’s missing, and us for that matter. Half the Platz is probably out hunting for us. The best thing we can do is to get to the nearest inhabited place. The hotel will ring up the school. They’ll be frantic. And Mamma…” Her voice trailed off as she thought of what Joey must be going through, with two daughters missing. And they had never really made up their quarrel. Len vowed that the moment she saw her mother again she would put that right.”
Nicola read the look on her face. “I say, Len. I’m sorry.”
“What for? You mean that old stuff? It’s over, isn’t it – we’re friends now?”
“Yes, but I’m sorry anyway.” Nick would not say any more but she linked her arm through her friend’s and they set off at a good pace, the exercise beginning to warm them.

“Liebe Gott!” Frau Hannerl, the wife of the new hotel keeper, threw up her hands as she saw the two figures on her doorstep. “To be out on a night like this. You are from the school, nicht wahr?”
Nicola nodded, feeling like crying now that it was all over.
“My husband is out searching for you,” the woman scolded gently. “Come in, my children, and take off your wet clothes. I go to telephone,” and she ushered them into a warm salon and left them there.
When she returned the two girls had cast aside their coats and boots, and Len was making the unpleasant discovery that both stockings and skirt were very damp from her fall in the snow.
“It is well,” Frau Hannerl said in German. “They know that you are safe. The blizzard still rages and it is agreed that you must stay here until it is over.”
“My sister,” Len said urgently. “We were looking for her. Is there any news of her?”
The woman’s face grew grave. “Not as yet. But the men continue to search. They have powerful flashlights and they will look all night if they must.”
Nick threw a steadying arm around her friend. “Frau Hannerl, Len’s clothes are wet. She had a fall, to a ledge below the alp” she said in halting German, with a wave in the direction of the valley.
The woman threw her hands up with an exclamation. “Das Madchen was lucky that she fell there, not to go over the edge to the valley below. I will bring some clothes and she must change” and she bustled away.
“They’ll find her, Len,” Nicola said shakily.

 


#418:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 6:12 pm


How sensible of Len. Thanks for rescuing us from that cliff, but what about Margot?

 


#419:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 7:06 pm


Was a genius cliff though Nicky! (in a literal sense too... Rolling Eyes )

But...Margot needs rescuing too!

 


#420:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sun Sep 26, 2004 8:24 pm


*wibbles quietly*

*wonders where Margot is*

 


#421:  Author: RobinLocation: London, England PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 9:28 am


wow, loads of updates, thanks Nicky.
Is it being greedy to ask for more?

 


#422:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 11:47 am


She's survived all sorts of things, so she'll survive this.

 


#423:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 1:06 pm


Glan Len and Nicola are safe. It would be nice to know what has happened to Margot? Will it be another near death experince?

 


#424:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 9:14 pm


Susan wrote:
It would be nice to know what has happened to Margot? Will it be another near death experince?


She's lost in the snow and my plotbunny is sulking because I spent the weekend reading other people's drabbles instead of listening to her, so now she won't tell me where Margot is!
Nicky

 


#425:  Author: PatLocation: Doncaster PostPosted: Mon Sep 27, 2004 9:51 pm


Excuses, excuses Nicky. You are just procrastinating and you know it!! Bomb Bomb

 


#426:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 12:49 am


Awwwwwwww!!!!
Poor Plot Bunny Crying

 


#427:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 2:20 pm


Pat wrote:
Excuses, excuses Nicky. You are just procrastinating and you know it!! Bomb Bomb


If you blow me up with those bombs there'll be no more story! Not friendly!

Plotbunny thanks Vikki for her sympathy and is considering telling Nicky where Margot is

In the meantime, Nicky avenges Pat's harsh words by staying on the edge of the cliff Laughing

PART XXXX

“Len’s safe and well, Joey.” Hilda Annersley put down the phone and turned to where the school’s first pupil sat with her arm tightly around her precious remaining triplet. She nodded a message to Nell Wilson, who slipped into the little ante-room where Betsy Lucy was sitting with Ann and Lawrie, to tell them that their sister too had been found.
Joey raised a white face to hers. “Hilda, thank God! Where is she?”
“At the new hotel up by the San,” Hilda told her. “. I don’t know the story; they just appeared exhausted on the doorstep five minutes ago.”
“Nick’s with her?” Con looked up, her dark eyes red and swollen.
“I hope so, if only so I can get my hands on her!” Joey said ferociously. “Len would never have gone off like that by herself.”
“They went after Margot, Joey.” It hurt Hilda to be stern at this moment but she would not pass over injustice. “As far as we gather, Nicola saw her go and wanted to go after her.”
Joey blushed, having the grace to admit that she was wrong in this case and knowing that some, at least, of the blame for the youngest triplet’s unhappiness must lie at her door. “Are they coming back here?”
Hilda shook her head. “Not until the storm is over. Don’t worry about them, Jo. Frau Hannerl is a kind old soul and she’ll take care of them.”
Joey released Con and got up to pace the study. “Where’s Margot, Hilda? I hoped at least they were together somewhere. To think of her all alone in this weather…” Her voice broke.
“Drink this, Joey.” Nell Wilson, coming back into the room, fetched a glass from the sideboard and Joey swallowed a mouthful with a disgusted face.
“Mrs Maynard?”
Joey turned to see that the Marlows had followed Nell into the study. She had only seen Ann properly once, on the day of that eventful interview with Rowan, but there was no mistaking who she was.
“It’s Ann, isn’t it?” She forced herself to remember what a ghastly time these two must have had these past few hours and her generous nature knew that this was no time to hold a grudge against the family. “It’s good news, isn’t it.”
Ann nodded, her arm tight around Lawrie. “For both of us.” She coloured shyly but spoke staunchly. “I know things haven’t been good between our families, Mrs Maynard. But I’ll carry on praying that Margot is found safely and quickly.”
Joey felt a tightness in her throat, mentally contrasting Ann’s words with her own reaction against Nicola of a few minutes ago. She bent and kissed the fair head. “Thank you, my dear.”
“Ann, I suggest you take Lawrie up to her dormitory and see her into bed,” Miss Annersley said quietly. “She’s exhausted, and so must you be. Matron will bring some supper up for her.”
“You’ll tell us as soon as there’s any news?” Ann begged.
“I promise,” her headmistress told her.
Ann led her sister out of the room and the other four went back to staring from the telephone to the window, and the blizzard that raged ever on on the other side of the glass.

 


#428:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 2:34 pm


Yay just come back from coffee to find a whole new bit. Thank you Nicky.

How very Ann-like, it's nice to see her put Jo to shame though.

Now all we need is to find out where Margot is! Please. Pale = with worry.

 


#429:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 3:18 pm


Thank you, Nicky.

 


#430:  Author: NellLocation: London, England PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 3:38 pm


Nicky, thank you for those lovely long updates...and well done for learning how to use cliffs so effectively! Hope the small sparkling purple leaf tells you where Margot is soon....

 


#431:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 4:35 pm


Thanks for the update!

Mexican Wave - but we want more! Very Happy loving the new smileys!

 


#432:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 6:51 pm


Not sure where this part came from or if it works Confused

PART XXXXI

“They will find her, Len,” Nicola repeated. Frau Hannerl had brought soup and coffee and insisted that Len exchange her clothes for a far-too-big dressing gown that was at least dry, then gone away and left the two girls sitting by the stove.
“I want to be out doing something,” Len said restlessly.
“Well nobody’s going to let us do that again, are they,” Nicola argued. “I know it’s rotten but we can’t do anything but wait.”
“And pray,” Len said quietly. “We can do that anyway.”
There was silence for a moment. Len, wondering if Nick had taken it that they should do it there and then, flashed a glance at her, only to find her friend looking back at her.
“I suppose it can’t hurt,” Nicola shrugged.
Len turned a puzzled look on her friend. “You do believe in Him, don’t you, Nick?” she asked shyly.
“God? S’pose so. Sort of. I mean, sometimes I quite definitely do but others not. I’ve never known how Ann can be so sure the whole time. Though I s’pose it’s easier for you lot, isn’t it?”
Len stared at her. “What on earth do you mean? Being Catholic rather than CofE?”
“Well, yes.” Nicola wasn’t sure that her argument made such sense when she said it out loud.
Len was as shy about talking about this kind of thing as most girls of her age but she felt dimly that her belief was under attack and, moreover, was curious as to what Nicola meant. “I’ve never thought it could matter that much,” she said slowly. “I mean, I know some people think it does, but we all believe in the same thing basically, don’t we?”
Nicola struggled to explain herself. “But doesn’t all the… the ceremony and ritual make it easier? Patrick took me to Mass once and seemed to me all that stuff might make it easier to believe there was something there. More to get hold of.”
Len looked thoughtful. “I suppose it might seem that way but I don’t see that it does,” she said finally. Glad of an excuse to change an uncomfortable subject she latched onto what her friend had told her about going to Mass.
“Who’s Patrick?”
Nicola flushed, not wanting to talk about him, not knowing why she’d mentioned him. She hadn’t meant to, any more than she’d meant to think about him sometimes since she’d been here. “Traitor” she reminded herself firmly. “Someone at home,” was all she said out loud. “Lives next door. Friend of Gin’s.” She kicked the oak settle on which they sat as she said it, wincing as her toes struck the solid wood.
“Boyfriend, do you mean?” Len asked. Until a term or so ago neither she nor her contemporaries would have thought of such a thing but the advent of Joan Baker had brought boys into their frame of reference as more than just brothers or friends.
Nick shrugged. “Until she got a crush on Roger or Reg or whatever that young doctor at the San is called,” she said cruelly. Now that Gin was well on the way to recovery she had been surprised to find how bitter she still felt about the whole Patrick affair.
She was unprepared for her friend’s reaction. Worry and shock had made Len’s face pale to begin with but if anything it paled further.
“Reg?” Len had no explanation for the ghastly sinking feeling in her stomach.
“You know him?” Nicola asked interestedly.
“The San was near us in England,” Len said distantly. “I’ve known most of them since I was tiny.”
Her manner seemed to forbid further discussion of the subject and Nicola, stretching her stockinged feet to the stove, concentrated on her coffee for the next few minutes.
It was a long evening for the two girls. Len’s mood thawed when another twenty minutes brought still no news of Margot; she reached out and took Nicola’s hand, and Nick, undemonstrative though she was, held it tightly in the hope of giving some comfort. When Frau Hannerl came in an hour later to suggest more coffee she found them fast asleep, worn out with worry and their own adventure.

 


#433:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 6:54 pm


Oooh!!!!

Is the green eyed monster biting Len??/

 


#434:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 7:06 pm


Oooh! Could this drabble change the course of the chalet future for Len and Reg??!

(thanks Nicky, too! And yep, it definately works!)

 


#435:  Author: LesleyLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 7:29 pm


Excellent couple of posts.Love that Ann shamed Joey, like the discussion about religion

 


#436:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Tue Sep 28, 2004 8:01 pm


Brilliant updates. I can't single out any particular scene coz I love all of it.
I hope that Margot is safe though (if you must do something nasty to a triplet, do it to Len instead.)

 


#437:  Author: Miss DiLocation: Newcastle, NSW PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 3:56 am


Ellie wrote:

I hope that Margot is safe though (if you must do something nasty to a triplet, do it to Len instead.)



Nah do it to Len. Have Ginty nick Reg. They could even elope - they deserve each other. Then Nick can have Patrick back (if she wants him)

DREGS UNITE!

 


#438:  Author: SusanLocation: Carlisle PostPosted: Wed Sep 29, 2004 12:59 pm


Nice update NIcky. Love the discussion between Len and Nicola.

 


#439:  Author: AbiLocation: Alton, Hants PostPosted: Fri Oct 01, 2004 3:06 pm


Wow, Nicky, I haven't read this in the last month or two - so glad to have caught up!

Can't you save Margot and let it all end happily? Please? Shocked

 


#440:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Oct 01, 2004 4:04 pm


No, let's have an unhappy one.

 


#441:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Fri Oct 01, 2004 7:54 pm


Jennie wrote:
No, let's have an unhappy one.



*gags Jennie quickly!* Wink

 


#442:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 12:59 pm


Uses light-sabre to cut the gag, then chases Vikki with it.

 


#443:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 4:17 pm


*whips out own light sabre, and does battle with Jennie!!!!*

Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars



(how often do you get such a perfect excuse to use that smiley???)

 


#444:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 4:22 pm


And what of Margot, meanwhile? She had only gone a short way along the Platz when she saw a dark, angular shadow ahead and found herself face to face with Darth Vader. He whisked out his light sabre and was about to smite her when a huge hairy arm dragged her to safety and she found herself perched on the shoulders of Chewbacca, whom she mistook for old Herr Anserl on account of his hairiness

 


#445:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 4:29 pm


*chokes*

Nice one Nicky!!!
But may we see what REALLY happened to Margot now please?

Mexican Wave

 


#446:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 4:29 pm


Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest Protest to nickyj

and Cliff
to Vikki.

 


#447:  Author: nickyjLocation: Essex, England PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 4:39 pm


Vikki wrote:

But may we see what REALLY happened to Margot now please?


Oh, okay then. At least, sort of.....
-----------------------

PART XXXXII

And what of Margot all this time? If Joey or Len had been able to see her they would hardly have been comforted. When she had crept out into the fog three hours or more ago it had been with the one aim of getting as far from the school as she possibly could. She would not – could not – be there to see Emmy coming back giggling with that dreadful Lawrie Marlow. Unlike Len and Nicola were to do twenty minutes later, she had not even paused at the junction of the road. Home was possibly the one place that she would cared to have been at less than school at the moment. Len or Con would probably have gone home, secure in the knowledge that however angry their mother had been with them, she would be there for them in the crisis, but Margot was different. She supposed, when she thought about it, that as a little girl she had trusted her parents absolutely, but that little girl had, in her own mind, been betrayed violently when she had been wrenched from the arms of her sisters and sent to a new life with her Auntie Madge thousands of miles away, across the ocean. Even now Margot recalled the gut-wrenching loneliness of those first weeks and months in Canada. She thought of them now as, half blinded by tears, she turned away from home, half walking, half running.
Her exhausted mind barely registered the fog swirling about her. Weeks of near isolation, however self-induced it might have been, and tearing herself apart inside had left its toll and by now she was convinced that nobody cared for her. It was self pity, of course, but she had felt so often that her parents and teachers despaired of her that it was not that big a step to feeling that they might be better off without her.
Perhaps, she thought as she stumbled along, she would be like Hans Andersen’s Little Match Girl and be found dead on a street corner in the morning. That appealed to her sense of the dramatic and she was too far gone to see the absurdity of it. Still, she thought, it was hardly cold enough, and anyway people only died as conveniently as that in books.
She tripped and fell at one point, and if she had known that Len and Nicola were only a few hundred yards behind her, in all probability she would have laid there until they found her and much worry would have been spared. As it was, she dragged herself to her feet and trudged on, slower now.
The sudden chill in the air presently as the fog dispersed and the snow began to fall brought her partly to her senses, and to a realisation that she had no idea where she was. It felt as though she had been walking for hours and, as Nicola had suggested, she had left the road some time ago, scared by approaching headlights, although, unlike her pursuers, an unconscious sense of self-preservation – what Margot would call her Guardian Angel – had led her to plunge into the woods that came down from the steep slope leading up to the Rosleinalp. Suddenly aware of her surroundings and the thickening blizzard, she stood still and searched for a landmark, anything that might lead her in the direction of the road. Once there she could at least be sure that if she kept walking she would come to the San; she couldn’t be far away she reasoned. And she was right in that; a hundred yards further on she would have found herself at the railing surrounding the hotel that served the families and friends of the San patients, but the snow was falling too heavily for her to make out anything except a low wooden structure. She made for it unhesitantly, for she had been in Switzerland for long enough to know the dangers of the weather, and this at least promised some sort of shelter. It turned out to be only a lean-to made for storing newly chopped wood in the summer months, but the roof was intact. Crying now, from a mixture of reaction and fear, she crept into the farthest corner and sank to the floor, pulling her coat more tightly around her. Gradually weariness overtook her and she sank gently into a deep sleep.

 


#448:  Author: JennieLocation: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 4:43 pm


And that can be dangerous in the snow!

Thank you, Nicky.

 


#449:  Author: karryLocation: somewhere cold and miserable! :( PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 6:47 pm


ooooH Crying wibbles! Poor Margot! it must have been aweful being dragged away from the sisters that had been so much a part of her! I hope someone finds her soon! Pale

 


#450:  Author: VikkiLocation: Sitting on an iceberg, freezing to death!!! PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 6:50 pm


Thank you Nicky, but please let someone find her soon!!

 


#451:  Author: Carolyn PLocation: Lancaster, England PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 8:12 pm


Crying Crying Crying

Very worried about Margot.

Crying Crying Crying

 


#452:  Author: EmilyLocation: Land of White Coats and Stethoscopes. PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 8:29 pm


(((((Margot))))) I suppose "it's for your health" doesn't mean much to a nine (?) year old when being sent thousands of miles away from your family.

 


#453:  Author: catherineLocation: York PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 9:15 pm


Poor Margot! I hope she's found quickly and that people are understanding and manage to help her.

 


#454:  Author: Helen PLocation: Cheshire PostPosted: Sat Oct 02, 2004 9:45 pm


Eeeek!

Pale Poor Margot - please let someone find her quickly!

 


#455:  Author: LauraLocation: London (ish) PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 9:42 am


Oh no! Shocked More please Nicky.

 


#456:  Author: LesleyLocation: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 12:45 pm


Oh dear,doesn'tlook too good for Margot at the moment. Let's hope, if she is found in time, that her mother and everyone else, will try to find out about her resentment, otherwise it'll continue to colour her life. Crying or Very sad

 


#457:  Author: EllieLocation: Lincolnshire PostPosted: Sun Oct 03, 2004 1:45 pm


Lesley wrote:
Let's hope, if she is found in time,


What do you mean 'if'? I think 'when' would be a better choice of word.
(Hopefully)

 




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