01 The School at the Chalet (12 page)

‘It would be splendid for the school if they did come,’ said Anita Rincini. ‘ I have heard Papa talk of Herr von Eschenau They are very well born.’

‘What a silly reason!’ said Grizel crushingly. ‘The real question is, Will they be all right in school? Are they good at games, for instance?’

‘They will not know cricket,’ laughed Sophie Hamel, coming to the rescue, for Anita was too much squashed by Grizel’s remark to say anything. ‘You will have to teach them that, Grizel. Two more, perhaps, for your team.’ For Grizel, who was keen on cricket, and had been a shining light of the Junior Eleven at her last school, had been appointed cricket captain, and was proving a very capable coach. Perhaps one reason for her success was that the other girls were all so keen on being an ‘English’ school, that they took her criticisms and sarcasms in good part, and really tried to learn the game. As for the Juniors, they spent most of their free time in fielding practice. The games mistress at the High had been very insistent on the necessity for smart fielding, and Grizel, quite a good, steady bat, had nevertheless excelled in bowling, which naturally made her more determined to have good fielding than if it had been the other way round.

They had tennis, too, for most of the girls played it quite well, and Gisela Marani and Gertrud Steinbrücke were exceptionally good. The courts were not all that could be desired, since they had, until two months ago, been ordinary meadow-land. But Herr Braun of the Kron Prinz Karl had lent them his roller, and even sent one of his men over at odd times, first to cut the grass, and then to roll it, and, as Miss Bettany had remarked a day or so previously, it really would be quite good in another year’s time. However, there could be no doubt about it, cricket was the more popular game.

Now, in answer to Sophie’s remark, Grizel spoke quite graciously.

‘We sha’n't be playing cricket next term. I don’t quite know what we shall play; do you, Joey?’

‘Not an earthly!’ returned Joey promptly. ‘ I should think it’ll be hockey, though. My sister was awfully good at it when she was at school. But isn’t there heaps of snow here in the winter?’

‘Oh, yes,’ said Anita readily. ‘The lake is frozen, too, and there is much skating.’

‘Girls! Why are you talking?’ said Gertrud’s voice at that moment. ‘You ought to be working! Sit down, please!’

They went to their seats, while Gertrud, who had come to take preparation, arranged her books to her liking on the mistress’s table. Then there was silence while they got on with their preparation in the cool, quiet room.

As soon as the bell for tea went, Joey literally pitched her books into her locker, and fled along the passage to find Gisela. She wanted to know what Madge had said about the birthday-party. However, she had to possess her soul in patience, for the Head Girl was in the Prefects’ room.

Luckily, those great people had decided to make all arrangements as soon as possible, and when their own tea, which they were allowed to have by themselves, was over, they came down to the Speisesaal, where the others were, and Gisela, blushing furiously, murmured a request to Miss Maynard, who was taking tea. Miss Maynard nodded, and got up at once.

‘Yes, certainly, Gisela! We have just finished, so I will say “Grace” and then leave them to you.’

She said ‘Grace,’ and then went out of the room.

‘Will you all please to sit down,’ said Gisela, when the door was shut.

They all sat down, Joey squeezing her hands together in her excitement; for, of course, this must mean that Madge had agreed, and they would be able to go up the Mondscheinspitze, which she had been longing to do ever since Herr Mensch had told them about it.

Gisela was quite brief. She explained to them about the English custom of celebrating the Head’s birthday, and told them that she and the Prefects had thought it would be a good plan to celebrate Miss Bettany’s.

Miss Bettany had no objection to their having the holiday, and, subject to the weather being fine, had agreed to their making an expedition up the Mondscheinspitze. If it was wet, they were to have a party in the Châlet.

‘Miss Bettany has been very good to us,’ went on Gisela, ‘ and I think you would all like to join to give her some souvenir of the first term of the Châlet School; would you not? So any who wish it may bring contributions to Bette Rincini or myself to-morrow, and on the Saturday we will go into Innsbrück and purchase something. And on Thursday, will those of you who can, please bring flowers, and come early, so that we may also give her a bouquet.’

Then she ceased speaking, and waited. But the burst of enthusiasm which answered her told her that the idea was most popular, and, as Joey said later on, ‘ That was that!’

Chapter 12.

Shopping-And A Meeting

Saturday proved to be a gloriously fine day. The sun shone brilliantly from a blue, cloudless sky, and everything glowed in the mellow warmth. A fresh little breeze rippled the surface of the lake, lying like a piece of lapis-lazuli in the heart of the great limestone mountains that have kept watch over it for centuries.

Joey and Grizel in their short white tennis frocks, with bare brown legs, looked delightfully cool, and the others in their brown gym tunics regarded them enviously.

‘You look so nice and fresh!’ said Margia Stevens. ‘I wish I was going into Innsbrück to-day!’

‘You needn’t,’ laughed Madge from the foot of the table, where she was buttering Amy’s roll for her. ‘It will be stewing hot in Innsbrück to-day. Remember we’re three thousand feet above sea-level as it is, and there’s a delightful breeze from the lake; but there won’t be a breath of air down in the valley. What it will be like by noon I can’t think. Luckily, Gisela and Bette have enough common sense to make you keep quiet then, or I wouldn’t let you go. Finished? Very well. You’d better run along or you’ll miss the train, and make the others miss it too. Your biggest hats, girls; and have you got plenty of money?’

‘Heaps!’ declared Joey. ‘Come on, Grizel, buck up! Good-bye, everybody. Expect us when you see us!’

With this she danced out of the room, followed more slowly by Grizel, and soon they were hurrying along by the lake-path towards Seespitz and the mountain railway, where Gisela and Bette awaited them impatiently, while Fräulein Helfer, the Rincinis’
Mamsell
-or mother’s help, as we should call her in England-was already sitting in the train.

‘Come! You are very late! cried the Head Girl. ‘I had fear that we must await the next train, and Papa says that it will be so hot in Innsbrück later on.’

‘Awfully sorry,’ returned Joey in unruffled tones. ‘I think our clocks must be wrong, because we thought we had oceans of time. Good-morning, Fräulein Helfer. Hope we haven’t given you spasms! Isn’t it a glorious day?’

Fräulein Helfer, who understood about half of this speech, bowed and smiled nervously, as Joey, still chattering, clambered up beside her, followed by the others.

‘Joey, have you yet learned what it is Madame desires?’ inquired Gisela presently, as the train puffed its way importantly down the mountain-side.

Joey shook her black head vigorously. ‘Not an idea. I think it’ll be best if you just get what you think.

Whatever it is, she’ll be sure to like it, because you’ve given it. Hullo! Some people at Wachen! I say, what a crowd!’

‘Summer visitors,’ said Bette. ‘Germans, most of them. That woman in the tartan dress comes from Berlin-I heard her say.’

‘What a size she is! ‘ commented Grizel, as the lady in question lumbered into the car. ‘ I shouldn’t think one seat would do her! Are there many Germans here in the summer, Gisela?’

‘A great number generally,’ replied Gisela. ‘We like the Bavarians-they are polite, and like ourselves in many ways; but the North German people, and especially the Berliners, are not.’

‘Papa says that it was they who caused the war,’ Bette chimed in.

‘Oh, well, everybody knows that!’ said Joey easily. ‘What a tremendous way up we are! What would happen if anything broke, Gisela?’

‘I do not think it could happen,’ replied Gisela seriously. ‘I have never heard of it. But if it did, we should plunge over the side and on to the path to Spärtz, which lies down there.’

‘Wouldn’t it be awful if the lake were suddenly to overflow? It would come down here like a mill-race, wouldn’t it?’

‘Joey! What horrid things you imagine!’ protested Grizel.

Joey laughed, and stopped her imagining to gaze at the lady from Berlin. She certainly was enormous-far fatter than Frau Mensch. She looked uncomfortably hot, too, in a dress of scarlet, green, and yellow tartan, with a little straw hat adorned with scarlet and green bows perched on the top of her head. Her yellow hair was scraped back off her wide face, making it seem larger than ever, and she stared in front of her with eyes like grey glass. Suddenly, as if attracted by Joey’s interested regard, she glared at the small girl.

‘Engländerin!’ she snorted in guttural tones.

‘Rather!’ responded the irrepressible one. ‘And proud of it too!’

‘Joey! Be quiet!’ said Gisela firmly.

‘Why should I? She spoke first!’

‘It makes no matter. She is much, much older than you!’

Gisela had not intended her remarks to be overheard, but her voice was of the clear, carrying order, and the lady from Berlin not only heard, but understood.

‘Schweine!’ she said, and then heaved her bulk round, nearly upsetting her opposite neighbour, an inoffensive little Tyrolean who was going to market in Spärtz.

‘Isn’t she rude?’ observed Joey. ‘All right, Gisela! I’m not going to say anything more. Did you say your father was going to meet us at Innsbrück?’

‘Yes. Fräulein Helfer wishes to visit her parents, and Papa is going to be our escort. He will see us at the station, and will take us to the shops. Then we are going to have lunch at the Mariatheresien Restaurant, and afterwards we shall go for a drive along the Brenner Road, and go back by the last train. There is a
Gasthaus
up the Brenner where we can have coffee, and we will take cakes with us. Do you like it?’

‘Topping! Isn’t it, Grizel?’

‘Rather!’ said Grizel. ‘It’s tophole of Herr Marani to do it!’

‘I am so glad you are pleased!’ said Gisela courteously. ‘Ah, we have arrived at Spärtz, and there is our train to Innsbrück on the other side of the platform! Come! We must hurry!’

But it was easier to say that than to do it. Frau Berlin, as Grizel had christened her, took her own time about getting out, and as she blocked the doorway, the girls had, perforce, to wait until she was well on to the platform.

‘I’ve a good mind to climb out of the window!’ said Grizel as they watched her. ‘Would there be a fuss?’

‘Of course there would!’ returned Bette promptly. ‘We should probably all be detained at the police court.’

‘A case of “more haste, less speed,” in fact,’ grinned Joey. ‘Thank goodness, the old freak’s out at last!

Come on! We shall miss the train if we don t buck up!’

They nearly did miss it, for
Mamsell
was not accustomed to dashing from one tram to another, and had it not been for Grizel and Gisela, who hauled her up the steps and into the carriage with little ceremony, she would have been left on the platform. As it was, she was gasping and scared.

‘But never mind that; we’ve caught the train!’ said Jo practically.

It was full, as it was the Wien-Paris train, so they had to content themselves in the corridor; however, it was only for a short time, and then they reached the outskirts of the capital of the Tyrol, where tall, flat houses faced them, with
plumeaux
hanging out to air from the open windows, while the hot valley air rushed to meet them as they whirled past.

‘Here we are!’ exclaimed Grizel, as the train drew up beside the busy platform. ‘And there’s your father, Gisela. Let’s get out! There’s no horrid fat Frau Berlin to stop us this time! ‘As she spoke, she swung herself down on the platform, bumping into someone who was going heavily past. The someone turned and glared at her. Horrors! It was Frau Berlin herself! What would have happened it is hard to tell, for she had obviously heard and understood Grizel’s indiscreet remarks. Luckily, at that moment Herr Marani came up, and quickly grasping what had occurred, he raised his hat, apologising courteously to the furious lady for the English child’s clumsiness. Frau Berlin was not to be placated, but she rolled onwards, after directing a venomous glare at the impenitent Grizel.

‘You must be more careful, my child,’ said Herr Marani, after he had assisted the others out of the carriage and through the barrier. ‘ You might have hurt that lady very much indeed.’

‘I’m sorry,’ murmured Grizel untruthfully; while Gisela added, ‘Indeed, Papa, she was very rude as we came down, and called us
Schweine
.’

‘Hush, mein Liebling! I do not like to hear such words from thy lips,’ said her father, as they crossed the station square, which lay white and hot in the brilliant sunshine. ‘Let us talk of our errands instead. We need not think of an ill-bred Berliner, but only of what is pleasant to us all.’

‘There is a shop in the Museum Strasse where one can buy beautiful china,’ said Bette, as Gisela seemed to be reduced to silence by her father’s gentle rebuke. ‘We had thought if we gave Madame a little coffee-service. We have collected enough money for a small one. Would she like it, Joey? Or we can get her a necklace of carved ivory beads.’

‘It’s topping of you!’ said Joey cordially. ‘She’d rather have the china, I believe. She doesn’t care a great deal for jewellery.’

‘The coffee-service then, by all means,’ agreed Herr Marani. ‘I must go in here for two little moments to buy some cigars. Then we will go to the china shop and purchase the coffee-service.’

‘How shall we carry it home? ‘ asked Grizel practically, as they waited for Herr Marani outside the shop.

‘Oh, look at those plums! Only six hundred
Krönen
the kilo! I must buy some!’

‘But there is no need,’ objected Bette. ‘We are going to have
Mittagessen
when we have bought the present. If you eat plums now you won’t be hungry for it.’