01 The School at the Chalet (17 page)

‘I wonder your people weren’t afraid you would be stolen!’ said her headmistress.

‘Oh, no! Nothing would have been more unlikely. Besides, the gipsies all knew us, and my father was always very good to them.’

‘I see. Well, I don’t know what you two people are going to do, but I’m going to write letters. Be ready in about three-quarters of an hour, if you want to come.’

And Madge turned to her desk, while the other two, taking the hint, vanished to their own rooms till it was time to walk to the Kron Prinz Karl to hear the Tzigane music.

Left to herself, Madge sat down and scribbled a long letter to Dick, telling him the full story of the Carricks and the decision she had made about Juliet. The hour was just ended as she signed it, so she got up and went out to the meadow to summon her girls.

They had gone, protesting that they couldn’t settle down to anything; therefore, great was her amusement to find that, without exception, they were fast asleep, their books and jigsaw puzzles lying unheeded beside them, flapping her hands, she cried, ‘Wake up, sleepy heads! Don’t you want to come to hear the Tzigane music?’

They all sprang up, and surrounded her at once.

‘Are we going now?’

‘Oh, topping!’

‘Shall we run and change?’

‘Well, you can’t go in your school-frocks,’ returned their headmistress, ‘so you had better hurry up and change into your white ones again.’

They collected their possessions in great haste, and tore off to get into the white frocks they had discarded before lying down. Presently they were all ready, and set off along the lake-shore road, very fresh and cool with their big hats. Marie followed them behind, for Miss Bettany had decided that they should have their tea at the Kron Prinz Karl, so had given her a holiday.

Good Herr Braun, the proprietor of the hotel, met them with a beaming face, and escorted them to three of the tables with their huge scarlet umbrellas nearest the Tzigane. How they all enjoyed that afternoon-even Juliet, and Simone, who was suffering from pangs of jealousy because Joey and Grizel had foregathered at another table! Many of their friends were there-Herr Marani, who brought over Frau von Eschenau for a chat with Madge; the Mensches, who had a table nearby; Monsieur and Madame Mercier with Suzanne and Yvette; and many others.

As Grizel said afterwards, it was so unlike England. There were the gaily dressed Tzigane playing as though they were music-possessed; the merry cosmopolitan crowd seated at the umbrella-shaded tables; the vivid blue lake-waters before them; and, surrounding all, the great mountains, beautiful in the bright July sunshine.

They stayed a couple of hours, and then wandered back for their quiet talk, which was never omitted.

As they were going to bed that night, Grizel spoke what was in the minds of all of them.

‘I think this has been a beautiful Sunday,’ she said. ‘If things were always like this it wouldn’t be half so hard to keep rules.’

‘I s’pose it wouldn’t really do if things were jolly always,’ said Jo. ‘It’s because they’re unjolly sometimes that we find other things topping, I think. It would be awfully dull if things were always the same.’

‘Yes, but some excitements are horrid, and we could do without them easily,’ replied Grizel.

In which she spoke more truly than she then realised.

Chapter 16.

The Mondscheinspitze.

It might have been expected that, after the delightful Sunday described in the foregoing chapter, things would take a contrary turn, and that there would be direful happenings. But for once Fate proved kind, and the week progressed quietly, such small events as Suzanne Mercier pouring ink over herself, and Grizel and Joey having what nearly amounted to a stand-up fight over Simone Lecoutier, not counting at all. The morning of the Head’s birthday dawned in a kind of pandemonium, however. Margia Stevens had, the night before, hit on the original idea of serenading Miss Bettany under her window. The idea appealed greatly to them all, and, after a good deal of argument and squabbling, they had decided on ‘ Who is Sylvia?’

‘Of course, the name is wrong,’ said Margia, ‘but she’ll know who it’s meant for.’

‘I s’pose her second name isn’t “Sylvia,” is it, Joey?’ asked Grizel.

‘Well, if “Sylvia” began with an “H”- which it doesn’t!-it might be,’ returned Joey sarcastically. She had had words over the song with Grizel, since her fancy had been ‘Golden Slumbers’-a suggestion on which Grizel poured scorn, and she was feeling ruffled.

‘If you’re still feeling mad about that idiotic old “Golden Slumbers,” I’d say so!’ advised Grizel, smarting under the snub. ‘If we intended serenading her at midnight it would be all right, but who wants golden slumbers to kiss their eyes at half-past six in the morning when they’ve got to get up in half an hour? It’s simply stupid!’

‘Stupid yourself!’ retorted Joey, and marched off, followed by Simone, the ever-faithful. However, the quarrel was made up before bedtime, and six o’clock the next morning saw the long dormitory in the throes of getting up. From behind the yellow curtain which divided off the cubicles came subdued giggles and whispered remarks.

‘Joey, is it fine? What’s it like over the mountains?’

‘Glorious,’ returned Joey, who had stripped her bed and was now sitting on it, waiting for her turn to go to the bathroom. ‘ It’s going to be a ripping day.’

‘Be quiet!’ hissed Juliet. ‘You’ll waken Miss Maynard if you shriek so.’

‘She’s prob’ly awake already,’ returned Joey, not a whit disturbed. ‘Thank goodness! Here’s Grizel at last!

I thought you’d drowned yourself!’

‘Rot! I’ve only been six minutes!’ protested Grizel. ‘Buck up yourself! Margia and Simone have to come after you.’

‘What about my bath? ‘ asked a little voice from the other corner of the room where Amy Stevens slept.

It’s all cold still, isn’t it?’

‘Oh, bother! I quite forgot you hadn’t to have cold baths!’ Grizel paused in the act of putting on one of her stockings. ‘Juliet, what shall we do?’

‘Marie will be up. Shall I go down and ask her for a kettleful of hot water? I’m just ready,’ suggested Juliet.

‘Will you? That’d be topping of you. Yes, do go!’ urged Grizel. ‘Hullo, Joey, old thing! You can’t have had much of a bath! You haven’t been a minute!’

‘Have, though! Tootle on, Margia! You’re next, aren’t you?’

Margia and Juliet vanished together, and presently Juliet came back with a big jug of warm water supplied by good-natured Marie.

‘Come along, Amy,’ she said cheerfully. ‘I’ll tub you this morning. We can’t wait till Mademoiselle comes.’

‘Oh, thank you, Juliet,’ replied Amy shyly; while Grizel stopped in the act of brushing out her curly mop to gape open-mouthed at her curtains. When had Juliet ever offered to help anyone like that before?

Amy herself was very startled. She had never liked Juliet, but was too shy to refuse the older girl’s help, so submitted in silence to being bathed with much vigour and goodwill, if with some clumsiness. Juliet’s whole-hearted rubbing with the towel brought an involuntary ‘Ow!’ from her, but when the Senior, conscience-stricken, asked, ‘Did I hurt you?’ she replied hastily, ‘No, oh, no, Juliet! And it’s very kind of you to bath me. Thank you so much.’

‘Call me if you want anything tied or buttoned,’ said Juliet, as she returned to her own cubicle. ‘Margia will have to dress herself, and I’m practically ready, so I can help you easily.’

Grizel restrained an exclamation of surprise in time. She stripped her bed in an awestruck silence which lasted until they were all ready to leave the room. Then Joey roused her. ‘Aren’t you feeling well?’ she demanded bluntly.

‘Yes, quite well! Why?’ queried Grizel somewhat incautiously.

‘You’re so silent! You’ve scarcely spoken at all!’ grinned Jo. ‘I thought something must be the matter!’

‘So it is, Joey! Juliet did practically everything for Amy! Did you ever?’

‘Well, that’s nothing to be wondered at!’ returned Joey smartly. ‘She’s the oldest of us, and someone had to help Amy or she’d never have been ready! You know what a perfect baby she is.’

‘Oh, yes, of course!’ said Grizel uncertainly. ‘I expect you’re right, Joey!’

‘Course I am! Now come on, and don’t stand pow-wowing any more!’

They all slipped down the stairs and out into the glorious sunlight, collecting in a gay little group under Miss Bettany’s wide-open windows.

‘Let’s start with “Good King Wenceslas,” ‘ giggled Joey.

‘Yes; I feel rather like Christmas carols too,’ agreed Grizel.

‘Stop ragging, you two! We’re waiting for you! This is the note.’ And Margia sang ‘Loo!’ in a very true little treble. ‘Now! One, two!’

They all started off, and Madge, who had been sleeping the sleep of the justly weary, was roused by the notes of ‘Who is Sylvia?’ sung
fortissimo
by the whole band.

She quickly guessed the meaning of the serenade, and sat up in bed with a chuckle. As they finished, she got into her kimono, and ran across to the window.

‘Hullo, everybody!’ she called. ‘What a jolly awakening!’

‘It’s to wish you many happy returns, Miss Bettany,’ called up Grizel. ‘It was Margia’s idea, really. Did you like it?’

‘Yes; it was delightful. Thank you all very much! Now I’m going to dress.’ She withdrew her head just as a tap at the door heralded Joey’s advent.

‘Hullo! Many happy returns of your birthday,’ she said. ‘I’ve brought you this.’ She presented her parcel, and Madge opened it with delight.

‘A picture of the Tiern See! Joey! You gem! It’s just what I’ve wanted,’ she cried. ‘You couldn’t have given me anything better!’

‘Glad you like it,’ returned Jo, as she turned her cheek for her sister’s kiss. ‘Herr Marani helped me to choose it last Saturday. I say, can I help you to dress? I’ll strip your bed; shall I?’

She suited the action to the word, and presently Madge sauntered downstairs, ready for the day, in her pale green frock and sensible knitted stockings. Marie was scurrying round getting breakfast ready. She stopped to offer her good wishes together with a bouquet of Alpen roses, which she had gathered the evening before.

‘
Für
Madame,’ she said shyly.

‘Oh, Marie! How good of you! And I love Alpen roses so much!’

Marie nodded and smiled as she replied in her own language, ‘Madame is so good! I hope it will be a pleasant day for Madame’s feast-day.’ Then she went on with her task, while Madge performed her usual little duties. Breakfast was a hilarious meal, followed by a gay rush to put in bedmaking and practice. Nine o’clock brought all the boarders, flower-laden and beaming. Gisela and Bette carried the basket containing the precious china between them, and Maria had another, full of Grossmutter’s delicious cakes.

‘Hurry up! Hurry up!’ exclaimed Joey, dancing with impatience. ‘I’ve got the tray from Marie, and Mademoiselle is keeping Madame talking in the dining-room till we’re ready! Here you are! Now buck up!’

In the big schoolroom they arranged the dainty coffee-service on the big black tray Joey had produced.

Then they formed up in their usual lines, and Amy was sent to ring the bell. She came scampering back, proclaiming in a stage whisper, ‘She’s coming!’

The sound of light, rapid footsteps followed, and then Miss Bettany came in and took her place on the dais.

As she did so, a chorus of birthday greetings in German, French, and English came from the eighteen girls assembled below her. As they spoke, they all raised their bouquets-the day-girls had brought flowers for the boarders-and the beauty of the flowers, the goodwill and affection in the girlish faces before her, brought a little thrill to the young headmistress, and touched her charming face with rather more colour than usual.

Then Gisela and Gertrud came forward, carrying between them the tray with its dainty burden of china.

The Head Girl looked rather flushed and nervous with her responsibilities, but she rose to the occasion bravely, and said in her clear, carrying voice, ‘Madame, be pleased to accept from us all this so small token of our feelings for you on this your feast-day.’

‘Thank you, girls,’ said Madge, a little shyly. ‘It is very good of you indeed, and I cannot tell you how much I appreciate your kindness to me. If anything could have made it a happier birthday for me-the first birthday I have spent in the Tyrol-your thought could.’

Then came the business of presenting the bouquets, and soon the table on the dais was heaped with lilies, roses, marguerites, gentians, single dahlias, Alpen roses, and peonies, until that end of the room was glowing with their colour and beauty. When, finally, little Giovanna Rincini had trotted up with her armful of lilies and dahlias, Gisela called for three cheers for ‘Our dear Madame!’ which were given heartily, and then the serious business of the day was over.

‘In half an hour we shall start,’ said Madge, smiling at them over the great heap of flowers. ‘First, I must place these in water and put them in a cool place. Then we must collect up all our possessions, and then we can set off! Joey, please go and fetch me some big bowls; and Grizel and Juliet, I want some water. Take them into the dining-room; that is the coolest place, I think. Miss Maynard, if you will look after the younger girls, Mademoiselle will see to the food, and the Prefects will help me to arrange the flowers.’

They all flew off to do her bidding, and by ten o’clock a long string of girls was to be seen setting off up the path which led to the Lauterbach Valley, through which they would have to walk in order to reach the mountain-path that led up the Mondscheinspitze. The visitors whom they met looked at them with interest.

All had heard the story of the English school which was prospering so finely in the Châlet at the lake-side.

The fresh, dainty uniform, so different from the uniform of most foreign schools, attracted notice too, and so did the happy faces of the whole party.

As long as they kept to the beaten track- that is, until they reached the white wooden railings that fenced off Briesau from the Lauterbach Valley-they walked in ‘croc,’ but as soon as the gate had swung behind them, they broke file, and wandered happily along in little groups, chattering gaily among themselves.