03 The Princess of the Chalet School (25 page)

He sent them off after that, for he had a good deal to say to Madge, and some arrangements to make with her, and they only saw him to say ‘Good-bye.’

Joey’s opinion of him was delivered to the dormitory at large as they were going to bed that night. ‘He’s a dear,’ she said. Then as an after-thought, ‘It’s a pity he’s got such a scratchy beard, though!’

Joey was wakened quite early by someone pushing her, and crying, ‘Zoë, Zoë! Wake up, Zoë! It is Tante Marguerite’s day! Wake up!’

Jo sat up in bed, her hair all on end, and looked at the Robin in startled fashion. ‘Goodness, Robin!

Whatever time is it?’

The Robin shook her head. ‘I don’t know,’ she said. ‘Come, Zoë! Tante Marguerite said last night that we could go to her first thing this morning!’

Jo burrowed under her pillow and produced her watch. ‘Five o’clock! She’d have something to say if we raked her out as early as this!’

The Robin’s face fell. ‘How long must we wait?’ she asked plaintively. ‘Tante Marguerite
did
say as soon as we woke up!’

‘I daresay! But she never reckoned on our routing her out at five o’clock in the morning,’ returned Joey. ‘It would be awfully mean to wake her now Robin. She’d be as tired as tired at the end of the day if we did. Get into bed beside me, and we’ll wait till half-past six. I honestly don’t think we ought to go to her before.’

The Robin gave a little sigh; but she was a reasonable small person, and she said no more, but climbed in beside Joey and snuggled down. ‘Isn’t it quiet?’ she asked presently.

‘It always is after the term,’ replied Jo.

‘So it is.’ There was a little silence, then the baby spoke again – very drowsily this time – ‘Zoë, will you tell me a story?’

Joey wriggled round into a more comfortable position and began at once. She was able to oblige with stories at any time, and this was one reason why the Robin thought her the most delightful playfellow there ever was. The story was all about a wicked old witch who stole little children and turned them into singing-birds. Then she shut them up in cages and made them sing for her whenever she wanted. Jo had got so far when she was interrupted.

‘Supposing they couldn’t sing?’

‘They could – when she had finished with them,’ replied Jo darkly.

‘I suppose it would be her magic.’ The Robin was very sleepy now. ‘Go on.’

Joey went on, weaving a wonderful story about a little girl who
wouldn’t
be turned into a singing-bird, so the witch said, ‘Very well! Then you shall be a pig!’ and proceeded to carry out her words. She had got that far when she discovered that the Robin was fast asleep; and as she had no idea of wasting a perfectly good story on the air, she stopped, and turned her thoughts to the coming events. School had broken up on the Monday after the garden party, and many of the girls had gone away from the Tiern See until next term. The Mensches, the Maranis, the Rincinis, and the Steinbrückes, however, had all taken chalets for the summer holidays at various points round the lake, so there were still a good number of them left to come to the Head’s wedding. It was to take place in the big schoolroom, which they had decorated the day before, and the English chaplain from Innsbruck was at the Kron Prinz Karl in readiness, for it was to take place early, as the honeymoon was to be spent in Italy, and they didn’t want to break the journey.

When it was all over, and Madge and Dr. Jem had gone away, Joey, Juliet, and the Robin were to go to the Maranis for a week, and then to the Mensches for another week. After that Madge and the doctor would return, and they were all going to Belsornia. The newly married pair would be there only a few days, as Dr.

Jem did not think he could be spared from the Sonnalpe any longer; and while Joey and the Robin spent the rest of their holidays with Elisaveta, Captain Humphries and Miss Denny, sister of the school singing-master, would take Juliet to London and see her safely settled down at the university. Captain Humphries had some business to attend to in Devonshire, and Miss Denny would put in a round of visits, so it all fitted in very well.

Joey was sorry to lose Juliet, who had been like another sister to her during the two years she had been at the school, and it would be a year before they would meet again, as the elder girl was to stay in England until the long vacation. But just now her thoughts were with her sister. From the time she had been brought to Englang, a delicate baby of a few months old, she had never been away from Madge for any length of time. Of course she liked Jem very much, and he would be a topping brother; but all the same Joey felt sad, somehow, to think that she would no longer be the first in her sister’s life. She would be at the Chalet in term-time, and only go to the Sonnalpe for holidays. She wouldn’t see Madge every day, and it would be
different
! Joey had a very conservative nature, and she hated changes. Of course she would still have the Robin! That was one comfort, but it
wouldn’t
be the same!

Here Joey tossed so violently that she nearly landed on to the floor, which startled her and brought her to herself. The Robin was still sleeping, and it had only just chimed six, so she would have to stay where she was for a while yet. Then she decided that she needn’t stay in bed, anyway, so she got up, dressed, and went out on to the balcony.

It was going to be another glorious day, for thought the mountains were swathed in mist the sun was shining brightly, and the Tiern See lay like a sheet of glass, so blue that no words can describe its blueness.

Joey leant against the balcony rail, gazing at it and thinking hard, when she felt a light tough on her shoulder, and turning, saw her sister all ready dressed for
Frühstück
.

‘Hush!’ whispered Miss Bettany. ‘Don’t wake the Robin. Come along with me and we’ll go for a short walk. I couldn’t sleep either, so I thought I’d come along and see if you were awake.’

Joey slipped into the room like a ghost, and followed her sister downstairs and out into the fresh summer air, feeling happier. When they were clear of the garden and walking round the lake, Madge slipped her arm through the younger girl’s. ‘Joey, you aren’t happy,’ she said accusingly.

‘Yes, I am,’ contradicted Jo. ‘It’s only that I hate losing you!’

‘You aren’t losing me,’ said Madge quickly. ‘Do you really think I’d let you?’

Joey turned her head away, blinking back the tears that
would
come, and said with suspicious gruffness, ‘It isn’t exactly
losing
, I know, but it won’t ever be the same again. And if it wasn’t that I like Jem so much, I’d hate him!’ she wound up with a sudden burst of candour.

Madge pressed the arm she was holding. ‘I’m sorry, Joey. I can see your point of view, of course.’

‘I don’t want you not to be married,’ Jo went on. ‘I’m jolly lucky to have had you so long! Only – well, anyway, I hope Jem knows how frightfully lucky he is! That’s all!’

She glared ferociously at her sister, who promptly began to laugh. ‘Joey! Don’t look like that! You look ready to eat poor Jem!’

Joey’s face relaxed, and she joined in her sister’s laughter. ‘It sounds mean and selfish, I know,’ she acknowledged, ‘but it’s how I feel. Only, Madge, I do hope you’ll be awfully happy, and have everything you want. Jem is a dear! I like him awfully. But you’re the only sister I have.’

Madge stooped and kissed the delicate face beside her. ‘Joey, it shall be just the same!
You’re my
only sister, and I couldn’t ever do without you!’

Jo brightened up once more, and flung her arms round her sister in an overpowering hug. ‘You’re a sport!

There never was a sister like you!’

‘Thank you, Joey-Baba. I can say the same. Now I suppose we had better be going back, or the Robin will be waking up and looking for us.’

They turned back to the house, and were met at the top of the stairs by a very reproachful young person.

‘You got up and left me alone, Zoë!’ she said.

‘I fetched her,’ said Madge. ‘Aren’t you going to kiss me, baby?’

The Robin bestowed a hug and a kiss on her, and then consented to trot off and dress herself. When she was ready Joey led her along to Madge’s room, and they had a nice little talk until
Frühstück
, which was at a quarter to eight. The rest of the morning seemed to go very quickly after that, and half-past nine saw Juliet, Joey, and the Robin dressed ready in their white bridesmaids’ frocks, with big bouquets of red roses and carnations which Jem had brought from Innsbruck the previous evening, while the schoolroom was filled with guests who had come to see the marriage.

The civil wedding had taken place the day before, but there hadn’t been any guests there – only the three girls and Dr. Maynard, Miss Maynard’s brother, who had come to join Dr. Jem at the sanatorium. Now everyone who could manage it was there. Suddenly there was a little stir, and the door opened and Madge came up the room leaning on Herr Mensch’s arm. She looked very lovely, Joey thought, in her shimmery white dress and soft veil, carrying red roses, like her bridesmaids. Then the child was aware that the chaplain was speaking and the service had begun. It was over very quickly, and Margaret Daphne Bettany had become Margaret Daphne Russell almost before she had realized it. The register was signed, and then they all went out into the garden, where Marie and Eigen were waiting with a splendid meal ready prepared.

It was a very jolly wedding. There were the speeches and toasts, without which no Tyrolean can ever manage such an affair, and Madge blushed scarlet when Herr Marani alluded to her as ‘Frau Doktor Russell,’ much to the wicked enjoyment of the three bridesmaids. Then they wound up with a dance round the bride and bridegroom, and Madge ran off to change into her going-away suit.

They had forgotten all about trains in their enjoyment, so she had to be scuffled into her clothes, and Joey flung the bridal frock down as if it had been an old rag, she was in such a hurry. Marie found it later, and scolded her well for it, but Joey only laughed. She never worried over Marie’s scoldings, though that young person every now and then administered one.

At length she was ready, and it was time, for Jem was calling up the stairs to know if she would be much longer. ‘The padre has lent us his car,’ he said as she appeared, ‘so come along, you people!’ They were all packed in, and then set off along the side of the lake. As the car was a two-seater, and there were five of them, it was rather a squash. Madge took the Robin on her knee; Joey squeezed in beside them, and Juliet stood on the foot-board, holding on to the side while Jem drove. The chaplain was to walk along after them, and he would drive the children back.

‘It’s very good of you,’ said Madge, as she gave him her hand. ‘Good-bye; and thank you very much.’

‘Good-bye, Mrs. Russell,’ he said with a smile. ‘Good hunting!’

The visitors had gathered round them. There was a chorus of good wishes as the car began to move. Then Herr Marani set the example, throwing a handful of flowers at them, and everybody threw flowers after that, so that they left the Briesau peninsula looking, as Madge said, as if they were bound for Covent Garden.

Joey got a caterpillar down her neck, and nearly drove her sister wild by her frantic wriggles. ‘It’s all very well,’ she complained, when Madge implored her to sit still. ‘The beastly thing’s going farther down. I shall have to undress to get at it!’

Luckily they reached Seespitz just them, so Juliet kindly fished it out for her, and then they all ran for the train. The porter met them with a wide grin. He was another member of the Pfeifen family, and he knew all about what had been happening, of course. He helped them in, and tucked a bunch of alpen-roses into Madge’s hand as he passed her case in. She thanked him, and then turned to say good-bye to her little sister.

‘Good-bye, my Joey. Take care of yourself.’

‘Good-bye, Madge. Have a good time!’

The porter lifted her down, for the train was actually beginning to move. She wriggled herself free of him, and turned to the other two. They at once responded. At the top of their voices they all yelled. ‘
Auf
Wiedersehen
, Frau Doktor Russell!’

The last glimpse they had showed Madge’s face nearly purple with embarrassment, while Jem was laughing so violently that he was holding on to the side of his seat.

‘And that’s the end of that,’ said Joey as they walked to the car to await the chaplain’s arrival.

Joey Gets the Shock of Her Life

‘
Auf Wiedersehen
, Frau Marani. It’s been a gorgeous week, and we’ve enjoyed ourselves ever so!’ Joey hugged kind Frau Marani with much good-will, and received a hearty kiss on either cheek.

‘
Auf Wiedersehen, mein Kindchen
! We have enjoyed having you. The dear God bless you and keep you safe always.’

Herr Marani lifted the Robin up the steps and into the carriage then, and gently reminded his wife that the train would leave in a minute or two. ‘Go, my children,’ he said paternally. ‘Join Fraülein Juliet in the compartment, and let us see you safely there before we leave you.’

They did as they were told. As Joey said, you generally
did
with Herr Marani. She could sometimes coax that good-natured giant, Herr Mensch, to recall his commands; but Herr Marani – never!

They were all three – Joey, Juliet, and the Robin – in the Southern express, bound for Belsornia, where Madge and Jem were waiting for them, and the Maranis had come down to Innsbruck to see them off. Gisela and Maria had not come, because Maria had caught cold the day before, and Gisela had stayed at home with her. They were going from Innsbruck to Verona, and from there they would get a train to Padua. At Padua they would be met by Captain Trevillion, who was to motor them to Firarto, in the heart of Belsornia. There
could
be no difficulty, for Vanna di Ricci’s uncle, who lived in Verona, would put them into their train for Padua; so, as Madge had said in her letter to the three, they had nothing to do but sit still and let other people do the work.

Not that
they
took that literally! They had every intention of enjoying the journey, and they had felt quite annoyed when Herr Marani, spying a friend of his farther down the train, had asked him to look in on them from time to time. The friend, who had seven children of his own, had agreed with enthusiasm.