04 The Head Girl of the Chalet School (27 page)

Jo, whose music was of a very negligible quality, and who had patient Mademoiselle for a teacher, grinned.

“If you mean those awful caterwauling things I heard you struggling with last night, I’m not surprised!

There’s neither tune nor meaning in them!”

“Oh yes, there is!” said Margia, who had learnt two of the preludes in question. “It’s only because Grizel doesn’t know them yet.”

“The first one is a brute,” declared Grizel. “Groups of three against groups of five! And he knows I hate contrary rhythms!”

“I wanted to do that one badly,” said Margia wistfully, “but he wouldn’t hear of it.”

At this point in the conversation Evadne had dashed up to shriek excitedly that the boat was leaving Buchau at the other side, and there was a wild stampede to get hats and make for the Briesau landing, where they all stood waiting till the little lake steamer would come in. It came at last. and there stood pretty Bette, quiet Bernhilda, and graceful, Italian-looking Gisela waving to them from the deck.

After that there was little talk of work. The old girls were welcomed vociferously, and escorted back to the Chalet, where they were regaled on cakes and lemonade, while everybody talked at once, and tried to tell them all that had happened during the term.

“And Madame, Joey?” said Gisela, when at length she could get in a word edgeways. “Maria told us when she wrote. How is she?”

“Topping!” said Jo. “And just wait till you see David! Imagine it, Gisela, I have now two nephews and two nieces! Isn’t it priceless?”

Gisela looked at her with a smile. “I think it must be very pleasant. I am glad for you, Joey.”

A wild shriek from Marie at this moment startled all of them.

“Marie! What has happened?” demanded Grizel. “Anything stung you?”

“No! But oh, Grizel! Just think! Kurt, my eldest brother, is betrothed!”

“What? Who to?” exclaimed Jo, with a great lack of grammar.

Grizel’s eyes fell on Bernhilda’s fair face, rosy with blushes. “Why, it’s Bernhilda!” she cried.

“Bernie!
You
?” gasped Jo. “I say! How splendid!”

Poor shy Bernhilda scarcely knew which way to look as they all crowded round her, asking questions and discussing the latest excitement at the tops of their voices.

“So
that’s
what you were driving at the other night, Frieda,” said Margia, when they had calmed down a little. “I say! Aren’t we growing up? Three of us engaged, and two going to be married soon! When are you going to do anything like that, Bette?”

Bette laughed, and shook her pretty head. “I am too young yet. You must wait, Margia.”

The arrival of the staff made fresh pandemonium, for everyone wanted to tell them the news. When they understood it, they wished Bernhilda every happiness, and she was the centre of attraction till Mademoiselle, having pity on her discomfort, suggested a move to the pine-woods where they were to picnic. “Some of you may go to meet Wanda and Herr von Gluck by the three o’clock boat,” she said. “And now, who will carry the baskets?”

They all made for the house to load themselves up, and presently they were straggling across the playing-field to the gate which led to the mountain slopes. The middles had taken the food baskets; the seniors carried the big cans of milk; and the juniors bore long loaves of bread, which they would cut up when they began to cat. Everyone was responsible for her own mug, and the Chalet was shut up for the day, Luise and Hansi going home for a short while.

“We’ve turned the people out of the Green dormy,” said Grizel, who was walking with Bette, “and you people are to have your old beds. Wanda is going into the Blue dormy where she was, Bianca being sent over to Le Petit Chalet. We shall be a full house this week-end. It’s hard luck Juliet couldn’t come, isn’t it?”

“I am sorry she isn’t here,” agreed Gisela. “I am very fond of Juliet. And now, my Grizel, how does it go with you this term? Is all well?”

Grizel shook her head. “I can’t exactly say that, Gisela. D’you see that fair, fat child walking with Evadne?”

Gisela looked in the direction she was indicating, and nodded. “Yes; what is wrong with her, Grizel?”

“She’s the limit!” said Grizel. “Honestly, Gisela, she’s hopeless. What do you think of this?” and she plunged into an account of Cornelia’s last activities.

Gisela listened in startled silence. “But what a senseless thing to do!” she exclaimed.

“Yes! I was pretty bad in the old days, but I never did a mad thing like that,” said Grizel. “And she’s so untruthful too!”

“Ah, well,
that
you never were,” said Gisela. “You were full of mischief, Grizel, but we all knew that we could rely on your word. What are you laughing for?”

“Do you remember Frau Berlin that day your father took us to Innsbruck to buy Madame’s present, and then we went up the Brenner Road?”

“But, of course, I do. Why? Have you seen her again?”

“Rather! And where do you think?”

“I do not know. Where was it?”

“In that fire in the hotel at Salzburg. She was nearly frantic with terror, and tried to wipe me off the fire escape. She didn’t succeed, of course! Mr. Lannis stopped her. But isn’t it funny? We always seem to he meeting her in some catastrophe or other.”

“What’s that?” demanded Jo, who had left Bernhilda to fall back with the other two.

“Frau Berlin. Do you remember her at Salzburg, Joey?”

“I should think I did! She was a bigger sight than she was when Madge hauled her out of the burning train on our journey from the Rosengarten Baurn to Innsbruck, and her skirt got left behind! You should have seen her, Gisela! Hair in curling-pins, and a lurid pink flannelette dressing-gown which did
not
match her face! She looked awful!”

Gisela laughed. “She was not a pleasant person. Papa often speaks of her, and the scene she made in the Maria Theresien Restaurant. He will be interested to hear that you have met her again.”

“Hi, there, you people! Don’t you want any
Mittagessen
?” Mary Burnett hailed them at this moment, and they found that the others had settled on a little clearing which they had been passing, and were already laying the cloth, ant setting out the eatables. They made haste to join them, and presently they were all sitting round, and eating as if they hadn’t seen food before that day.

“It’s funny how much more one can eat out of doors than in,” sighed Jo, as she began on her seventh sandwich.

“Yes; I notice you generally eat enough for three when we picnic,” observed Margia.

“People who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones. That’s your fifth, anyhow! And Evadne is outdoing all of us!”

“Well, you aren’t a bad second,” laughed Miss Durrant, who was sitting near enough to hear them. “More milk, Robin?”

The Robin nodded her head – her mouth was too full for speech. The mistress attended to her wants, and then turned to see that Cornelia, who was sitting on the other side of her, had all she required.

Strictly speaking, Cornelia should not have been there, but it was not in Mademoiselle’s heart to deprive her of the fete, and she had told her that the rest of her punishment should he remitted during this week-end.

“We do not wish that our old girls should have to see one of our present girls so punished, my child,” the good lady had said gently. “So we will forgive you now, and you will try to do better, will you not?”

Cornelia had muttered something which might have been a promise to this effect. Mademoiselle hoped it was, and accepted it as such, so the young lady was out of durance vile and with the others once more. Her own friends still looked rather askance at her. They were a sinful crowd, but they had never aspired to the things she did, and, had they known what was at the back of her mind all the time, they would assuredly have cut her. After
Mittagessen
was over, and the baskets were repacked, the girls sauntered off in twos and threes to gather flowers, hunt for early wild strawberries, and chatter about school affairs. The three old girls stayed with the staff, talking; and Grizel, Joey, Rosalie, Mary and Marie von Eschenau prepared to walk down to the boat-landing to meet Wanda and Herr von Gluck.

“Where’s Paula?” demanded Joey just before they set off. “Oughtn’t she to come too? Wanda’s her cousin.”

“She’s over there with Cornelia and Evadne,” said Mary, pointing. “Run and bring her, Joey, old thing.”

Jo went off, and presently returned with the trio.

“Here, we don’t want the entire crowd,” protested Grizel. “You two run off and find the others. Paula may come if she likes; but not you, Evadne, nor you, Cornelia.”

“Why not?” demanded Cornelia. “I want to see her.”

“You’ll see her when they get here. Now you’re not coming, so don’t start making a fuss about it. Come along, you people. It’s hot, and we don’t want to hurry if we can help it. Go and join the others, Evadne and Cornelia.”

It must be admitted that Grizel’s tones were rather dictatorial, but she really felt out of patience with them.

Cornelia, at any rate, had no right to ask to go. The head-girl considered that she had done very well to be let off her punishment as it was.

Evadne turned away, with a growled “Guess I want to see Wanda as much as anyone! ” Then she made off to join Frieda and Simone, who were looking for last year’s pine-cones.

Cornelia sat down on a nearby stump, a gloomy frown on her face, and glared after the departing girls. She hated Grizel at that moment. She could have gone off if she liked then, for no one was watching her, but she had got it into her head that Herr von Gluck might he able to tell her more about the caves than Marie knew, and she had decided to pump him for all she was worth.

“Silly kid!” commented Grizel, looking back and seeing her. “Come on, you folk. It’s a good way to walk in this heat.”

They strolled along, glad of the shade in the pines. When they reached the edge of the forest they would have to cross the open pasture-land, and the sun was blazing down. The great limestone crags of the mountains glared white beneath its rays, and the Tiern See was blue as a piece of lapis-lazuli. No breath of wind stirred its calm surface, and it was so still that their voices sounded louder than usual.

“Ouf! It’s hot!” panted Mary, who was scarlet in the heat. “If it’s like this in May, what will it be like in June?”

“Well, June’s nearly here,” said Rosalie, who still contrived to keep cool and fresh. “Next Sunday will be the first. Oh, look! Isn’t that the boat setting off from Seespitz? We’d better hurry a little.”

“Heaps of time,” said Grizel easily. “It’s got to go to Buchau first, and it doesn’t hurry itself.”

Still, they broke into a trot, and managed to get to the landing just as the graceful little white steamer neared the moorings. Five minutes later they were welcoming Wanda and her fiance’. Herr Hauptmann Friedel von Gluck was a tall, dark young man, with a pleasant face and a merry laugh, and it was obvious that he adored his lovely Wanda, who looked more like a fairy-tale princess than ever in her white frock and big shady hat. Jo made up her mind that he was nice; and while Wanda and Grizel went on ahead with Paula and the other two English girls, she and Marie escorted him over the meadowland and through the dark pines, chattering away all the time. The newly arrived pair received quite a little ovation when they reached the picnic ground, and then everyone sat down to milk and cakes, while Wanda heard all the school news, and he was presented to various people of whom he had heard.

Cornelia, standing with Evadne, was introduced as “one of our American girls – this is the other.” She was on her best behaviour for once, and her best behaviour was very charming. She soon induced the young man to talk of the caves, though he really knew little more than Marie, and the rest listened with deep interest.

“It would be topping if the entrance really could be discovered,” said Mary, when he had finished.

“I think we’ve found it,” said Jo quickly. Then she told them what she and Margia had discussed at Marie’s wedding.

“It seems likely,” he said, when she had finished. “As you say, the very fact that the peasants fear the spot would help to keep it secret through all these years. If it is so, then it is to you two that they will owe it. Herr Professor von der Witt is coming soon to see if he can find them. He is interested in the question, for he is a great geologist, as you may have heard.”

“We’ve seen him,” said Jo eagerly. “In the train! Remember, Grizel? The man who came and shoved down the carriage window when ‘the Stuffer’
would
have it up!”

Grizel nodded. “Rather! Wasn’t he funny? I do hope he finds the caves, and that they can he used for sight-seeing. But how will he manage? I’m certain none of the men round here will go near the place, even if they weren’t all busy all the time as they are.”

“He is bringing a party with him,” said Herr von Gluck. “I think he spoke of coming this week-end. We must bring him to see you – if Mademoiselle will permit,” he bowed to Mademoiselle as he spoke; “then you and Fraulein Grizel can show him where your cleft is. That would save him a great deal of work, if it is really the entrance to the caves!”

“I’m sure it is,” said Margia. “It’s the only possible place.”

“Could you show me whereabouts it is from here, Fraulein Grizel?” asked the captain.

Grizel got up from the log on which she had been sitting, and turned to the north. “It’s over there, somewhere. Right below here, you know, and along nearly to where the river turns to enter the valley. I can’t tell you exactly, but that’s the direction. It is a long, narrow cleft; I don’t think we’d have noticed it if we hadn’t seen that awful old man and the Robin.” She glanced round to make sure that none of the juniors were anywhere near, but they had gone off on some business of their own, with Miss Durrant in charge, and there were only the seniors and the middles round them. “You cut across that grass-land, and turn round to the left. It’s right under the mountain, really. They say, you know, that that old lunatic has come back. Herr August told us at Marie’s wedding.”

“Only he called him a demon,” added Jo. “They all think he comes from hell, I believe, and I know they think he was going to carry off the Robin to hell!”