04 The Head Girl of the Chalet School (5 page)

Basle is a very old and picturesque city, and the long streets, with their quaintly gilded and frescoed houses, had reminders at every corner of the time when Basle was one of the great university towns of Europe. They soon reached the Badenischbahnhof, and there Grizel found that she had just time to get her ticket for Schaffhausen, and they were off.

It was still dusk, for the light was slow in coming this January morning, and mists lay low over everything; Grizel felt in her satchel for her book, and settled down for a good read. People passing the compartment in which she was looked curiously at her. In Switzerland the young girl of the upper classes no more roves about by herself than her sister in other European countries does. There is a great deal of freedom, it is true, but
la jeune fille
is well chaperoned for all that. To see a girl of seventeen quite without any relative or maid to look after her was unusual. No one interfered with her, however, and when the daylight finally came, with bright wintry sunshine, Grizel put aside her book to look at the view, without any idea that she had aroused such interest.

She found the landscape uninspiring on this cold morning, when everything was covered with snow, and there were no mountains such as she loved. The railway here runs through the Rhine valley, which is lowlying, and only shows gentle undulations till it nears the environs of Zurich. It is a fairly populous valley, but Grizel was bored with the towns – she had seen dozens prettier during the four years she had lived abroad – and she soon lost interest in them and returned to her book. But this, too, seemed to have become dull, and so she took refuge in her thoughts. She wondered what they were saying at Basle. She could imagine Joey’s indignation when she woke up and found herself alone and her companion gone. Miss Maynard would be furious, of course, and the Robin would be full of wonder. It wouldn’t he a pleasant journey back to Innsbruck.

For the first time, Grizel began to repent her daring. After all, her idea at the first had been to have Joey and the Robin with her, and here she was – alone. If Jo hadn’t been so emphatic she would have left it alone.

Then she pulled herself up short. It wasn’t playing the game to blame Joey – Grizel rather prided herself on being fair. It was rather unfortunate that she had got on to that tack, for now a doubt came into her mind as to whether she was playing fair, and, after all, she
was
head-girl. Suddenly she sat bolt upright. An awful thought had struck her. What if Madame, who still had a good deal to do with the school, should think that, since she had gone off in this mad way, therefore she wasn’t fit to be head-girl?

Grizel’s eyes widened in horror at the idea. If it were so, she could never stay on at the school. Everyone knew that she had been chosen, and the disgrace of being degraded would be more than she could endure.

Just supposing-!

The slowing-down of the train warned her at this point that they were nearing a station. She would get out and go back at once. With Grizel, to think was to act. She collected her things in double quick time, and when they drew up by the platform at Waldshut, went along the corridor, and descended the little steps, and made for the barrier. There she had no easy time of it in explaining to the ticket-collector why she had got out at a place twenty-four miles before the destination marked on her ticket. At first he thought that she had made a mistake, and got out, thinking she was already at Schaffhausen. Her bungling explanation that she had forgotten something – so she had! – roused deep suspicion in his mind, and he questioned her till she was ready to cry with vexation. However, he could see nothing for it but to let her go, and told her when the next train back to Basle was. She found she had a forty minutes’ wait before her, and the snow had begun to fall again. She decided to go out and find a
patisserie
, and see if she could get chocolate and cakes. Her early
Fruhstuck
had been rather hurried, and she felt hungry now. She went out into the street, feeling rather forlorn, and, after losing herself twice, managed to find a shop where she got some indifferent chocolate and some stale cakes. She had spent so long over finding it that she had to hurry, and scalded her mouth with the hot chocolate. Then it was helter-skelter back to the station, where she only just caught her train, and had to find a seat in a crowded compartment with two or three voluble Swiss ladies who talked the whole time, an old cure, who read his breviary industriously, and two youths of school age who were obviously German, and who stared at her unceasingly, and made remarks about her and giggled to each other. Of all the uncomfortable journeys she had ever taken, that struck Grizel as the worst. To make matters worse, the ladies began to discuss her, and to comment on the folly of the English, who allowed young ladies to go about unchaperoned. They had no idea of course, that she could understand them, and she was too weary by this time – and too ashamed of herself – to correct them. It seemed a never-ending age before she saw that they were nearing Basle, and then she could have cried with relief. As soon as the train drew up inside the station she was out of it and off through the streets, where the snow was now whirling down, as hard as she could go. At length she turned into the Sternen Gasse, where their pension was, and made her best pace along it. The doors were shut, of course, and she had to wait while the porter came to open them. When he saw her he exclaimed in surprise, but Grizel was past minding that. She pushed past him and along the hall to the stairs, where she was met by the manageress, who was coming down. At sight of the English girl she stopped with uplifted hands. “Fraulein Cochrane! But
das Fraulein
has gone to seek thee at Schaffhausen!”

“Well, I’m here,” said Grizel. “Where are the other two?”

Frau Betts looked at her severely. “Fraulein Bettany and das
Liebling
have gone too. Fraulein Maynard said that they would go straight to Innsbruck from Schaffhausen once they had found you. They have taken the luggage – all. Fraulein Maynard was very angry – as in truth she had right to be! She said she would not feel happy till she had you all safely with your relatives. They have been gone these two hours!”

Grizel sat down limply on the stairs. She had got herself into a nice mess! If she had had any sense she would have wired them from Waldshut, and then no one would have gone chasing off after her. As it was, she had no idea what to do or where to go.

She did the best thing she could have done for herself. Worn-out, remorseful, and hungry, she forgot her pride and burst into tears.

At the sight Frau Betts, who was a good-natured soul, forgot her indignation, and hastened to apply comfort. “Hush,
mein Kind
! You are wearied, and must rest. Fritzi shall hasten to the post-office and send a telegram to the station at Schaffhausen to say that you are here. You shall have a meal, and we will send you to them there. Come to my room.”

She led the wearied girl to her own little sitting-room, and made her lie down on a sofa while she went off to find Fritzi and send him with the telegram. Then she came with a tempting little meal on a tray, and after the girl had eaten all she could, sent the long-suffering Fritzi out once more to seek a
droschke
. Into this she packed Grizel, seeing that she was warm and comfortable. Then she bade her
Auf wiedersehn
and went back into the pension, shutting the door firmly behind her.

Oh, that weary journey! Grizel hated it the whole time. She couldn’t fix her mind on her book, for she was too worried over what Frau Betts had said about Miss Maynard’s anger to trouble with it. She positively shivered when she learned that they were nearing Neuhausen, the station for the Falls, and for a moment she felt as if she would have preferred to stay where she was. However, cowardice was not one of Grizel’s faults, so she pulled herself together and left the train as bravely as she could. At the other side of the barrier she saw Miss Maynard waiting for her – a very grave Miss Maynard, who made no comments, good, bad, or indifferent, on her behaviour, but simply bade her hurry up and get into the sleigh that she had hired.

Grizel did as she was told in a dreary silence, and no word was spoken till they reached the hotel. There she was bidden to get out, and go in at once. In the vestibule she waited till Miss Maynard joined her and, still in that terrifying silence, led her to the room where Joey and the Robin awaited them.

At sight of Grizel the Robin ran forward, but Miss Maynard stopped her.

“No, Robin; not yet. Take off your things, Grizel. Put them on that sofa for the time being. Now I want an explanation of your conduct.”

Grizel stood there, twisting her fingers together. “I-I’m very sorry,” she said.

“I hope you are,” said Miss Maynard, still in that grave, cold voice. “You have given us all, Frau Betts, Joey, and myself, a very anxious time. You have given us needless trouble, and added to our length of journey. If you have any real reason for doing so, please let me hear it. If there is anything that will serve as an excuse for your conduct, I want to hear it.”

Grizel stood there, fighting desperately with her tears.

Joey saw it, and braved the mistress’s wrath. “Grizel,” she said, “I honestly didn’t mean to put your back up. If it was what I said made you do it, it’s my fault as much as yours. I
am
a tactless ass!”

It was a way out; but Grizel had her code, and she stuck to it. “It was my own idiocy, Joey,” she said.

“But I expect it was my being so beastly about it made you go on and do it,” urged Joey, whose soft heart couldn’t bear to see Grizel look so unhappy. “Word of honour, Miss Maynard, I’ll bet it was me as much as anything! You know what I am!”

Miss Maynard looked at her. “Yes, Joey, I know. But Grizel-”

She got no further, for Grizel interrupted her. “It wasn’t really Joey at all! I wanted to go, so I just – went.

It’s like that time I went off to climb the Tiernjoch. You’d think I’d have learnt a little sense from that, but I haven’t! I’m awfully sorry, Miss Maynard. I simply didn’t think. I know I’m not fit to be head-girl now.”

“Oh, tosh!” said Jo easily. “Of course you are. Maynie will forgive you ‘cos you are sorry – won’t you, Maynie?”

Miss Maynard shook her head. “It’s not so easy as all that, Jo. As Grizel herself truly says, if she can go off like this for a mere whim, then she
isn’t
fit to be Head at the Chalet School. We’ve got to feel we can depend on our head-girl.”

“Well, you will on Grizel after this,” declared Joey. “Anyhow, this isn’t school-time – it’s hols.! So do let it go at that, won’t you? I’m sure Madge would.”

“Do you think so?” asked Miss Maynard with a smile.

“Yes. She always trusts us to carry on and do our best. Look at the times she’s forgiven me for doing mad things!”

“I shall have to tell her,” said Miss Maynard, taking a sudden decision. “It will lie in her hands, Grizel.

Meanwhile, we had better go and have
Kaffee
. Our train goes at six, and I want to see about one or two things. As far as I am concerned, the thing is shelved for the moment. But give me your word that you will stay here till I tell you.”

“Guide’s honour she will,” said Jo, promising for her. “Won’t you, old thing?”

Grizel flushed deeply. Her behaviour had scarcely been Guide-like that day.

Luckily the Robin created a diversion by flinging herself on the girl. “
Pauv’
Grizel,” she murmured in the French that was her native tongue.

Grizel picked her up and hugged her, thankful to hide her face among the black curls for a minute or two.

When she looked up again Miss Maynard had gone off to see the manager about Kaffee and a picnic basket, for they would not get into Innsbruck till the next day. Nothing further was said, and they embarked on the last part of their journey very peacefully.

Only Joey referred to the bone of contention. “It’s hard luck to have been in the place and never seen the Falls,” she lamented.

Miss Maynard did not answer her, and Grizel buried herself in her book. She felt she had had enough of the Falls of Rhine to satisfy her for a very long time to come.

“INNSBRUCK at last! What ages it has seemed since the tunnel! Buck up, Robinette! We’re nearly in!

Pack up, Grizelda! We’re almost there! Oh! hurrah for dear little Innsbruck and Madge.”

It was Joey, of course. The rest of the party got their things together in more orderly fashion, while she hung out of the window, talking and gesticulating wildly as the great train swept through the suburbs of Innsbruck, and finally slowed down by the platform. Standing waiting on it was a slight, graceful girl – she looked no more – clad in long green coat with big fur collar turned up, and a soft green hat. Her face was flushed with excitement, and as her dark eyes encountered the wildly waving Jo at the window they glowed with welcome. The next minute the train had stopped, and Joey made a wild dive along the corridor and nearly fell down the steps into her sister’s arms. “Madge – Madge, old thing! It’s topping to see you again!”

“It’s splendid to see you, Joey,” replied the voice she loved better than any other sound in the world.

“You’ve grown again, you monkey! You’re as tall as I am now!” Madge Russell looked with a smile at the clever, sensitive face on a level with her own, and then turned to greet the others. “Robin! My little Cecilia Marya! Have you had a good time,
mein Voglein
?”

The Robin, clasped tightly in the arms that had come to take the place of her mother’s, tucked her curly head into “Tante Marguerite’s” neck, and squeezed her rapturously. “Oh, so nice! Tante Marguerite,
bien
aimie
, I do so
love
you!”

“Well, leave a little of me for the others, my pet!” laughed Mrs. Russell as she set the little girl down and turned to greet Miss Maynard and Grizel.

The latter flushed under the welcoming kiss, but her ex-Head didn’t notice it, for she was shaking hands with Miss Maynard and asking questions as to their journey. “Did you have a good time, Mollie? Decent fellow-travellers? We just got back from Vienna two days ago. Jem had to go of course, and I joined him there last week. It was so jolly. We stayed with the von Eschenaus – they are back again. And I’ve got some news for you all. Wanda is betrothed.”