03.5 Visitors for the Chalet School Read Online Free PDF Page A

a notice in the entrance hall; and this notice I am sure you have all read. As you will realize,” she noted that in some quarters meaning, even rueful, glances were being exchanged, “I refer to our new rule, by which we shall dedicate two days each week, one to the French language, the other to German. Since our Chalet School embraces many nationalities, Madame and I have thought it wise that you should all strive for proficiency in speaking languages other than your own. And, in time, we may possibly extend the practice and have two days each of French and German. But do not look so apprehensive, mes enfants ! If you will try with good will I am persuaded that you all, in time, can become trilingual. Let us all endeavour to do our best.”
    The headmistress then went on to read out the form lists, and to remind the girls that all regular activities, such as games, folk-dancing, Hobbies Club and Guide meetings, would resume immediately. Arrangements for the new Christmas play would be discussed towards the end of October.
    Then, taking up an envelope, Mademoiselle said: “Finally, mes enfants , I have here a letter from Juliet Carrick, our last head girl, who wishes us to know that a party of girls from Grange House School in London will be visiting the Tiernsee next month. They will be staying at the Stephanie Hotel, which is of course quite near us. Juliet had made the acquaintance of several of the girls and tells me that Miss Bruce, the mistress who will be in charge of the group, has been very kind to her. Now I feel sure that you would all wish me to extend the hospitality of the Chalet School to these visitors from England, and so I have decided to invite them to an informal party here on the first Saturday after their arrival. This little party will be from 6.30 pm until 9 o’clock, and you will all ,” here she smiled in the direction of the Juniors and younger Middles, “be permitted to remain until the end.”
    This was a delightful surprise; it was only on a very few occasions that the Chalet girls were allowed to depart from their normal routine of early bedtimes.
    Mademoiselle proceeded to dismiss the girls, telling them that they were now free until Abendessen , which would give them “ample opportunity to talk over all the news.”
    There was a positive explosion of talking as soon as the staff had departed. And, through the tumult, Evadne’s penetrating tones could be clearly heard: “Gee, you folks! I just figured it out: in only fourteen hours we’ll be sitting down to breakfast in FRENCH! I guess I’ll just have to begin, right now, and talk until I lose my voice entirely.”

CHAPTER 4
    Joey’s Hike
    “All set for this afternoon, Margia?” Joey Bettany was rushing towards the common-room after Saturday morning’s Guide meeting. “Did you check that list I gave you? And d’you know where Elisaveta’s got to?
    I’ve looked in the dorm and the classroom, and she’s not in either.”
    But there was no answer. Margia, who had dumped a large pile of music from her locker on to the floor, was kneeling beside it, searching frantically. Sheets of music lay round her like fallen leaves.
    “Look here, you’ve simply got to make sure everything’s ready before Mittagessen . A nice sort of idiot I’ll look if something gets forgotten … let alone failing the test.”
    Joey’s left foot beat an indignant tattoo on the wooden floorboards. It meant a lot to her that the afternoon’s expedition should be a success. Provided that she passed this one test (that of escorting two younger Guides on an unsupervised half-day’s hike) she would have fulfilled all the requirements for the First-class badge. And Jo had been working hard for more than a year to gain this badge.
    “MARGIA! Have you gone deaf all of a sudden … or just dotty? I do wish you’d wake up. Did you check that list?” Joey was almost shouting in her exasperation.
    “Sorry, Jo.” Margia looked up, a distracted expression in