Elinor M. Brent-Dyer's Chalet School
by Helen McClelland
Story Summaries
At the time of this story, Madge had married Jem the previous summer and Dr. Jack Maynard was working at the San with him. Jo, aged 15, Robin and Grizel were staying with Mollie Maynard (Jack's twin sister and Senior Mistress at the School) at her parents' home, 'Pretty Maids', for the Easter holidays. They are expecting Maynie's older brother, Captain Bob, a married army officer who had been stationed away for the previous 18 months, to visit. Meanwhile, Joey is privy to a conversation that worries her, namely that a convict has escaped from custody. Jo needs to visit the dentist, and is sent to bed early to recover, and thus doesn't hear that the convict has been recaptured. She also doesn't know of a telegram telling of the earlier-than-expected arrival of Captain Bob and his friend.
At 1 a.m. she wakes at hearing a noise outside and sees a man near the house.
She proceeds to 'capture' him and locks him in the cloakroom. (What price Tom
Gay doing the same? See TOM TACKLES THE CHALET SCHOOL)
In the morning, she discovered she had locked up Mr. Ralph Arden, Maynie's fiancee!
Ralph was the First Officer on a liner travelling between Southampton and Auckland,
New Zealand. They decide to marry in the summer holidays with Jo, Robin and
Grizel as bridesmaids before making their home in Auckland.
(first published 1948 in THE SECOND CHALET BOOK FOR GIRLS)
This story is set after the new middles building (St. Clare's) is built. Joey is head prefect and Matron Besly is the new house's Matron. Dorothea Buck (or Doro) is a very shy new English pupil in Lower 4th, whose mother had become a patient at the San. After unpacking at the beginning of the new term, it is discovered that Doro doesn't have any woolen vests - a compulsary item on the inventory, but not mentioned to the Matron.
When the cold weather came and with ita notice to wear woolen vests, Doro had only her cotton vests to wear. She naturally caught a cold,was placed in the St. Clare's sick bay, and was found to be only wearing her own cotton vests. Doro was too shy and scared of Matron Besly to tell her she was unable to tolerate wool next to her skin. Matron brings her a woolen vest to wear after her cold was over, and Doro becomes covered in a rash. Matron thinks "Measles" and re-isolates her. Dr. Jem comes down the next day to see Doro, and pronounces her well except for wool rash. Jo called the incident 'Woolen Measles'.
(first published 1949 in THE THIRD CHALET BOOK FOR GIRLS)
contributed by Sandra Fitzgerald, Australia __ working from a paperback edition