Gay from China at the Chalet School (hardback)
Gay Lambert at the Chalet School (paperback)
Synopsis
Jacynth Hardy's aunt who has brought her up is to have an operation after which she will have to convalesce for some time, so Jacynth is off to the Chalet School as a boarder. On the train she meets Gay Lambert, who tells her about the school. Changing trains, they fall in with a family -- father, mother, aunt, five children and a formidable grandmother -- who are also bound for Howells Village, to take over the shop there. Jacynth helps Gay to carry her 'cello, and confides that she would like to learn, but there is no money to spare for extras: Auntie has saved hard just to manage the school fees.
When the girls arrive at school, things are not as usual and rumours are going around. When they assemble in Hall, the School learns that four of the most senior Staff have been injured in an accident on holiday and will be unable to return for the coming summer term. Some former pupils -- Jo Maynard included -- have been recruited to take over their work, but there is no-one to take on Miss Annersley's role, so Miss Bubb, a brilliant classical scholar, is to be Headmistress in her absence.
Miss Bubb instigates sweeping changes. Supervision is increased, hobbies, games and Guides are treated as very much subordinate to lessons, and Senior privileges are restricted. Appeal to Madame is impossible, as little Josette has been badly scalded and cannot be left. No-one on the Staff has sufficient authority to overrule the new Head, so Jo Maynard writes to Miss Wilson begging her to try and return. 'Bill' arrives to find Staff and girls unhappy, and is welcomed by everyone except Miss Bubb.
Gay Lambert has more than once been in trouble with Miss Bubb, so when a letter arrives asking for leave for Gay to go home for a while (as her brother is to be posted to the East), the Head refuses permission. Gay runs away by night and makes for home in the North. Luckily, on her journey she meets sympathetic acquaintances who look after her, and inform the School that she is safe.
Lady Russell sends for Miss Bubb, and they agree that she should hand over to Miss Wilson. Miss Bubb has received a job offer from an old friend, and leaves almost immediately, to everyone's delight.
When she eventually returns to School, Gay unwittingly infects various people with German measles, among them Jacynth. During this time, Jacynth's beloved Auntie dies, but Jo Maynard, Miss Wilson and Gay and her family make themselves responsible for her future.
The German measles victims recover in time for the end-of-term, and with Miss Bubb gone the School can prepare for Parents' Day. The usual programme of music and folk-dancing is followed by the first presentation of a new award, the Margot Venables Prize, in memory of Madame's sister-in-law. It is sponsored by Jo Maynard, and is to be awarded yearly to the girl who receives most votes for being kind and helpful. Miss Wilson announces the winner, and the School applauds its chosen heroine.
As the link suggests, it gives more of the story - without, of course, giving everything away!
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