Heather Leaves School
Spoilers
The Reverend William Shakespeare wanted all his daughters to have names of heroines from Shakepeare plays. He allowed his wife to choose the names and she went for uncommon ones - the girls are called Cressida Imogen, Hero Miranda. Portia Valeria and Cleopatra Ophelia (thankfully shortened to Pat).
Honey's full name is Honeysuckle. She was a delicate baby and Mrs Raphael was too ill to have anything to do with her christening which it was felt should take place immediately. The family friend who was in charge had once joked that 'Honeysuckle' would round off the family names nicely and, when asked by the Vicar what the baby's name was to be, could not think of any others on the spur of the moment.
In Guernsey the Raphaels find that their holiday cottage is next door to the cottage that the Ozannes have rented. Elizabeth Ozanne's baby Michael is having touble with teething (much as Joey Maynard's children always did). Mrs Raphael is able to dispense the benefit of her experience.
The description of the girls beginning their lessons with Miss Christopher is reminiscent of the first day of the Chalet School - after all seven is nearly as many as the Chalet School had when it started. They find that Major Raphael has fitted out an old barn as a gymnasium for them. They also discover that Miss Christopher is a Guide and eventually she starts a Guide company in the village. Miss Christopher writes to a friend that she has found the ideal position and is not treated like a servant.
Honey and Hazel disappear and are found trapped in a secret passage leading from the drawing room.
Janie and Pauline come to stay for Christmas.. The Reverend Shakespeare has to go to Switzerland for his health and leaves his daughters living with the Raphael's for six months.
The secret passage provides an entrance to the house for burglars. They are foiled by Janie, Heather and Cressie among others. Heather is injured and faces a long recovery during which she and Cressie resolve their differences.
Janie Temple (who is 19 at the time) becomes engaged to Julian Lucy towards the end of this story. Their daughters, and those of Janie's sisters Elizabeth Ozanne and Anne Chester go on to attend the Chalet School, firstly when it transfers to Guernsey, and afterwards.
Janie made friends with Pauline Ozanne in MAIDS OF LA ROCHELLE. Pauline's brother Paul married Janie's sister Elizabeth.
Baby Beth Chester, whose measles cause Janie and Pauline to spend Christmas with the Raphaels, becomes great friends with Daisy Venables and Gwensi Howell in THE CHALET SCHOOL GOES TO IT / CHALET SCHOOL AT WAR.
Rosamund Atherton, heroine of A HEADGIRL'S DIFFICULTIES, is mentioned as spending the summer in Switzerland with the rest of her family, while the Willoughby's, who feature most in SEVEN SCAMPS, have gone to Bergen to see Lady Willoughby's family.
contributed by Heather Webb, England __ working from a hardback edition