A Head Girl's Difficulties
A Head Girl's Difficulties
Key Facts (possible spoilers)
The first of Rosamund's difficulties happens some lower school girls hide in the gym to observe a gymnastics display intended for the fifth form. They are accidentally locked in, and discovered by Rosamund. The culprits are required to apologise to the prefects of the two fifth forms and the mistresses who had given the display.
The next difficulty occurs when the lower school produce a "newspaper" with the declared aim of advertising their wrongs. It is full of cheeky limericks, mottoes and correspondence about the seniors and has appalling grammar and spelling. They are punished by having to forgo all games practise for a fortnight and have spelling and grammar lessons instead.
The term ends with an outbreak of diphtheria. Despite Miss Phillips closing the school at once, the disease spreads through the pupils with some tragic consequences. The epidemic comes to an end with a cold snap but by then term is almost over and only the girls who are sitting exams return to school.
The new term begins with some changes. Several girls including Rosamund's sister, Con, have been sent away to recuperate from the epidemic, and one of the mistresses has left to be married. The girls are cheered by a visit from Miss Catcheside on the first morning, who tells Rosamund privately that she should slacken the reins a bit.
Not far into the term there is an outbreak of sentimentality in the school. The prefects attack the outbreak on two fronts. They invent an imaginary admirer for Adelicia, a new girl in the sixth who is the source of the outbreak. They also confiscate the letters from the lower school's secret post box and force the recipients to read them out in front of the school. This shames everyone into abandoning the sentimentality.
The school year ends with a postponed speech day at which Rosamund wins several prizes, and some good news for the Athertons. Their money worries are over at last after some shares have risen in value.
The news comes that Miss Catcheside is to be married in August and the exam results are read out - Rosamund has won the Verulam Scholarship.
Rosamund Atherton marries Nigel Willoughby and becomes the mother of Blossom and Judy who later go to the Chalet School.
Francesca (Cesca) Atherton marries Mr Eltringham and becomes the mother of Nita who goes to the Chalet School.
contributed by Susan Vass, Scotland __ working from a hardback edition
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