The New Chalet Club

Although Lorna accepts that she must make the Corbett girls welcome in Wynyards, there is just one thing she cannot face: her mother's suggestion that the two girls refer to Mrs Arnold as 'Auntie Kath'. Lorna feels that it is her right alone to call her aunt by the family name. Kath, in deference to Lorna's feelings, asks the Corbetts to call her Mrs Arnold. Marigold rebels against this, especially when she discovers how much it riles Lorna.

As their education has previously been so patchy, neither of the Corbett girls can come close to Lorna in school, but while Rosemary determines to work hard and catch up, Marigold is simply affronted at being placed in a form with girls three years younger than herself. She makes little effort to make friends and resents the extra maths coaching which Miss Grace submits her to.

While learning to ride her bicycle, Marigold disregards Kath Arnold's instructions not to attempt to cycle down the hill on Sheepcote Lane. Frightened at the speed at which is travelling, she brakes hard and is pitched over the handlebars, landing hard on her back on the road. Dr Russell diagnoses a sprained back muscle - reminding Lorna of Katy Carr in "What Katy Did" (and much like Eustacia Benson in the Chalet School series as well). Marigold must spend a few months lying flat on her back. At first she is kept in the cottage hospital where Matron exerts firm discipline over her, but then a train crash means all the beds are needed and Marigold must be nursed back at the Arnolds' home.

At first the long days and nights tell on Marigold and the household endures many temper tantrums, before she finally begins to turn the corner. The experience teaches self-control to Rosemary as well, and she learns that it is sometimes right to be firm and not to give in to her wilful sister. Luckily Marigold is strong physically and by Christmas, she has improved enough both physically and emotionally, to be able to contribute to a truly happy Christmas for everyone.

Links to Chalet School

None, except for the fact that Lorna's Christmas present from cousin Kit is the new Josephine M Bettany book.