02 Jo of the Chalet School Read Online Free

have always called her the Robin.’
    ‘How old is she, Madame?’ asked Juliet.

    ‘Just six. He says she is a happy little soul, and accustomed to living with older people, so we sha’n't find her too much of a baby. I have told you three her story because I want you to be very kind to her. Captain Humphries will be away for at least a year, so she will have to spend all her holidays with us, and this will have to be her home.’
    ‘Where will she sleep?’ Grizel wanted to know.
    ‘In your dormitory for the present. In term-time she will be with the other little ones, over at Le Petit Chalet, of course.’
    ‘What time is she coming?’ asked Joey.
    ‘They will be here by the eighteen o’clock boat, I expect,’ replied Madge. ‘And that reminds me, I must go and see about having her bed made properly. Joey, it’s your turn to help. Coming?’
    ‘Rather!’ Joey jumped up and followed her sister out of the room, leaving the other two alone together.
    There was a little silence; then Grizel spoke. ‘Isn’t it weird how everyone seems to come to Madame for help?’
    Juliet shook her head. ‘I don’t think so. She’s the sort of person people do come to. She’s a dear, and I adore her!’
    ‘Oh, so do I,’ agreed Grizel. ‘But I do wish she’d take back what she said about not talking any slang. It makes it so beastly – I mean horrid to talk at all now. I have to stop and think before I say anything, and it wastes an awful lot of time!’
    ‘I should think that was something fresh for you,’ said Juliet with a grin.
    ‘It’s something horrid for me!’ replied Grizel decided, as she got up to fetch her book. ‘I feel all tied up when I talk.’
    Juliet laughed as she opened her book, and then there was a silence, which remained unbroken until Marie brought in Kaffee und Kuchen , and the two Bettanys joined them. After that, they got into their coats, and rushed wildly to the boat-landing, for the steamer was already stopping at Buchau on the other side of the lake. From the windows of the Kron Prinz Karl the two little Italians of the afternoon watched them go racing past and envied them. Neither Joey nor Grizel remembered them. Miss Bettany’s story had driven everything else out of their minds. They were literally dancing with excitement as the boat neared the landing-place, and they saw Miss Maynard with a bundle in her arms, standing at the side.
    Madge met her as she came off the boat. ‘Asleep?’ she queried in low tones.
    ‘Yes – poor little dear! She’s tired out with the travelling and the good-byes,’ replied Miss Maynard in the same key. ‘Here’s Fritzi with the little trunk – Danke sehr, Fritzi. ‘
    ‘The girls can take that between them,’ said Miss Bettany. ‘Give the baby to me. Your arms must be aching by this time if you’ve carried her the whole way.’
    ‘She was so upset at parting from her father,’ explained Miss Maynard as she gave up her burden. ‘Hullo, you people! Can you manage that trunk?’
    ‘Oh, rather! But we want to see the Robin!’
    ‘Please let us see the Robin, Madame!’
    ‘Just turn back a tiny bit of the rug, and let us see her! Please do.’
    The three exclamations came simultaneously.
    Miss Bettany shook her head. ‘You must wait till we get indoors. I don’t want her to be out in this awful wind any longer than can be helped. Remember, she’s not accustomed to it as you are, and she’s not very strong.’
    They made all the haste they could, and presently they were back at the Chalet. In the warm Speisesaal Miss Bettany sat down and carefully drew back the rug in which the Robin had been wrapped to protect her from the cold and the icy mountain wind which was sweeping down the valley. The girls pressed forward eagerly.
    Such a lovely baby-face! With curly black hair clustering over the small head, and long black lashes resting on the check, which were tear-stained. She was very fast asleep – so fast, that the two mistresses