Read 03 The Princess of the Chalet School for Free Online Page A

mistake.
    The staff said nothing to her, but a great deal amongst themselves.
    Miss Maynard, as the senior member – Mademoiselle was a partner in the school – held the floor one evening when the lady under discussion was busy in the dormitories.
    ‘It isn’t only her voice,’ said the mathematics mistress; ‘it could be put up with if everything else weren’t so bad. But her manner!’
    ‘She makes me ill!’ declared Miss Durrant. ‘She has such awful ideas! Actually thinks that folk dancing is rot!’
    In a school so devoted to all things ‘folk’ as the Chalet School, this opinion was nothing short of heresy, and the staff said so in no unmeasured terms.
    ‘I dislike her manner with the children,’ said Miss Carthew. ‘She speaks to them as if they – or the foreign children in all events – weren’t fit to breathe the same air as herself.’
    ‘She’s a cat!’ remarked Miss Wilson, who taught geography and science.
    ‘It may not be lady-like to say so, but I agree with you,’ returned Miss Maynard.
    ‘She seems to have taken a special dislike to Joey, the Robin, and the new child Elisaveta What’s-her-name,’ put in Miss Durrant. ‘Why, I cannot see. They’re three of the most harmless children we possess.’
    ‘I can explain Joey, anyhow,’ said Miss Carthew. ‘She thinks Madame favours her because Jo is her sister.’
    ‘What rot!’ cried Miss Wilson. ‘Why, Madame is stricter with Jo than with anyone else. And that doesn’t explain her dislike of the Robin. I never thought anyone could do anything but like her. She’s a dear little thing!’
    ‘Of course, it’s easy to see why she detests Elisaveta,’ observed Miss Durrant. ‘It’s that little princess air of hers that riles the good lady so much.’
    ‘Yes. – What do you make of Elisaveta Arnsonira?’ inquired Miss Maynard.
    ‘How do you mean?’ asked Miss Durrant.
    ‘Well – she’s not our type of child, is she?’
    ‘No; now that you mention it, she isn’t. But except for that funny air of being one of the royal family of somewhere, there isn’t anything you can take hold of.’
    ‘English as she is spoke,’ laughed Miss Maynard. ‘I’m going to see the young lady herself about a matter of algebra. – By-the-by, that is one thing in which she differs from our girls; she knows an extraordinary amount about most things. Maths, I don’t believe she will ever do well.’
    She got up as she spoke, and went towards the door. Just as she opened it, there was the most surprising sound to be heard, coming along the passage. It was the sound of someone dragging someone else forcibly along.
    The mistresses all turned to the door with deep curiosity, and through it came Matron, half-dragging, half-carrying Elisaveta, Princess of Belsornia.
    ‘Matron!’ cried Miss Maynard. ‘What does this mean?’
    ‘Mean?’ repeated Matron, releasing her victim, who stood with furious anger in her face. ‘Mean? It means Miss Maynard, that as Miss Bettany is out, I have brought this insolent child to you to punish as she deserves!’
    ‘Very well, Matron,’ relied Miss Maynard quietly. ‘You may leaver her, and I will attend to the matter at once.’
    ‘Not before I’ve told my story,’ retorted Matron.
    ‘Certainly, I will hear your side of the matter. What has Elisaveta been doing?’

    ‘She flew at me because I reproved Josephine Bettany for her untidiness and also for her impertinence to me, and she actually told me that I was no lady to speak as I did!’ declared Matron, who, truth to tell, rather bore out the validity of Elisaveta’s accusation by her present manner.
    ‘I see. Is this true, Elisaveta?’
    ‘Quite true, Madame,’ replied Elisaveta, standing with her head held proudly, and her eyes flashing.
    ‘Then you must apologise to Matron for your rudeness,’ said Miss Maynard.
    ‘I regret!’ Elisaveta was all princess now. ‘That I cannot do.’
    ‘You see!’ Matron waved to Miss Maynard. ‘She is