The New House
at the Chalet School

HB/PB comparisons      Publishing history  

Click to see a larger image of the dustwrapper. On the right is a paperback edition.

The New House at the Chalet School - Hardback versus Paperback

New House has always been my favourite Chalet School book.  I love all the Chalet School books (of course!) but especially the Tyrolean ones and New House (and Camp) in particular.  It has sad parts (Joey's last day) and funny ones (the St Clare's Concert) which combine to make an excellent story.  Both books have eighteen chapters, with the same titles.  I've included all the word and sentence differences (except for one persistently occurring change which I got tired of writing over and over again - this is simply that 'middle' in the hb changes to 'Middles' in the pb - so 'the middle house' becomes 'the Middles' house'!  Seems a bit of a strange change to make, but there you are!) and summarised missing passages.  All page and line refs. are to the pb because it seems logical to me that the owner of a pb copy might want to note down the changes and won't want to try and find hb refs in a pb - this is a problem I've had before with FOCS comparisons where I'd like to jot down in my pb what is missing.  Anyway, after this very long introduction, here goes ...

Chapter I

The first changes are all very minor.  P7, line 5 where Jo says "Jolly to see you again!" this becomes "Lovely to see you again!" in the pb.  Same page, line 6 in the hb they have 'a very good week' but in the pb a 'very nice week'.  Then, same page line 8 Matey's comment "That's good hearing!" becomes "That's good to hear!" in the pb [a sensible change, this one - 'that's good hearing' is rather dated].  Still this page, line 15 the hb's 'whence' becomes 'from where' in the pb.

Page 9 line 15 Jo's "That will be jolly," in the hb becomes "That will be good" in the pb.  Page 10 line 25 'Simone is your friend, all of you' (hb) becomes 'Simone is your great friend.'  Same page line 26 'you must be prepared to be greatly responsible for the good order' in the hb becomes 'you must be prepared to be responsible for keeping good order' in the pb.

Next there is a paragraph missing entirely from the pb.  Page 11 line 30, directly after the sentence about how Miss Wilson and her colleagues cannot be in the Middles' house all or even most of the time, a paragraph follows in the hb, spoken by Mademoiselle, explaining to Jo that the prefects will be expected to make sure that rules are kept etc, and Mademoiselle adds that although it is a lot to ask, the school has given Jo much and now she must return it.

Another sentence is missing then, on page 10 line 33.  After Jo's question that they are not going back to the Green dormitory and the statement that her ideas are all at sea, this sentence follows in the hb, spoken by Jo, "But - I've only been there and in the Yellow, except for one term in the Violet" [Interesting statement that, as both Princess and Rivals see her in the Blue!].

Then on page 11 line 12 "Simone likes hers very well" in the hb becomes "Simone likes hers very much" in the pb.  Same page line 15 "thus" in the hb is "in that way" in the pb.

A longish passage is missing from the pb next.  On page 12 line 1 after the part about men bringing the meadowland into proper trim, there should follow in the pb a section about how as the weather was bad the girls hadn't been allowed to see much of the new house, and also the authorities had been worried about the tall ladders and the accidents that might occur with the Middles!  In the next sentence 'abode' in the hb becomes 'home' in the pb.

On page 13 line 14 after Mdlle's statement that they should go to the other end of the house, a sentence is missing from the pb.  "They duly went, and Mdlle pointed out the splasheries which the girls would use during the daytime".  Then on the same page line 30 after Jo's statement about what a brain Jem is, a short paragraph is missing from the pb.  Mdlle says that Jem did see to all that, but if Jo is ill, she will warn Matron to give her castor oil so Jo had better be careful!  Jo says that there is no worse threat and she will be careful!

Page 15 line 23 the description of Jo's room has a short passage missing from the pb about how Jo will not have to use the bathroom, because she has her own washstand with china to match, and that there is a white bookcase with room for a dozen books.  There are also two copies of famous pictures on the walls - the 'Garden Madonna' and the 'Tailor'.

Same pages line 27 'quietly' in the hb becomes 'quickly' in the pb [a silly change, it seems to me - if Jo is, as I think, overcome by the beauty of the room, she's more likely to reply quietly than quickly - oh well!]

The, page 16 line 3 the last paragraph of the chapter is missing from the pb.  It just explains that Jo's tidiness in putting away her things is born of the example before her and is not natural, and also gives her thoughts that everything has changed so  quickly and they'll all be so busy that they won't have time to miss the chalet, and they'll be used to all the luxury then anyway.  Then she puts her case under the bed and goes to find Simone.

Chapter II

Page 17 line 3 in the hb we find out that Jo was whistling 'Shenandoah' when the door flew open.  Also, directly after this sentence, in line 4 in the hb is an additional sentence 'This was one of Jo's trio of friends, Simone Lecoutier'.

Page 22 line 11 after Jo has asked Frieda to let them see her room, there is a paragraph in the hb where Jo tells Frieda about whose rooms have which flowers to match their respective colour schemes.

On page 24 line 1 there is a particularly long passage missing from the pb.  After the statement that everyone except the Lintons and Stacie Benson were back, the hb explains to us firstly about Stacie and then about the Lintons, giving the usual explanation of Stacie's big ideas and self importance and explaining about her accident and its outcome.  We hear briefly about Mrs Linton and how sick she is although now she is recovering.

Page 24 line 15 the very end of Marie's question is missing.  After she has asked Joey what is it that she dislikes about the new house, those without a hb are doomed to miss this curious phrase, "Tell us Herzliebchen!"

Page 25 line 21 again the end of Marie's speech is cut.  After she has told Jo that the husband may come and her face is touched with deeper colour, in the hb she adds a couple of sentences to the effect that Jo may have babies of her own which she would need to take care of, and then Jo's life would become full and busy.  [And don't we all know it!]

On page 26 line 1 after Marie says that she hopes marriage will come, in the hb she adds that 'It is why God created women!' [I'm not too surprised this has been cut; hardly politically correct for a 1992 book!]

Chapter III

Page 29 line 24 one sentence is missing.  After Jo's maths lesson, when Miss Leslie does not notice Jo's looks because she's so interested in the work she's doing with the Sixth, people without the hb are doomed to ignorance of the fact that Jo has a free period next and shuts herself in the library to give 'languid attention to Spanish history'.

The four sentences directly after this in the hb have been condensed to one sentence in the pb.  After the statement that nemesis is not far off, a paragraph follows in the hb to the effect that the lesson after break is science with Miss Wilson, whom Jo has not seen that morning as the mistress had come over to the school as soon as she was up to set up an experiment for the Upper Fifth and has had breakfast over there, and come back only to get some books, and Jo realises that she can't hope to escape detection in the labs.  This has been cut down in the pb.

Soon after this, part of Jo's hb soliloquy is missing from the pb.  Page 29 line 29, after Jo has decided she looks a sight after surveying herself in the mirror in the splashery, in the hb we also hear her wondering what on earth to do as she loathes Herr von Francius and all his works and he will want to stop the wretched thing as he nearly always does, and if it was only a 'yank' she wouldn't mind so much, but she can't stand that horrible grinding machine, and then she shudders.

Page 31 line 16 'worsted' in the hb becomes 'trapped' in the pb.  Page 32 line 27 a longish paragraph is missing from the pb.  After Matey has told Jo that she's pleased that Jo hasn't started messing up her skin with such things yet (i.e. rouge) in the hb she also treats Jo to a lecture on how if she begins 'painting' she'll ruin her skin, one of her chief beauties, and Matey wishes someone would tell young girls this so they wouldn't keep messing up their skin and wasting their money.  Jo is stung by this and retorts that she isn't likely to waste money that way.  Matey adds that she hopes not.

Page 33 line 18 after Matey says that she doesn't want Jo in bed so near the beginning of term, in the hb she also orders Jo to 'sit there and tie this flannel round your face'.

Page 35 line 29 after the statement that dreading the dentist is part of Jo's make-up, Matey adds in the hb the sentence that Jo is a sensitive highly strung girl who naturally shrinks from pain and has an over plus of imagination, before adding that Matron Besley will find it well to keep an eye on Jo.

Chapter IV

Page 38 line 18 a section is missing where Jo points out to Matey that there wouldn't have been time to tell Bernie that she and Frieda were in Innsbruck, before Jo says that all the same, she hopes they'll be allowed to see Bernie and her son.

Page 40 line 4 a section is missing from the pb after the description of Jo and Frieda leaving the dentist's office, to the effect that if Matey could have known what Jo would do next she probably wouldn't have let Jo and Frieda out of her sight, but as she couldn't the prefects were off.

Page 42 line 29 after Jo notices that the speaker (Mrs Venables) is in deep mourning, a sentence in the hb tells us that Jo's splendid black eyes softened at once and her beautiful voice was rich and sweet with sympathy.

Page 45 line 3 a very long passage is missing from the pb.  Margot Venables certainly does not say that it is a long and painful story and ask Jo and Frieda to go to the hotel and tell her everything, but more or less explains there and then!  We hear all about how she ran away with Stephen and wrote when Daisy was born, but no-one took notice of the letter.  A year ago Stephen died from snake bite and their three boys had already died, and they had gone up country to try sugar cane planting but it didn't pay.  After Stephen died there was just enough money to get them back to Brisbane, and Daisy and Primula Mary were ill.  Margot got teaching of French and Italian to do and they lived with a friend, a nurse, who died of septic pneumonia.  Then Margot sold up and they went to Brindisi [where is that, by the way?  I've never heard of it!]  Then they'd come on to look for Jem.  A lady on the train recommends the Anich Hotel and they were going to go up to the Tiernsee.  She knew Jem had married Madge as it was in the Times.  She'd thought she could get the address there and she found out about the school.  She'd meant to ask if Jem could find her any sort of work as a housekeeper or something so that she and the children could stay together, as he hadn't been in all the trouble, though he hadn't liked Stephen.  But as Stephen hadn't let her write she was out of touch with everyone, and as Jo was a Bettany she must know all about it, and couldn't she (Jo) go to the hotel and tell her everything?

Chapter V

 Page 46 line 1, before the statement that it took them some little time to reach the Anich, the entire first hb page of this new chapter is missing from the pb.  We find out that Jem scolded Joey thoroughly for going off with a stranger and bringing Frieda into it because it is a stupid and dangerous thing to do.  Jo couldn't be sure that it was Margot and not just someone telling them a yarn.  The girls might have got into Heaven knows whose hands and Jo should have had more common sense.  Jo replies that it was because Frieda was with her and also Primula Mary was so much like Jem, more so than David or Sybil.  Jem says that doesn't matter and Jo is never to do such a thing again.  Jo must promise this or he and Madge will never be at peace.  Jo agrees, but adds that Jem is an 'old fuss'.  The page finishes with the following sentences, "However, that all came much later - to be accurate, the next day.  At present, Jo and Frieda are left standing in the Maria Theresien Strasse with Mrs Venables and her two girls, and much has to come before Jem's lecture", before "It took them some little time ..."

Page 46 line 6 the end of a sentence is missing from the pb.  After the statement that it was a good 20 minutes before Primula Mary was hushed and got off to sleep, the hb adds, "but at last her long lashes fell, and she was 'over'".

Still page 46 line 13 a sentence is missing from the pb.  After the statement that it was obvious to the inexperienced girls that he had killed her love for him years before, in the hb Elinor tells us that he (Stephen) had been a weak man, a waster who could be the delight of company but a tyrant at home.

Still page 46 line 15 another sentence is missing from the pb.  After the sentence that he had never accomplished anything though he was always going to do wonders, the hb adds that his poor wife had borne the brunt of all the financial worries, as he seemed to have no idea of the value of money and ordered things without considering how he has going to pay.  [Steady on now, Elinor.  Even if he wasn't a doctor, you needn't go overboard!]

Page 47 line 4 a paragraph is missing concerning Stephen's death in the pb.  After Margot is told by Ah Sing that the master was sick, in the hb she adds that at first she thought he meant that - well, Stephen didn't often take too much.  She thought he was trying to forget about the boys, because he was so proud of them and Jimmy and Frankie used to follow him about.  Then she stops, flushed and ashamed, and Jo says that they understand and asks Margot to go on with the rest of the story.  Margot says that it wasn't that at all and Ah Sing hadn't been trying to frighten her, he'd wanted to break the news gently.  Then it continues.  "Stephen had been careless - he often was ..."

Page 47 line 11, another few lines are missing from the pb, after Margot wonders how true it was that Stephen had no pain, to the effect that they wouldn't let her see him, and Ah Sing said it was no good because the babies needed her.  Ah Sing told her to stay with the girls, he would see to everything.  Ah Sing was very good to her, the children adored him and he nearly worshipped them.

Page 48 line 22 another few sentences are missing from the pb.  After Margot says Nellie Rickards said she could pay a trifle for board if she likes, the hb adds that Margot now knows that Nellie banked every penny Margot ever gave her.  Nellie almost clothed the girls, she was always sewing and knitting for them, making dainty things from practically nothing.

Page 49 line 8, after the point that Nellie reminds Margot to get warm clothing for her and the children to wear on the sea voyage, in the hb we learn that she also enclosed another letter to a solicitor whose wife she saved from gas poisoning.  She asks him to 'see to' us and help with the sale ad booking the passages, in exchange for a small sum of money, which he refuses because he is so grateful that he helps Margot for nothing.

Page 50 line 15, after Frieda tells Jo that Kurt will come and take them home in a few minutes, a short passage is missing from the pb, in which Jo asks about Bernie and her baby and Frieda replies that they are much better and they may be allowed to see Bernie for a few minutes.  Jo explains to Margot that Bernie is Frieda's sister, whose son is just getting over a chill.  Jo then asks Frieda who spoke; Frieda replies that it was her mother, though Kurt was there too and will be there soon as he is bringing the 'auto', before Jo asks when Jem is coming.

Page 51 line 20, after Jo says goodbye to Mrs Venables and says that Jem will be here soon, and he'd see she was all right, in the hb she adds that next time they'd see her up at the Sonnalpe.  She then calls Frieda to hurry up as Kurt will raise the whole street with his horn if they keep him waiting, and impatient doesn't begin to describe him.

Page 52 line 25 after Frieda tells Kurt who Matron Besley is, Kurt's question ('How is Marie?  Did she not need the dentist's aid?') and Frieda's answer ('No, Marie's teeth were passed.  I believe Wanda took her to their dentist in Salzburg last week') are missing from the pb.

Page 53 line 6 after Jo says that she defies anyone to be shy in the Die Rosen nursery, another question and answer are missing.  Frieda asks if Frau Venables is older or younger than Dr Jem, and Jo replies that she believes that Margot is three years older and must be about thirty eight, though she isn't sure.

Chapter VI

One sentence is missing from the pb page 55 line 3.  After Jem says that if Margot has found her bed uncomfortable, that was her look-out, this sentence follows in the hb, 'But you're all coming up to stay with the Menschs as soon as Bernhilda can be moved, I hear, so you'll get all the news then.'

Page 57 line 24 and down - the passage has bits missing and has been changed around.  After Jem asks about Frau Venables, the girl at the desk replies, "The sad little English lady with the two children like spring flowers?"  before saying yes, they are in the salon that das Fraulein (Jo) engaged this morning.  She adds, "Shall I send a message to them?"

The whole of the next passage is missing from the pb.  The doctor (Jem) turns a look of amazement on Joey at his side.  Her sensitive face flushes with embarrassment and she murmurs that it seemed so horrid for them to have to feed in the Speisesaal as Primula is only a baby and Joey has heaps of money.

Page 59 line 1 - Jo's 'words of wisdom' are missing from the pb.  After Daisy says that Uncle Jem's cuddling Mummy as if she was Primula, Jo adds 'wisely' 'But then he's so big, and she's so tiny.  You have got a wee Mummy, Daisy!'

There's a funny change in the sentence after this - which is the one where Primula Mary sees her mother crying and threatens to cry too.  In the hb she says, 'Mummy kying! [waves the bread and butter] Mummy mustn't kye!  Baby kye, too!'  However in the pb she says 'Mummy crying! [waves the bread and butter] Mummy mustn't cry!  Baby cry, too!'  It seems that Primula's enunciation has improved in the 40 years between the publication of my hb and pb versions!

Page 60 line 2 a sentence is missing.  Ever wondered why Primula was named Primula?   Here's yo8ur answer!  After introducing her to Jem, Margot adds, 'I called her Primula because my friend Nurse Rickards had sent me a watercolour sketch of a cluster of primulas the day she was born.'

The end of the chapter has lots of bits missing.  The changes start on page 61 line 24.  The pb paragraph which ends, 'Mrs Venables told her brother as much as she could tell anyone about her life in Australia' , continues in the hb to give us quite a lot of detail.  First we find out that what she had told Jem was little more than what she had told the girls, because loyalty to her dead husband kept her as silent as possible about her life with him.  But because Jem is skilled at reading between the lines, he knows that Marrgot bitterly repents her wilfulness.  She ends by saying that she had only lived through it because she had the children, and, after all, Stephen didn't mean to be bad, only he was weak and found it easier to say 'yes' than 'no'.  Jem adds that that's a bad thing for a man especially since he had a wife and children depending on him.  Then follows the part where the doctor says that there is only one thing for Margot to do (i.e. come back up to the Tiernsee with him and Jo).

Page 61 line 31, between the sentence where Margot says she could set out tonight if need be, and the sentence where she says that just before Jo and her friend came, she felt that she must give it all up, there is a whole hb page missing!  We learn that as there are no urgent cases at the San just now, Jem isn't in a great hurry to leave and anyway, Margot's girls should be going to bed.  Margot admits that Baby [Primula] goes at six, but she's let Daisy sit up much later these last few months because Daisy's so companionable (though she's only nine) and sometimes Margot couldn't bear to be alone.  Jem asks when Daisy will be ten; Margot says next March, because Jimmy was the eldest and would have been nearly twelve - but all the boys faded away in the heat.  Jem kisses her and reassures her that in the wonderful mountain air, even Primula will become a different child.  Margot exclaims how thankful she will be because she's been terrified she'll lose Primula too.  She says Jem can't know how much she hated coming away and leaving those little graves behind her.  Jem tells her not to dwell on it because the boys have been spared the 'heat and battle of the day', and anyway she will need all her strength to be father and mother to her girls.  Margot says she knows, but at least now she won't have to stand alone, because Jem and Madge will be behind her.  Jem agrees and says Madge is longing too have them all up there - she made him promise that if Jo was right and wasn't just sending Jem on a wild goose chase, he'd bring Margot and the children up as soon as possible.  Margot adds that there will be Jo too, and what a dear girl she is!  Then she carries on to the part about if Jo and her friend hadn't come Margot would have given it all up.

Page 62 line 7 in the hb after Jem says that Margot has a home and a brother to provide for her, Margot adds, "You're such a dear brother, Jem!"  Then she adds, "Father and Mother?"  Jem reluctantly tells her that Father was killed seven years ago in a motoring accident and Mother only survived him three months, though she spoke of Margot a good deal towards the end and wished she could hear from her.  Margot, with tears in her eyes, says that Stephen forbade her to write, because he was jealous of her having anyone but him, and she didn't dare go against him.  But she is glad Mother forgave her at the end - she would have liked to see them again.  Jem says that after the first bitterness was over they would have liked to see Margot too.  Then he gets up and delivers the line about going to see about rooms.  The rest of the chapter is as written.

Chapter VII

Page 64 line 9 after Mademoiselle has bade Jo to come back at break in half an hour's time to tell her all the news, she adds a further paragraph in the hb, saying that Jo had better go at once to her history.   Of course she [Mdlle] knows that Dr Jem had found his sister because Frieda told her so last night.  But she will be glad to hear what Jo has to tell her later.  Then she tells her to 'Go now, dear child', and Jo retires with the curtsy.

Page 65 line 3 and down little bits are missing.  After Jo notices that some of the Middles look thoroughly disgruntled, in the hb a sentence is added to the effect that she had had no time to speak to the other prefects, as talking was not encouraged during science and she had spent all break in the study.  Then, when she decides to find out what's wrong, in the hb she asks Corney first, because she looks one of the gloomiest of the party.  Jo first asks if Corney has got into trouble at school; Corney 'growls', "No".  Jo continues, "Then what's the trouble?  You look like a thunderstorm!"  Corney growls again and hunches her shoulders, so Jo then passes on to Evvy.

After Evvy has told Jo that it's 'just Matron Besly', the end of Jo's question and all of Evvy's reply is cut from the pb.  In the hb, her question runs, "What about her?  What have you all being doing?  No more 'midnights', I hope?"  Then Joyce Linton, who is with them, goes dark red and we are told that she had been the moving spirit of a midnight the previous term and Nemesis had overtaken her in an unpleasant form.  She doesn't like Jo's reference to her sins and Evvy retorts with spirit, "That's so likely, isn't it?  Once of that is quite enough, thank you!"  Jo then asks again, "Then what is it?"  and Evvy gives the 'confused' reply that Matron Besley doesn't quite understand.

Page 65 line 21 'quoth' in the hb becomes 'cried' in the pb.

Page 66 line 18 the pb spares us all the detail of Elisaveta's two terms at the school until the death of her grandfather and the rescinding of the Salic Law means that she has to be educated in her own country.

Page 67 line 14 after Evvy says that Jo will see to it somehow, some detail is missing from the pb where Corney grumbles that she doesn't see how Jo can do anything because she can't tell Matron that she's an ass [presumably this means that Jo can't tell Matron that Matron's an ass, not that Jo can't tell Matron that Jo's an ass!! which is what I thought when I first read it] and that they're always allowed to read.  Evvy says she knows that, but she'll do something about it, all the same.  She finishes by telling Corney to just 'wait and see!' before hanging up her towel and going to the common room leaving the others to finish their 'ablutions' hastily as the gong sounded for Mittagessen.  The next paragraph begins with the sentence 'She was quite right in her supposition'.

Page 68 line 8 the paragraph ends in the pb with Jo saying they should go find Marie and Simone but continues in the hb with Jo saying that they can't have this sort of thing going on because it will undermine their prestige as prefects if it does, before the other two burst in.

Page 68 line 22, after Simone has spoken, people with a hb edition will have the thrill of knowing that she speaks 'with a wag of her small head which loosened part of the still precariously pinned up roll of black hair which caused her so much trouble, since, then months ago, it had been neatly bobbed.'

Same page line 27 after Jo says she would be ticked off for impertinence, in the hb she rams her point home by adding, 'Bill would never listen to tales about another member of staff from just a schoolgirl - unless it was anything frightfully serious, that is.  No mistress worth her salt would.'

Page 70 line 8 after the sentence that all girls must lie down for the midday rest, two sentences are missing from the pb to the effect that in the past they'd been allowed to sit about and talk as long as they were quiet.  However now they all had cushions and mattresses or rugs and were not allowed to talk.

Page 73 line 4 three words are missing from the pb.  After Jo has said that Primula Mary is rather too small to come down to the school, in the hb she adds, "She's only two".

Page 73 line 15 one sentence is missing from the pb, in the section where Miss Wilson is singing Jo's praises.  After saying that Jo is a dear girl and Matron will find that out herself, if she hasn't found it already, her next sentence in the hb is "We shall all miss her horribly when she leaves" before she says that Jo's a real strength in the school.

Chapter VIII

Page 77 line 7 quite a big chunk is missing from the pb, which would be of interest to anyone who is a fan of Luigia de Ferrara.  After Carla says that they miss the four so much, Jo says, "Nice of you", and then goes on to enquire, "How is Luigia getting on, Bianca?"  Bianca replies that she is very happy, and we are told that 'dark, Italian Bianca's elder sister, an old pupil of the Chalet School, had been clothed as a novice in the Poor Clares early the previous autumn.  Bianca adds that "she [Luigia] is looking forward to taking her final vows, and then she will be indeed happy."  Jo nods and her mind goes back to the days when slim, dark eyed Luigia had been a carefree schoolgirl like themselves.  It seems to Jo that if some of the older ones had husbands and children, Luigia has taken an even greater step forward than they.  It then continues with Eva's comments on how late Marie and Frieda are.

Page 77 line 23 a section is missing giving us detail on Jo's musical talent.  After Jo says that its good that no-one suggested her having lessons from Herr Anserl, and we learn that she's Miss Denny's pupil, the hb also tells us that 'the piano was not her strong point, but she possessed a lovely voice, which was already being carefully trained by Mr Denny, the school's eccentric singing master, and Miss Denny's brother.

Page 82 line 10 a paragraph is missing from the hb.  After Jo has said that she hopes Arda will take on library and magazines next term, though that will lie with whoever is Head Girl then, the hb carried on and tells us that 'The girls looked at each other in silence.  None of them liked to remember that this was Jo's last term.  But they knew that they must face up to it.  After all, as Marie remarked later, many of them were also leaving, and they could not hope to remain schoolgirls forever.'  Then Thora asks about her duty and the conversation continues.

Page 83 line 8 two sentences are missing from the pb.  After Jo says that Mdlle thinks that each of the two houses should be dedicated to a Saint, in the hb she also says, "We have always considered the Madonna as our special Patron.  [By the way, is that mentioned anywhere else, I don't remember seeing it?]  But I rather like the idea of a special Saint for each house."  Then she continues to say that Mdlle wished them to choose tonight.

Same page line 16 'scrutator' in the hb becomes 'examiner' in the pb.

Page 86 line 10 after Marie says it would be pleasanter if they could have some of the old girls with them, a big chunk is missing from the pb.  Jo says that they are going to have Rosalie Dene, and we learn that Rosalie has just come to the Sonnalpe to be Dr Jem's private secretary.  Jo adds that Mary can't get away and Bette and Gertrud are too busy now.  Then she pauses impressively before saying that Elisaveta will be here for a fortnight just then and will be with them whichever day they go.  There is 'a chorus of joy' at this and EBD reminds us that, because of the Guide camp at the beautiful Baumersee lake the previous summer, every one there knew the Crown Princess of Belsornia.  Louise exclaims, "I say! What fun!" and  adds that the Quintette will be thrilled to the limit when they hear that, because they were very chummy with Elisaveta at camp.  Jo says she hopes that they won't want to investigate any hornets' nests they come across, and chuckles, while we are reminded of the details of the hornets' nest business.    [Everyone has read Camp haven't they?]  Frieda adds that she hopes that Jo and Juliet will refrain from trying to catch fish!  Jo retorts that she doesn't think that there's anything bigger than tiddlers in the Ziller, and Marie teases that perhaps Simone will wish to wash for gold again.  Simone replies seriously that that was Margia's idea and she, Simone, was only a child then and will not do such things now that she is grown up.  Jo tells her that her hair is coming down and Simone sighs and twists up the tiresome locks, with 'her sudden accession of elderliness gone at this reminder'.  Only then does Louise say that anyway it will be a great expedition.

Chapter IX

Page 89 line 16 two sentences are missing from the pb.  After the sentence where Primula Mary is settling down in the nursery and becoming the ally of David, the hb also tells us that the doctor does not say much to the girls [Jo and Frieda] but it is obvious that he was anxious about his sister, because of the long strain she had been under and also the killing climate of North Queensland, which had told on her.  He is very worried about how much her strength has been drained.  The next thing that's missing is a chunk of conversation between Jo and Madge.

Page 90 line 10 after we are told that Jo tells Madge that there is nothing to be gained by rubbing things in, the hb also lets us listen in to a direct conversation between Jo and Madge.   First we are given a description of Madge's appearance (slight, brown haired, with a sweet and delicate face) and then Madge says that Jem hasn't said much to her, but she knows he's anxious.  Jo asks if Madge has her own ideas and Madge says that she won't say anything because they will know better when Herr von der Witt has seen her.  Madge does know that both Jack and Gottfried have insisted on a consultation.  Jo's eyes darken and she says fearfully, "Surely they don't think ..."  Madge immediately says that Margot's lungs are perfectly sound but they are afraid that what she has undergone may have undermined her nerves and constitution and she might be permanently invalided, which would be terrible for Daisy and Primula.  Jo says, "Not as long as they have you" and then it carries on to Jo and Frieda's conversation.

Page 93 line 26 3 sentences are missing from the pb.  After Frieda says that they must just put up with it [meaning Matron Besly] in the hb Jo adds with conviction, "She'll get a lesson some day that she'll never forget" and says that the only thing is, she [Jo] doesn't want it to come from the middles because they're quite bad enough without any encouragement of that kind.  Then it continues with the bell ringing for the end of Break and Jo and Frieda going off to chemistry and Italian respectively.  [By the way, if Frieda can drop science because she has no aptitude for it, why can't Jo, who as we know can't stand science either?]

Same page line 32 one sentence is missing in the hb.  After we are told that the next step of the affair occurs at midnight that night, in the hb this sentence follows, 'As I have explained, above the dormitories and rooms at the front of the new house was the roof garden, with two great skylights which were intended to give light to the cubicles at the back of the dormitories.'

Page 94 line 19 after we are told that Alixe von Elsen occasionally recalled to her elders and betters that still waters have a habit of running deep, this sentence follows in the pb.  'This crowd had seen the advantages of the skylights even before Joey Bettany most unwisely demonstrated how they could be opened from the outside.'

Same page line 25 after Kitty asks what they can do, EBD tacks four further words onto the comment in the hb, so Kitty also says, "Oh, good shot, Louise!"

Chapter X

Page 101 line 20 the end of a sentence is cut from the pb.  After the sentence that Corney is still sleeping, though her rest is becoming more broken, there is a sentence which ends in the pb, 'no apparent notice was taken of the tapping'.  This sentence continues thus i the hb, 'for Ilonka was a notoriously heavy sleeper, though they had thought better things of Cornelia.'

The paragraph page 102 line 26 which begins in the pb, 'The brilliant moonlight fell on the sinker,' and ends' the sinker attached to the string,' has been quite heavily cut.  In the hb that paragraphs runs roughly thus: the moonlight hits the sinker and Jo can't believe her eyes.  She thinks it must be a thrush with a shelled snail, though her own common sense should tell her that the only birds that would be about at that time of night would be owls or nightingales.  She gets out of bed, steals to the window and looks up.  She can hear murmurs but can see nothing except for the sinker attached to the string, as the middles have drawn up Baby Voodoo just before she arrives.

Page 105 line 15 'septet' in the hb becomes 'seven' in the pb.

Page 106 line 16 after the statement that they never knew where Biddy had got the luminous paint, the hb also adds that Jo always suspected Hansi, the boy-of-all-work at the school.  [But where on earth would Hansi get it from?  It's not the sort of thing you would have lying about, is it, even in the workshed or something? or perhaps EBD would have had?!]

Page 108 line 9 after Alixe has remembered that baby V is still on the piano and no one has bothered about it again, a paragraph is missing from the pb.  Alixe sits up in bed, and wonders what they can do because if Bill or Matron find Baby there will be terrible trouble; although Jo is hateful, Alixe prefers her to Bill any day!  We then find out that, as Alixe is a plucky child, she had recovered more quickly than any of them from her fright, because the sight of the Head Girl had helped her to pull herself together.  Now she sets her teeth and prepares to rescue Baby.

Page 100 line 26 after Bill asks if Anna has taken leave of her senses, in the hb Anna says that, "Ich habe den Teufel im Musikzimmer gesehen!"  and Bill, completely flummoxed, replies, "What?"  Anna repeats herself and only then does Bill say, "Nonsense!"

Page 111 line 19 after Bill has asked Karin to give Anna some hot coffee, those without hb's are doomed to miss Karin's scolding of Anna.  She says that if Anna were a good girl, she need not feel afraid if the devil and all his company from hell appeared to her.  She orders her to "Cease thy howling like a dog that is turned out of the house for stealing, and come with me!"

Page 112 line 5 'jalousies' in the hb becomes 'shutters' in the pb.

Page 114 line 20 one sentence is missing from the pb.  After Bill condemns the middles to spend the afternoon in bed, the hb also adds, "Considering the fright Joey had given them the night before, they all thought she might have omitted that last".

Chapter XI

Page 117 line 10 three sentences are missing from the pb.  After we are told that Matron Besly was too young to realise that she was going to undermine the discipline of the school, the hb also tells us that she was too inexperienced to see that she was not doing herself any good by her attitude towards Matey; it also says that Matron Gould, her other colleague would not have behaved like that, but even in her earliest days Matron Gould would never have treated any prefect in the way that Matron Besly had done.

Same page line 17 those without  hbs are permitted to miss out on Margia's description of CS Sundays, which I'm sure everyone knows ('such gentle Sundays')!

Same page line 18 the pb makes an error which any fan of Mr Eastly will be interested in, because the hb actually tells us that, 'Mr Eastly, the Protestant chaplain who served the church at the Sonnalpe, had set up a curate lately, as his regular work had made it difficult for him to come down to the Tiernsee to take service for the girls.  Mr Bernard was a young fellow, who had been sent out to the mountain district.  He had come down the previous night ...' etc.  As the pb misses out all this 'thrilling' information, it sounds as if Mr Eastly is taking the service, which is actually wrong.

Page 117 line 34 the pb misses out a chunk.  After we are told that today the girls were to hear the stories of the patron saints of the three houses, in the hb Jo says that she knows nothing about any of them, and Marie hastily says that she must know of St Agnes and her lamb.  Joey admits that she does know that much and she knows that Ste Therese de Lisieux was a Carmelite nun who wouldn't be much more than sixty if she was alive today.  But that's all she knows.  Simone offers to lend her La Vie d'une Ame [does this have more information about saints?  Excuse my ignorance.  I've never heard of it] and Jo says that's good, because she likes fresh things to read.  Then our 'all time favourite' Anne Seymour, queries if they are all to be together to hear the stories.

Page 120 line 21 after Matron Besly has 'flung all caution to the winds' in the hb she also says, "But I never yet toadied to anyone - even if she is sister to one of the proprietors of the school!"

Page 122 line 21 after we are told that this was the first Tzigane band of the season, the pb omits two sentences which tell us that none of the younger girls were going, but Mademoiselle had agreed for the Upper Fifth and the Sixth to attend, because some of the resident Staff would be there, and also the Dennys, so even though the girls would sit alone, they would be well chaperoned.

Page 123 line 32 after Mademoiselle has told Matron to have nothing more to do with the seniors or the prefects, a short paragraph is missing from the pb which tells us what Matron does in response to this - bows, unable to trust herself to speak, and hurries off to her room, and shuts herself in, afraid of what is coming after that speech, but then, how could any sane Englishwoman know that girls of that age were allowed such outrageous freedom.  We then return to the prefects, who chuckle, knowing that they have scored.

Page 125 line 23 after Marie says that telling fortunes is wrong, in the hb she adds, "Only God can know the future.  And it is much worse on a Sunday".  Then a few lines further down, after Jo is asked what she is up to, in the hb she protests, "Not up to anything", before someone (I suspect Simone) says, "But yes; you never look like that unless you are planning something"

Page 127 line 23 the last hb paragraph is missing from the pb.  Jo's friends admit that she has trapped them all neatly, and go off amicably arm in arm to listen to the brief accounts Mdlle gives the whole School of their patron saints.  They then 'had Abendessen and Prayers, and so to bed, as Sam'l Pepys remarks, with minds full of the little Carmelite nun, Ste Therese of Lisieux - the Little Flower, as so many love to call her - who led such a pure and holy life on earth, and who was inspiring men and women of the present day with such love and reverence for her.'

Chapter XII

Page 129 line 19 the sentence with the garden being cleared and then Cornelia setting off for the bathing shed at her best speed is the start of a paragraph in the hb, and the rest of f this paragraph is missing from the pb.  It merely explains that as it was a hot evening the girls could do whatever they  wanted to, because heat in the Tyrol is something that England experiences perhaps once in a century.  The pb then spares us the boring rigmarole about how the school must be run on the lines laid down by the San doctors because some of them have relations at the San etc.

Page 130 line 15 a chunk has been missed from the pb, and for the first time since I started this comparison I feel truly sorry for those without a hb, because this exchange is truly funny - well, I think it is!  After Margia has told Corney to wait till the others come, and then she'll know all about it, in the hb she says, "I'm the President, by the way", she added bewilderingly.'  When Corney hears this, she immediately thinks wildly of 'his Excellency the President of the United States'! and exclaims, "The President?  Help!  I guess you've gone batty for keeps!  Look here, Margia, you come along with me, and ..."  Here Elsie tells her to be quiet, and Margia's all right, as Corney will see in a second, and some of the others are coming.  Then we find that 'Before long, twelve girls besides themselves ......'

Page 131 line 2 after Margia says that their other Matron used to be the very limit, in the hb Corney breaks in, saying that she's heard of her as the one who locked the Robin in and then tells the snail story.  Margia tells her that the meeting is not yet open for discussion and Corney had better wait till it is.  Corney subsides, snubbed, and Margia continues, "Some of us decided to do something about it .."

Same page line 11 after Margia says, "We did all we could" in the hb she adds "- that snail thing Corney was yarning about just now was one thing -" before continuing, "and we'd have got her shifted ..."

Page 131 line 33 after Evvy says that they must 'ram home' that no-one loves Matron Besly too well, in the hb Ilonka says she wishes they could give her a scare with snails, like Jo and 'Veta and Bianca, but the St Clare's windows are casements.  Margia agrees that those small diamond panes would be no good for this sort of thing and anyway, they should try and be original.  Then Joyce suggests the tea idea.

Page 132 line 10 after Joyce says it's Gretchen who brings the tea, those without hbs are doomed to miss out on info about the Pfeiffen family (those famous Pfeiffens!)  Margia says she doesn't know Gretchen, and asks if she's one of the Pfeiffens because there seems to be a never ending stream of them!  [I couldn't agree more, Margia!]  Evvy says that no, Gretchen's name is Angbach, but she, Gretchen, is a pal of Rosli Pfeiffen.  Margia then asks if Gretchen might leave the tray abut.

Same page line 26 after Margia mentions the tartar Matey gave Lonny last summer after she ate the berries, in the hb Lonny makes a face and interjects, "And I was so sick!  I remember it well, Margia.  But we have none"  Margia says, "No, but I know where it is" and the speech continues.

Page 133 line 29 after the meeting 'broke up somewhat hurriedly' there is a long chunk between this and 'Two days later ...' which has been omitted from the pb.  It basically involves Gillian cornering Margia and trying to get her to give up the idea.  Margia refuses, saying that Matron had hauled Jo over the coals before everyone as if she, Jo, was a kid.  Margia says something has to be done and its their duty to do it.  Gillian feels that Margie is right there, but the methods Margia is adopting are  wrong.  However there is nothing she, Gillian, could do about it except to tell someone in authority, which was the last thing she would do.  If it had been her own sister who was doing it, she might have stepped in but Margia has foreseen this, and its one reason why she chose Corney and Ilonka to do it.  Then there is the part, 'Two days later ...'

Line 33 on the same page a small part is missing after Evvy hands the package on to Cornelia and Ilonka, which says that they had found out that Gretchen had to lay the tray on the floor while she knocks and opens the door, so they arranged that one of them would do something to distract Gretchen while the other put the contents of the package into the teapot.

Page 134 line 2 after they 'make their final arrangements with much glee' a sentence is missing concerning the fact that Matron had caught Ilonka 'safety pinning a suspender, and had read her a severe lecture on such slatternly behaviour.  Besides this, she had seen fit to pull up Frieda Mensch,' and the passage continues as in the pb with details about Frieda's hair.

Chapter XIII

Page 138 line 4 after Jo has said she wishes the 'little idiots' would try to show their affection less strenuously, in the hb she adds, "Well, they will know all about it by the time Bill's finished with them.  She was too flabbergasted to say anything at the moment, but she'll make then wish they hadn't been born before she's finished with them, and that's one comfort!" before asking Marie what she's giggling about.

Page 139 line 22 'recking' in the hb becomes 'caring' in the pb.

Page 141 line 8 after saying that she has no more to say, in the hb Bill says something else! merely that if Matron doesn't wish to detain her further, she must ask Matron to excuse her as she has work to attend to over at the school.  Overawed, Matron leaves.

Page 143 line 27 after Evvy says what they should say if Matron asks what they are looking at, a bit is missing before Joyce's answer.  In the hb Margia suggests that they shouldn't say anything, but just go on looking and then slide off.  Yvette Mercier says that then Matron will give them order marks, and she has so many already.  Margia retorts that if Yvette wants to set her order marks above the way Matron's going on then she can do it.  Only Yvette shouldn't come to them for sympathy when Matron drops on her for anything.  Yvette protests that she will do it, because she doesn't want to go against public opinion.  It's only that if Matron insists on a reply, she Yvette won't know what to say.  Then Joyce gives her suggestion, "Say, "Nothing!"

Page 143 line 31 'casuistry' in the hb becomes 'false reasoning' in the pb.

Page 144 line 20 after Matron has rushed off to her own room to 'inspect' in the hb a little detail is missing telling us that ten minutes later she meets Maria Marani on the stairs and demands why Maria is staring at her.  Maria replies politely, "Nothing, Matron!" and carries on staring.  Matron orders her to 'keep her eyes to herself' and she would have gone to Miss Wilson, but after the experience of the previous morning she decides to give that lady a wide berth.  Then she meets Cornelia and the passage continues, but there are a couple of sentences cut in line 23 telling us that Cornelia hated sewing and had already spent two terms on her embroidery and would probably spend two more, as she never touched the work if she could help it and had even now protested, but Miss Stewart had insisted that she should have something to keep her out of mischief, as Evadne was reading, Ilonka was busy with her lace pillow, etc. etc.

Page 145 line 27 after 'Matron's relations with the rest of the staff were not sufficiently cordial for her to speak to them about it' a sentence is missing to the effect that, "She knew that she had antagonised them all by her treatment of the prefects, and she had to suffer in silence".

Page 147 line 24 'blent' in the hb becomes 'blended' in the pb.

Page 148 line 3 'imitativeness' in the hb becomes 'copying the other girls' in the hb.

Page 149 line 2 'whither' in the hb becomes 'to where' in the pb.

Same page line 8 'pi-jaw' in the hb becomes 'lecture' in the pb.

The last paragraph of the chapter has again been cut from the pb.  After Marie has said that Matron is being suppressed as hard as ever they can manage it, in the hb Jo takes a glass of lemonade and then says that she wishes that the little wretches would leave dead things buried.  She never did think exhumation was decent!

Chapter XIV

Page 151 line 8 a very long passage is missing after, 'a fresh attach of trouble broke out'.  It basically gives in depth detail of sleeping arrangements, telling us that at Ste Therese's none of the dormitories had held more than ten beds.  In St Clare's with one dormitory holding eighteen cubicles and one holding sixteen, there was more scope.  Also, at the Chalet, the prefects' room, the library and the Staff sitting room had all been on the first floor, so there could be no mischief until all the Staff were in bed, which was usually between eleven and twelve, by which time most people were asleep, though there had been exceptions!  But in St Clare's, the prefects' room and the Staff sitting room were on the ground floor, and though this term the Staff made use of the roof garden a good deal, after the silence bell had rung, the dormitories were usually left unguarded, which was all right in the Garden dormitory because its heads, Violet Allison and Ruth Wynyard, were excellent people to be in charge.  But in Leafy, the head was Lieschen von Hoffman, a gentle Viennese who had got the position only because of her age, and was overruled by anyone.  Luise von Starken, her second, was a harum scarum generally involved in any mischief, so Lieschen had not an easy time, and Biddy, Alixe and Mary, three spirits who loved wickedness, were among her charges.  [What about Wheatfield dorm, where Kitty Burnett is? and why if Violet and Ruth were both such good people to be in charge, were they both in charge of the same dorm - why wasn't one of them in charge of the Leafy instead? and if Lieschen was such a pushover, why was she given Biddy, Mary and Alixe to look after - presumably the staff knew about the three 'wicked spirits'?!]  Then it carries on with, 'One hot afternoon ...'

Page 152 line 28 after Biddy says she won't stir a foot out of bed after the silence bell, in the hb she adds, "Ye all know what happened last term with Joyce and the rest", and Joyce flushes and says she wishes they'd give her a rest and talk about someone else's misdeeds for a change, because its not fair always raking up that feast, since she's paid for it.  Mary agrees, saying she'll "tell the world you did" [Joyce did] and says that Joyce held the baby that time.  Joyce snaps, "Then leave it alone!"  Mary says, "OK!" and orders that no-one is to say another thing about Joy's feast.  She then adds. "And as for Biddy coming to you every other night, Enid do you really think Vi and Ruth would stand for it?  You must be batty!"  Enid complains that she wants to hear the stories too and Mary retorts that she should do as Biddy says - come to Leafy; if she's that keen to hear the stories, she can risk being caught.  They are then interrupted by Marie.

Page 154 line 30 after Miss Stewart has gone to seek Miss Nalder, in the hb we are reminded that she goes to 'pass on the warning about the nets and other games paraphernalia.'

Page 155 line 4 after Marie wonders what rebuke she will get for being late, but nothing is said, the hb treats us to a little more information about Matron.  We learn that Matron was most subdued these days, as Mademoiselle had spoken to her most severely, telling her that if trouble were to continue, the school could do very well without Matron's services.  Matron did not want to leave like this, and she was sorry that she hadn't taken the advice people had given her, and held the reins more slackly.  She wished also that she had left the prefects alone, and though she hated them, especially Jo, she took pains not to show it.  After all the prefects were leaving at the end of the term.  If Matron could only get through the last few weeks of term, she felt she would manage better in future.  Then it cuts to Jo asking Marie about the games things.

Page 156 line 12 after Marie says Miss Nalder asked her to check that all the nets were dropped as far as they would go, in the hb she adds that Jo knows what happened last summer when they had a storm and someone had left the net on Number Three court wound tightly up.  Jo says she does, it snapped, and they had to get a fresh wire rope.  Then she tells them that she's had a letter from her sister, which Hansi brought down, and she says that Margot is much better.  She's up now, and sitting in the garden, and Jem thinks that all danger of breakdown is at an end.  She adds, "Isn't that splendid?"  Frieda exclaims that she is glad. But then won't the storm be bad for her, if it comes?  Jo says no, not after living in Queensland, because they get awful storms there.  Matron then asks if there is a storm coming.

Page 157 line 25 after we are told that if Marie had gone right round she would have found more than one girl highly flushed and far from sleepy, one sentence is omitted from the pb.  'As it was, beyond noticing a billowing of some of the curtains - a fact which she put down to the windows and door being open, though why she should have done that when there was not a breath of air stirring, it is hard to say - everything was normal.' before 'Cautiously she entered those cubicles,' [Why did the middles need to pull back their curtains?  Surely they could have heard Biddy without pulling apart the curtains?  And does anybody else feel by this time that enough of Marie's speech and thought has been cut from the pb to make her appear to be rather brainless, dim and - dare I say it? - almost like a 'bimbo'?!]

Page 158 line 25 after we are told that Jo found it hard to get to sleep, the pb cuts some detail of how Jo heard the mistresses and domestic staff going to bed, and then got up and went over to the window to look out at Ste Therese's and St Agnes, both of which were dark.  Obviously everyone else was getting as much sleep as they could.  Jo goes back to bed and gets out her Rosary, which Frieda had given her.  Jo knows how to use the Rosary, and had often found that repeating the prayers soothed her to sleep, if she was wakeful.  [Perhaps another clue to Jo's conversion?]  The soothing prayers soon make her drowsy and she falls asleep, the beds falling from her fingers.  Then comes the part about 'It must have been after midnight'.

Page 164 line 6 again the last paragraph is missing from the chapter.  It merely tells us that Miss Wilson lay down again, and 'fell into such a heavy sleep that it was only by sound shaking that Miss Stewart and Miss Nalder were able to wake her at all, next morning.'

Chapter XV

Page 166 line 32 after Biddy, not understanding Miss Wilson, stares at her in silence, in the hb another sentence follows, 'She vaguely wondered if an insult to her beloved country were intended, but as she was not sure she said nothing'.

Page 169 line 4 a 'linking' paragraph is missing after Jo gathers up her books.  Jo thinks what a term they are having, with nothing but alarms and excursions as she tidies her hair.  She hopes that the storm has cleared the air in several senses, and that they'll have a little peace.  We are then told that peace was the last thing likely to come to St Clare's, 'though what happened next was something that no-one had anticipated in their wildest moments,' before Mr Flower arrives.

Page 171 line 12 after the group ask to know what is happening, in the hb Evvy asks cautiously, "What's on for tonight?"  Kitty Burnett tells her that there's cricket and tennis till nine o'clock, and then Abendessen, but that's all, before repeating, "What on earth have you two been up to?"  Evvy then says that this is too public.

Page 174 line 7 after Corney says she's bagged the sax, and they've only got one, as he was so expensive, in the hb Kitty replies, "Just like you to bag the best, Corney Flower!"  Evadne replies that there are plenty more things, and anyway Kitty's got her fiddle, so what's she fussing about?  Then we come to the part about the 'varied' instruments.

Chapter XVI

Page 177 line 9 'gemini' in the hb becomes 'fiddlesticks' in the pb.

Page 185 line 4 "That's a libel" in the hb becomes "That's a slander" in the pb.

Page 185 line 14 after the girls have 'filled the carriages fuller than they usually were at this time of the year,' the hb gives us two more sentences to tell us that the season for the Zillerthal towns opens at the end of June and lasts till September, usually.  During that time the little railway is busy, but at other times it is usually very quiet.

Page 186 line 26 after the girls are permitted to pass through the wide gate and into the street, a little bit is missing.  The hb tells us that 'The largest town in the Zillerthal is Fugen, though Zell has come to be regarded as the chief.  But Mayrhofen is as charming as any, with its six hotels, several pensions,' etc., etc.

Page 189 line 10 after some people complain because they aren't allowed to drink the river water, in the hb there is a conversation between Corney, Ilonka and Miss Annersley, when the former two request to be allowed to drink from the river.  Miss Annersley points out that they have had hot weather lately and the river is reduced by half, and they won't let the girls take the risk of imbibing fever germs by drinking it.  Then it goes on to them reaching the glade and settling down to the picnic.

Page 190 line 9 after the mistresses say that they don't want a climb up the mountain path for their charges after a long day, nearly three pages of the hb are missing from the pb.  Jo asks Frieda if there's a legend about this place as they go forward.  Frieda says she's never heard of one, but she can tell the one about the building of the Maria - rastkapelle at Hainzenberg.  Jo and Marie encourage her to do so, and Simone follows, so Frieda, thus encouraged, begins at once.  She tells the whole legend and then it cuts to the part about leaving the wild gorge behind.  [The legend is quite a nice sort of legend, a legends go.  If there are any made legend enthusiasts among you, do write to me at 8 Orchard Way, North Crawley, Bucks MK16 9LU enclosing SAE, and I'll send you a copy of the story].

Page 192 line 2 'Jo's comment was particularly Jo - ian' in the hb becomes, 'Jo's comment was typical of her' in the pb.

Chapter XVII

Page 195 line 30 'verlobt' in the hb becomes 'betrothal' in the pb.

Page 199 line 32 after Simone asks "What is it?" one sentence is missing in the pb where Madge tells Mademoiselle to tell the girls, since, after all, it's her news.

Page 201 line 12 after 'no-one was too cast down at St Scholastika's victory' one sentence is missing from the pb which tells us that the two Schools met for supper after the match, where they had a royal time, making speeches and singing songs, before the account of Sunday.

Page 202 line 29 after Anne [reappearance of our favourite character!] says that she's not going to do anything about it, a chunk is missing concerning Jo's future.  We are told that Frieda knows, though she would not say it, that Jo is very unhappy at leaving school.  As she said, most of the others would have work to do.  Frieda herself was going up to the Sonnalpe to help Gisela Mensch, her sister-in-law, because a new sister for Natalie had arrived only a week ago, and Gisela's hands would be full.  Marie had her betrothal coming; Simone was going to the Sorbonne; Carla was going to Florence to study singing; Vanna was to help her invalid mother at home; Sophie was to be governess to her two small sisters; and Eva was going to England to train as a kennel maid.  It would only be Jo who had very little to do.  Her sister had an excellent nurse, and was engaging a girl to take care of the Bettany twins until they reached school age.  Of course Jo had her singing and her writing, but after her full life at school, she found this prospect dull.  However, she had only confided this to her three greatest friends, though she was friendly with all the girls in her form as a rule.  Therefore Anne could not be expected to understand.  Then it cuts back to Anne, disgustedly proclaiming ... etc!

Page 204 line 25 after the 'three divisions of the school set off for different walks' the details of where the Juniors and Middles went are missing (to the foot of the Mondscheiinspitze and to Scholastika respectively).  We also learn that as Mademoiselle was middle aged and growing stout, though as yet she needs no glasses, she chose to stay at home with Stacie Benson, who must not risk the exertion, and two or three little ones, to whom she promises to read aloud, before the detail of the senior walk.

Page 207 line 5 two and a half sentences are missing from the pb.  After Anne is clinging to the parapet with one hand, the hb adds, 'She knew if she were caught she would get into trouble, so this may have accounted for what happened.  Or it may have been that she was wearing new sandals.  However it came about, her foot suddenly slipped;' etc.

Chapter XVIII

Page 214 line 25  after we are told that Jo could sing that song backwards, a little detail is missing from the pb.  In the hb we learn that Jo is encored, of course, and that she would have been even if she had sung exercises.  She looks over the songs to choose her encore, thinking about what impudence it is to rifle her music case.  Then she chooses Schubert's 'Gretchen am Spinnradchen' and adds that since Lonny can't play that they'll have to ask Miss Denny, which they do.  She comes and plays, while Jo gives full rein to her dramatic and vocal powers in the song.  Then comes the part about the 'applause dying down'.

There end the cuts!  Looking back, I see that it looks like quite a lot has been cut from the pb, which is true.  However, if all you want is a good overview of the term's happenings, and don't mind too much about the nitty gritty, then I'd say the pb will serve you well.  If, however, you, like me, love all the tiniest weeniest details, or if, also like me, New House is one of your favourites, then I strongly recommend (sorry, Kirstie, maybe you should copyright it!) that you 'beg, borrow or steal' a hb copy!!

Anita Reddy

Publishing history