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

Gay from China at the Chalet School - Hardback versus Paperback

This is the 18th book, first published in 1944.  The paperback first appeared in 1989 and was re-titled Gay Lambert at the Chalet School.  The hardback version has 240 pages, the paperback 175 pages, which will give one an idea of just how much the hardback has been abridged - quite brutally, in fact, as many of the best parts are omitted.  It would take up too much space to report all the changes, so I have given the main bits.

Chapter I

This chapter describes Jacynth Hardy's journey to the Chalet School, the reasons why she is being sent, and her meeting with Gay.  The hard back tells us that Miss Kendal's school is closing, and Jacynth is sent by her Aunt to borrow a book on schools, so that they can choose a new one.  Auntie doesn't see Jacynth as a Roedean or Cheltenham girl, and other schools are rejected as too cheap.  Jacynth has no other relations to take her in; her father was lost at sea, and her mother died when she was two days old.

On meeting Gay and family on the train, Ruth "has two tinies by the hand", Nan and Bobbie (Nan later Jack Lambert's sister Anne).  The children are omitted in paperback, as is every reference to Gill Culver, whom, in the hard back, Ruth tells Gay to invite in the summer.

The school uniform, described in some detail in the hard back as a brown uniform, brown felt hat with flame and brown hat band, with school badge in the centre,  in the paperback is described as "New School Uniform".

No mention is made that Auntie's friend is an old Chalet School girl, Gipsy Carson (she's not, but that I suppose is Elinor Brent-Dyer) from Tirol days.

Jacynth's tip from Dr Harper rises from 10/- to £1.  The two half crowns and £1 note change to £2.  The contents of Gay's purse, two or three £1 notes and a couple of 10/- note, become several pounds as well as loose change.

Jacynth in hard back thinks the Lavender books "thrills"; in paperback this is changed to "wonderful".

The hardback gives names and ages of the Russell and Bettany children; in the paperback Bettany children's ages are omitted and the fact that the boys attend the Cathedral School in Armiford but that next term Rix Bettany is off to Winchester.

Chapter II

They continue the journey. Jacynth asks if Cerita is a dog.  Gay explains in hardback that one couldn't take pets to school at the present time, but they did in the Tirol days.  This is omitted in paperback.

We then learn in great detail about Gay's cello practice, how she has dropped science, and who else in the school learns to play.  None of these details is given in paperback.

Jacynth describes Auntie's accident in 259 words in the hardback version, but in one short paragraph of 63 words in paperback.

The station porter's Yorkshire(?) accent in hardback "As'll see tiv'er" is changed to "Well I'll see to her".

The girls are now joined by Grandma and family.  Gay and Jacynth are reading "mags" in the hardback, "magazines" in paperback.  When Gay offers one of the  granddaughters a look, Grandma demands to see what "trash" they are reading.  In the hardback version, there is then an explanation of Grandma's reading matter as a girl - GOOD WORDS and SUNDAY COMPANION - and a comment on how the world was changing, and not for the better.  Stanley, one of the grandchildren, is kicking his foot and is told off by Auntie; this is changed to a ticking-off from Grandma.

The girls are told that the family are going to take over Mrs Parry's shop in Howells village, but why Mrs Parry is leaving is told in much more detail in hardback.  Grandma again gives her views of the present days as compared to her young days, omitted in paperback.  A description of the churches in Howells is left out, and the fact that they have their own chapels in school.

Chapter III

Madge breaks the news of the staff's incident to Jo and Robin, and of the search for a Head pro tem.

Omitted is the state Madge is in when she arrives on her cycle to break the news of the accident, hair coming down, smudge on nose, etc.  Also omitted is the fact that the staff had gone to Cornwall to see to business arrangements of Nell Wilson, that Hilda Annersley hadn't been well last term, and that Jack told her to have a change.

The accident is described in the hard back in slightly more detail - such as man working not far away had rushed to the scene, Nell Wilson being the least badly hurt of the three and didn't lose her senses, and was able to put the hospital on to Jem, anxiety about Hilda Annersley, and fear of pressure and possibility of having to trephine.

They then discuss what must be done to replace missing staff.  No mention is made of Robin pointing out to Jo that when term begins they will be missing the Head, senior mistress, senior language mistress, and head of Junior School or of Jo's answer to this "My only Aunt! What a calamity, if it had been one of them, or even two!  But all four."

Madge then breaks the news that she can't take over as head as the family is having an extension in September.  The following conversation is left out in paperback.  "Why ever didn't you tell me before?" demanded Jo.  "It wasn't necessary, you know now anyway, but you can see that means leaving me out of the count."

They then discuss which old staff they could call on and go through them from Mollie Maynard to Carty, who has a 5 month old baby and an invalid daughter.  How she became an invalid after a train accident, how she now behaves in the hardback is given in great detail, but none of this is mentioned in paperback.

The following is rather puzzling and omitted in paperback:

Jo suggests that if Steve wasn't so dependent on her she could take the English, but was squashed by the others.  Madge says "Jem wouldn't allow it, and would you mind explaining how you imagine that you, of all people, could see to the organisation?  It needs a tidy mind for that sort of thing my child."  Jo replies "Well you needn't be so crushing, I do run my own home and it's not too bad but of course I can't do it".  (This implies she had suggested herself for Head, which she didn't only to take the English for a few weeks, which after being told Jem wouldn't allow, she does teach).  Jo says "It's a pity Matey couldn't take over" and Robin suggests Miss Denny.  Also omitted is the paragraph on the hospital report.  "Head pro tem" is changed to "temporary".  The visit to the nursery to see the children is abridged and the childish language in hardback is changed, e.g. "Oh vey do!" to "Oh, they do".  "Girlies" is changed to "Girls".

Chapter IV

The School hears the news.

Omnibuses are changed to buses.  The description of the town of Armiford is omitted although the rest of the drive to school is left in.  Various small bits are left out describing the school building: beautifully carved Corinthian Capitals which headed the pillars of the house, suits of armour, and statues in niches, a bright log fire burning in the burnished steel grate.  The two girls go to the Library to report to Lady Russell.  She tells them that they are starting a baby class which Josette and the triplets will attend.  Gay wishes it was nearer her home so Ruth could send Bobbie as next year he will go to school and there is nothing except the council school.  Lady Russell then speaks to Jacynth. This conversation is complete in paperback except for the fact that Jacynth hasn't done Latin.  The girls go upstairs and on the way discuss Josette's name, which is in the paperback, but the various Margarets in the family and the shortened forms are left out.  Matey asking for their health certificates is not in paperback.

They meet Gill Culver who says there is smoked cod fish or scrambled eggs for tea, Megan had told her.  After tea they meet in the hall, where Lady Russell tells them about the accident, but omitted in paperback are the deaths of the bus driver and conductress and an old man.  The fact that Miss Durrant had read about the accident in a local paper and wrote offering her services pro tem is not used.  The last few sentences of the chapter are omitted - "Pray for Miss Annersley that she may recover, she needs all our prayers.  Now we will have our Peace Prayer and then you must go to supper.  Kneel!"

Chapter V

The School meets Miss Bubb

The staff are relaxing in the staff room.  All references to smoking, cigarettes, and lighters are not in the paperback.  Simone being described as "marvellously trig and neat" and Matron as "crisp and brisk as ever" are omitted.

Hilary saying they all know it is hard to get staff nowadays and that it must have been Hobson's choice.  Matey gives her impression of Miss Bubb.  Left out is that she got the impression that with her it was YES and NO and nothing further could be said.  "She speaks well, has quite a flow of language and well chosen too.  Her voice didn't appeal but nothing really unpleasant about it, no accent or colloquialisms, I mean".  Mlle Berne suggests that her voice is perhaps sharp in tone.  Matey replies, "NO I wouldn't say that, it's the result of hearing Miss Annersley's.  Hers is so sweet and deep and Miss Bubb's is rather hard ...".

The juniors' two big brownie packs are not mentioned, nor the fact that well known vocalists and instrumentalists came down to the school to perform.  All mention of Miss Everett and qualifications is omitted.

Omitted - Hilary Burn's remark "Thank Goodness it isn't the Xmas term.  She'd throw several fits over the play".  No mention is made of the health of the school - sound sleep and fresh air.

A paragraph on the tidying up of the coffee cups is omitted, as is the discussion about replacement staff.

The chapter changes to the next morning.  The girls are getting dressed and discussing Madame's speech to them the night before.  Left out is Vita and her family coming to Jo's for the summer.  "Brekker" in hardback changes to "Breakfast" in paperback.

Later getting ready for Guides, in hardback Daisy is left in charge of the dormitory because Beth has gone to a Court of Honour as she is a patrol leader, so all reference to Beth in hardback is changed to Daisy in paperback.  A large paragraph is omitted about Daisy Venables being moved from the Patrol to be leader of Swallows.

Fiona Mcdonald's Scottish accent is anglicised.  Miss Annersley's hair in hardback is "waved crisply"; for some reason the paperback has her with straight hair.

Chapter VI

The new girls and friends go to Joey's.

Jacynth goes to dormitory to fetch Gay who is, in hardback, in her gym knickers with frock in hand; in paperback she just has her frock in her hand.  Daisy says that Josette's accident is the second in the family since Easter - David fell out of a tree and broke his collar bone.  A long paragraph about Meg Farrant's home life is omitted.

They are at Plas Gwyn where in hardback, but not in paperback, Beth gets extra leaves for the table, and Meg, Gay and Jacynth help set it.  Daisy being told to put a match to the drawing room fire is also omitted in paperback.

Long description of nursery omitted, primrose walls, orange rugs, green lino, white nursery furniture with nursery rhyme characters or backs of chairs etc., pictures on walls.

Len is then asked by Jo to look after the visitors while she sees to Steven.  There is about a page missing here, of the triplets speaking to the girls, asking their forms and telling what they themselves can do.  The description of the triplets' looks is also omitted.

They then return to the drawing room for Music.  Jo's being a mezzo soprano is omitted, as are the songs she sings, and the writers of them, e.g. Liza Lehmann's "Hebrew Lullaby", and her training in Tirol with Signor Dolci.

Later she speaks to each of the new girls alone.  Jo says in hardback.  "The school is the dearest thing on earth to me after my family" and that she is nearer and less busy than her sister.  She wants her own girls to be happy at school, so she must help other people's girls.  No reference is made in paperback to any of this.

In the hardback version Jo tells Gay that she is the best cellist in the school after Jesanne Gellibrand, but this is omitted in paperback.

Chapter VII

Miss Bubb has made a ruling that if the girls have public exams, they cannot play in any of the teams.  In the hardback we learn who plays in the teams and who is likely to replace them but in paperback there is nearly a page omitted on this subject.

A further ruling bans the girls from going beyond the play fields without special permission, tempers are frayed and in the hardback it tells you "No one, in fact, had ever seen easy-going Daisy look so angry before".  They decide on a deputation to Miss Bubb.

Josette's accident is again, in paperback, given a shortened form; the hardback tells how Josette had stood on Sybil's foot and she shrieked and dropped the kettle.  "It fell on the poor baby against her chest and all down her tummy."

The girls then go to see Miss Bubb in her room.  It is not explained in the paperback that Lady Russell had preferred to keep the Library sacred to Miss Annersley and herself.

In the hardback in answer to Miss Bubb's quick "Come in" the four fifth form girls entered, Beth, Daisy, Gay and Gillian?  She said "What do you want?".  In the paperback the girls names are omitted.

There are now almost three pages missing, the most important parts are Rosalie Dene's reaction on being told by Gay that the head wants her, she is being overworked, and if Josette wasn't so ill would resign.  Then a bit about the girls reporting back to their friends on their meeting, only the common sense of Janet Scott and Gillian stopping them from breaking out into open rebellion.

At prayers Miss Bubb is taking the Protestants and casting about in her mind how she can alter the two sets of worship and make them one.  She realises that she cannot ride roughshod over such a serious thing, but she reckons she has six weeks before Miss Wilson returns to change things, because she is determined to seat herself firmly in the saddle and become permanent Head of the Chalet School.  What she did not realise was what a power in the land Lady Russell's sister was and felt Jo didn't need to be reckoned with.  But Jo had no idea of being left out, and was already laying plans which would go far to neutralise the new Head's.

Chapter VII

This chapter is made up of four letters:
1.  Jacynth to her aunt.  In the paperback a few sentences have been left out.
2.  Gay to Ruth, the same.
3.  Robin to Nan Blakeney.  This letter is omitted in paperback.
4.  Jo to Miss Wilson.  Around a quarter of this letter is deleted.

Robin's letter to Nan Blakeney is about Nan's wedding, how Miss Bubb will not permit girls sitting exams to attend, Julie Lucy having Grade II of Associated Board and being in tears, but Miss Phipps had explained to Miss Bubb that Julie was to be a bridesmaid and Miss Bubb had relaxed enough to let Julie have the time off.  (An explanation on Nan Blakeney.  She appears in the La Rochelle series, a cousin of Rosamund Willoughby (nee Atherton) but "adopted" by the Lucy family and engaged to David Willoughby (see Janie Steps In).

Jo's letter to Miss Wilson changes from "My dearest Bill, otherwise Nell" in hardback to "My dearest Nell" in paperback.  Omitted in the paperback is the part where Jo writes about Marjorie Durrant returning to teach "very sad, but very brave.  She has had no word from her husband for weeks.  She saved nothing from her home.  About her little Elizabeth she never speaks" (obviously killed in an air raid).  Jo had then told her about last autumn when she feared Jack had drowned.

The next part of the letter omitted, is Grizel entering at that point in a flaming temper.  Miss Bubb has put her on prep duty two nights a week and the dinner hour for three days.  As Grizel takes lessons in her dinner hour, she points out she cannot do it, and was told to move the lessons to her tea hour.  Jo then goes on to plead with Miss Wilson to come back, left out in paperback - "I never prayed so hard to you for anything in my life before, but I'm doing it with my whole heart.  Come - come - come!".

Chapter IX

Bill returns.

Right at the start of this chapter Jo is taking a Latin class.  Almost two pages are left out in what I consider to be one of the funniest parts of the book.

Jo tells Jacynth to stop gazing out of the windows, but then in the hardback goes on to say that they will have to whitewash the windows after all.  There was an almost audible chuckle from the form.  Miss Bubb's latest effort was to ask Matron to send to Armiford for a man to come and whitewash the  lower half of the big french windows that lighted every classroom, as she said the girls spent too much time looking out.  Matron had replied that this could not be done as the house was not theirs and Mr Howell (who was on the Indian Ocean) would have to be consulted.  Miss Bubb instead of being wise and letting the matter drop sent for Gwensi to enquire about her brother's whereabouts.  When Gwensi discovered why Miss Bubb wants her brother, she flies off the handle and tells Miss Bubb in no uncertain terms that the glass is old and would be spoilt.  Gwensi gets a well merited rebuke for her impertinence.  She then spreads the tale throughout the school.

Jo's Latin class contains, in hardback, Roswitha Saxon, who was not clever and hated Latin.  In paperback this becomes Molly McNab.

Deleted in paperback is the description of Gwladys the maid.  We are told she has short sight, a club foot, and is a gawky individual whose manners were not those of a parlour maid.

Bill has arrived and Jo goes to see her in the Library.  She tells Jo she "wired" her two days ago.  "Wired" throughout the chapter is changed to "wrote".  The fact that she spent the night with the Lucy family and will soon have her plaster of paris removed is deleted.

Bill goes upstairs to her room to be met by Matron.  Another page on Josette's accident and its effect on Sybil is left out in paperback.

Bill then, in hardback, tells Jo and Matron that if Miss Annersley had died, part of her would have died also.  Jo looks at Bill in amazement as she is usually a self-contained unemotional person.

Chapter X

This chapter tells of Gay offering to give Jacynth a Cello lesson.  The main part missing in this chapter is a description of the Culver family.  Why Gill's brother Hawk is called by that name - because his real name is Peregrine.  The Cello lesson in the paperback is given in a few sentences.  The hardback goes into much more detail.  "Is the bow screwed up", "Here's your A", "Give me a D" etc.

Miss Bubb enters in a fury and sends the girls off to bed.  She sends for Grizel Cochrane who, in the hardback, is out to tea, and tells her off for letting the girls use the music room.  Grizel replies to Matey and Bill in hardback that "I doubt if the woman knows the difference between "God Save the King" and "The Dead March from Saul".  The two manage to soothe Grizel.  In the hardback it says that Madame and Hilda like to keep an eye on Grizel as she has no home as Mr Cochrane is dead, and she's done some wildly wrong headed things in her life.

It is now Sunday.  The paperback says that the school attended various Church services; the hardback goes into more detail.

Gay and Jacynth slip away to the old arbour.  In the hardback they are joined by Gill Culver, Mollie Avery, Frances Gray, Marie Varick, and Peggy Bettany.  In the paperback Jacynth asks Gay to tell her about China.  In hardback it is "Gay, who do people call you Gay from China?".  Gay replies "Because that's where I come from".  We learn, in hardback, that her Uncle Tom has a surname Scudamore.  Tommy is described in paperback as "My stepbrother", in hardback as Uncle Tom Scudamore's nephew.  Gay's other brothers are left out in the paperback.  Paul, who is Uncle Tom's student, Basil and Maurice.

The kidnap of Ruth and Miss Pritchard is told in more detail in hardback and the fact that Maurice and Basil are in the RAF.  Paul has to stay by the plantation, and that Bobby was an infant when they came home and that Nan was named for Gay's mother.  This is omitted in paperback.

Chapter XI

In this chapter Miss Bubb goes to lunch at the Round House, all mention of Sir James is removed in paperback.

Lady Russell is trying very tactfully to give Miss Bubb some idea of the Chalet School traditions.  Omitted is the fact that allowances are made for talented girls, although no girl may specialise until she has reached the V form, Lady Russell rightly considering that, however gifted one might be, a good general education was a vital necessity as a foundation for future work.

The hard back also tells us of Grizel's view that Miss Bubb considered only those who were too stupid to pass exams should be allowed to take up Music.  We are also told in the hardback that "Art" had a stronger appeal to Miss Bubb, and on the subject of Greek Art she was quite an expert.

We also learn from the hardback that Miss Bubb's view is that a mistress must be quite apart from the pupils, and the friendship that existed between many of the older girls and staff struck her as undignified for the staff and bad for the girls.

We learn Miss Bubb doesn't take the hints she is being given by Lady Russell and in the hardback Miss Bubb tells Lady Russell that she, Lady Russell, had told her that her practical work in the school lasted only a few years, since she had married and given her time to her home.

Miss Bubb says if she doesn't get a free hand she'll resign.  In the hardback it goes on to say "Her manner added and then where will you be with staff of any kind hard to find?".  Madge in paperback replies "I think that would be the best solution".  In the hardback it explains if she hadn't been feeling the effects of the last fortnight's anxiety she would have word her reply more gently.

Miss Bubb scorches back to the School on her bicycle.  In the hardback a page is missing telling us of her dealing with Miss Phipps and the Kindergarten, we learn that the children in their brown and white checked gingham dresses with white collar and cuffs and their flame coloured ties are sitting on the lawn listening to a story.  Miss Bubb tells them off for lounging about and for not wearing their Sunday dresses and orders them back into the house.  Miss Phipps in anger tells her she told the girls to put on their ginghams, instead of their muslin dresses and that the blame is hers.  She takes them into the house to change and finishes their story.  (This book, I think, gives the best description of the Chalet uniform).

The arrival of Jack Maynard to put Miss Bubb right on the girls being in the open air in the good weather has been shortened.

A letter arrives asking that Gay should go home, omitted is Ruth's instructions that Gay will be met at Birmingham by a friend and brought as far as York where Mike will join her.

Chapter XII

In this chapter Gay decides to run away.  She wakes Gill Culver, who, in the hardback, being only partly awake, thinks she is at home and her beloved chum/brother Hawk is rousing her, but she finds it funny he calls her Gill as she is usually known as Crumpet.  Also omitted in paperback is Gay's "Do wake up Gill, old lamb".

Gay asks Gill for money.  The paperback doesn't say that she'll get Ruth to send a postal order for it when she gets home.  Their whispering wakes Jacynth.  Gill tells her in the hard back to put on her dressing gown or she'd catch cold.  Gay then tells them her plans.  In the hardback she says "I must see Tommy before he goes".  The paperback version adds "east".  She then goes on to say, in hardback, "It's punishing Mummy and Tommy and Ruth too", but in paperback it says "... Mummy and the rest".

We then learn from the hardback that Jacynth thinks Gay's clothes will give her away.  Gay tells them she has a blue beret and will tuck her hair up and wear an old raincoat.  Jacynth offers her in the hardback the loan of £1.  Deleted is Gay telling them she'll get into an awful row for borrowing money and that Ruth will have seventy fits when she hears.

Gill, in the hardback, tells Jacynth she can't think how Gay got out of the sick room without Matron hearing.

Next day Bill sends Fiona McDonald to look for Gay, as she and Matron wish to get to the bottom of Gay being so rude to Miss Bubb.  In the hardback Fiona's Scottish accent is anglicised, which saves them telling us in the paperback that Miss Wills tells her off about her English.

Bill, in hardback, describes Fiona to Jo as "a careful little bit of goods", but in paperback "A careful little thing".  The hardback also tells us that Bill says to Miss Bubb "What are you going to do about letting Madame know?"  Miss Bubb's reply is "Nothing, until I am sure that this naughty troublesome girl has really done such a wrong thing."  And then suggests that if she has, Lady Russell should be notified and decide if she wishes Gay to return or not.  Miss Wilson is surprised at the venom in her tones, but wisely drops the subject.

Miss Bubb is inwardly much perturbed at Gay's action.  She had no idea that she would take matters into her own hands.  This in paperback is written as "Miss Bubb was growing more and more uneasy".

Gill and Jacynth are sent for and Jo tells them they must say where Gay has gone.  In hardback Gill says "What do you want to know?".  "Had Gay enough money to get home?".  "Oh, yes; plenty!  She must have had between £4 and £5".  The hardback explains she, Gay, caught the milk train and had left at a quarter to twelve, and had promised not to lorry-hop.

Chapter XIII

Gay sets off for the station.

She is not frightened.  In the hardback it tells of her adventures as a mite of five on the vessel in which the family had sailed to China and being taken in a running carro down the steep, glassy streets of Madeira.

The hardback goes on to tell in a little more detail of her walk to Medbury, her longing for slices of bread and butter or a glass of milk.  Deleted in paperback is the fact that Gay buys more coffee and asks for sandwiches for the journey.  Her appearance is described "Her highbred little face, graceful carriage and cultured voice, all gave her away if she had hopes of passing for a cottage girl".

The hardback goes on to tell us that Grandma is off to see her 93-year-old mother who is ill and that Alfred (father) is coming with her, as the family can look after the shop.  A paragraph is missing where Grandma tells of her seven sisters and her strict father.  "Fash" is changed to "fuss".  Grandma's family are then, in hardback, named, all from the bible.

The chapter ends in hardback with Gay descending upon Ruth in the drawing room just when that lady was reading Miss Bubb's letter with deep dismay.  The paperback does not mention Miss Bubb's letter.

Chapter XIV

Miss Bubb receives two letters, one from Lady Russell in her pretty High School script, High School deleted in paperback; the second from Grandma.  This letter is abridged, the hardback telling us that the letter was crossed in a manner used by ladies in the sixties and seventies and that Grandma had been school room maid in the household of Lord Midgeley and later ladies' maid to the young ladies etc (this may all be dated but makes interesting reading).

Lady Russell's letter in paperback omits the sentence "She (Miss Wilson) has frequently done it before, and as she will certainly have to continue during Miss Annersley's convalescence, she may as well begin now".  This omission takes away from the next part of the chapter which is included in paperback.  That was all, but Miss Bubb felt it meant her reign was at an end.  She sends for Miss Wilson, to tell her she must go and see Lady Russell about, in hardback, "Naughty child Gay Lambert" but in paperback "disobedient girl".

Miss Bubb collects her cycle to go to the Round House; in the hardback she is seen by Jacynth, who decides Miss Bubb is going to meet Gay and punish her.  Neither she nor Gill had heard from Gay and Ruth had forbidden Gay to write.  Jacynth is worried and doesn't pay attention to Miss Steven's lesson, writing labrador currants on the blackboard, much to everyone's amusement.

Miss Bubb's thoughts on Miss Wilson's inability to cope as she has not recovered from her accident is deleted as in descriptions of Marie and Andre Monier, their children, and applications for naturalisation.  In hardback the contents of the Round House drawing room are omitted - cabinets of Chelsea, Bow, Spode and Wedgewood, which Miss Bubb dismisses as "useless claptrap!" - and a piece on Josette's accident.

Then deleted is Miss Bubb's statement that she is sorry to leave them in the lurch and Lady Russell's reply, which explains how they will manage, and the handing over of a cheque to Miss Bubb.  There is then a page omitted, in which Jem Russell says he has had a stiff letter from Tom Lambert and how he (Tom) wishes Gay to be treated on her return to School.  He then suggests to Madge that he takes Josette and her for a short run as far as the san.

In the meantime Miss Bubb has looked at her cheque and is surprised at their generosity as it is for a full term's salary.  She leaves the School on the Monday when she hears Gay is returning on the Tuesday as she has no wish to meet that young lady again ".. so she passes out of the ken of the Chalet School, and they never heard any more of her."  (We know better).

Chapter XV

Grandma arrives to confront Miss Bubb.

We learn in the hardback that Lady Russell will come down to the village and personally thank Grandma for her kindness to Gay, also omitted is Grandma producing her own sugar to sweeten her cup of tea.  She then in the hardback says that she will catch a bus back to the village, and she would take it as a favour if Gay was allowed to come and see her sometimes and the other one too (meaning Jacynth).  She then goes on about heathenish names and names her granddaughters.

Jacynth then receives Miss Wilson's sister's cello.  In the hardback "her eyes were like twin grey stars", but in the paperback "Her face lit up".  The next pages of the hard back are about Gay's bringing German Measles into the School, omitted are references about Veta and her babes, and Nan Blakeney's wedding, Mollie Avery's half term plans, Frances going home to Cheltenham, and Gill, Jac and Gay's invitation to Jesanne Gellibrand's home, the Dragon House, and an interesting description of the said house.

There is then omitted a paragraph on Matron's precautions (which makes one think it's the plague Gay has and not a mild disease like German Measles) baize covered doors locked, gargling with Dettol, a bath and shampoo with Matron's pet disinfectant and a dose of syrup of figs.  There then follows in hardback about 41/2 pages on half term amusements which in the paperback is condensed into about one page.

Chapter XVI

This chapter has nothing major missing.  In the hardback we learn Madge is confined to bed and reads Jo's latest manuscript.

Matron tells Miss Wilson to copy a letter which Jacynth received from Dr Harper as Jacynth has handled it and it would be infected!!  The mention of gregory and senna and the fact that Mary Shaw and Jack le Pelley were the only exam victims to have caught German Measles.

Chapter XVII

Nearly three pages are taken up at the beginning of this chapter with a letter Auntie left for Jac.  In the hardback we find that Auntie thinks this will be her last letter and if she doesn't come through her operation Dr Harper will give it to Jacynth.  She hopes that for Jacynth's sake she'll be able to burn it.

Money matters are discussed in the hardback in some detail, how Jacynth should save and not get into debt.  Omitted is a piece on Gay's running away and how Dr Harper will be Jacynth's trustee and the fact that he'll sell the house to give Jacynth a little more money and that the Harpers will be good to her.  There is then deleted a long piece of advice to Jacynth to trust in God and how he will never fail her.

Later, in the hardback, Daisy is to be sent to see Jacynth as she had no exams.  Jacynth hadn't realised she had been ill so long and that School Cert had started.  The fact that she is going to Barnard Castle with Gay for her holidays is also omitted.  Later, in hardback, Gay brings her a little statue of St. Therese of Lisieux from Meg.

The chapter ends, in hardback, "very good stuff in Gay from China"; in paperback "from China" is omitted.

Chapter XVIII

The first few sentences in this final chapter are left out.  Gay seeing to her pegs: Miss Cochrane asking for Daisy, who is ironing her own and Primula's white frocks.

The hardback also mentions that Bill's sister, Cherry, was very musical but died at sixteen, and her parents died soon after.  Bill didn't play the cello herself, Jacynth tells Gay "Bill's an MSc and would have had to work like mad and there wouldn't be time for music".

Omitted next from the paperback is a story told by Gill Culver about her family adventure with a German spy at her home Culver's Hold and how Mrs Maynard is going to make it into a book some time, changing the names.  The hardback again mentions Gay's adventures in China and her dog Scallywag.

We then find them in the dormitory getting ready for the concert.  Beth lines them up to see they are, in hardback, "trig and smart", but in paperback "neat and smart".  We then learn from the hardback that Gay's hair was wild, Daisy's trefoil wasn't in the middle, Mollie Avery was requested to part her hair again and Frances Coleman needed to be taken in hand by Beth, Gwensi and Daisy to be set to rights.

The Margot Venables Prize in the next part of the chapter, only bit deleted here is that the prize is for fifty shillings to be spent on books (a lot of Chalet School books in 1944 for that sum, could easily buy the first 12 books).

Jo in the hardback describes how she came across the idea for the prize from one of Madge's old story books.  The triplets' clothes are described in detail in the hardback.

Omitted in the paperback is one of EBD's famous errors.  Elsie Woodward greets her mother and older sister, Joan (in Shocks for the Chalet School, Elsie has a stepmother and brothers).  A page describing in detail parts of the concert, a song by Joanna Linders, Gay's cello solo, the girls dancing some folk dances, the choir, a Morris jig, Jesanne's cello, and much more, is left out.

The chapters in both versions end with Jacynth saying how glad and thankful she is that Gay left China and came to the Chalet School.  Anyone with the hardback copy of Gay should be glad and thankful also.

Griselda Fyfe

Publishing history