Carola Storms the
Chalet School

HB/PB comparisons      Publishing history  

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

Carola Storms the Chalet School - Hardback versus Paperback

I am using a 1951 1st hb and a 1980 impression pb.

There is no title change, and no chapters deleted or chapter titles changed.  The hb has 253 pages and the pb has 159 pages.  I am using page numbers for both hb and pb.  The pb numbers are in the brackets.  I have not detailed minor changes where the beginning of sentences have been altered because a previous sentence has been cut.  For example, 'She' being changed to 'Carola,' as this happens quite often.

Chapter I - Carola Pleads in Vain

p10 (6)   - After 'should make her break her word.'  There is half a paragraph missing about Cousin Maud's idea of how Carola will settle down when they leave England.
p13 (8)   -   'Then she returned to the bed and,' is missing before 'feeling rather guilty.'
p14 (8)   -   "It's Cousin Maud and she is sure to say something beastly," she thought before she bit into her first slice.' is cut after 'Carola decided to eat her supper and then read the note.'
p16 (9)   -   Before 'She threw the pieces onto the floor,' "Affectionate cousin indeed!" she cried.  "There's not much affection in that, anyhow!  I've a good mind not to go down at all."' is cut.  As is 'Having settled all that in her mind, Carola rolled over for the last time, curled round comfortably, and fell asleep once more' before 'she woke at seven,' and immediately after it 'and when she had switched on the light again she saw the scraps of the note where she had tossed them' is also cut.
p17(10)  -   'That over, she raced back to her bedroom, not anxious to meet her cousin before she must.  She dressed quickly, stripped her bed, and then, with a slight reddening, picked up the paper and put it in the waste-paper basket.  Somehow, she was not anxious for Cousin Maud to see how she had treated the letter' is cut before the gong sounds.  After which is cut 'as she did this, so she opened the windows widely to air the room, picked up her handkerchief.'
 After 'we haven't any too much time' is cut 'Then she returned to her letter, which Carola, who had been ready for a long lecture on ingratitude and impertinence, slid into her seat, and began to empty her porridge-plate in silent wonder as to what could have happened.'
p18 (10)  -  'She scrambled the letter which had so disturbed her back into its envelope and stood up.  "Never mind about the table.  Mrs Pascoe is coming in later and she will see to it" is cut before "Go and make your bed."

Chapter II - Enter Biddy

p21 (13)  -  Cut is a bit about what happens to Jo's darning things when she leaps for the door.
p22 (13)  -  A paragraph and a half about Biddy and Rufus greeting each other is cut before 'Jo led the way into the drawing room.'
p25 (15)  - There is a bit cut which describes the cloakroom and it's contents.
p26 (16)  -  "Where are they?" is cut after Biddy says "I want to see your family."  There is a further cut of the whereabouts of Jo's family.
p29 (18)  -  There are cuts about Biddy not wanting to stay in Australia, the inconvenience of getting to and from St. Briavel's for Jo teaching History and Jo wanting to see Canada, Margot and Madge again and not being able to if the school relied on her for History.
p30 (18)  -  There are a couple of paragraphs missing about Biddy taking the tray out to Anna (who is meant to be at Plas Gwyn!) and helping Jo do her darning.
p31 (19)  -  After "Time you were in bed" the next bit "when you gape like that.  You'll swallow the whole room, me included, if you go on like that.  Come on, Biddy; bed!" is cut.
p32 (20)  -  A paragraph about Jo bringing Biddy milk and them being able to gossip in the morning is cut.

Chapter III - Escape!

p34 (20)  -  After 'indignant about Miss Bacon' there is half a paragraph cut about Cousin Maud having to look after Carola on the voyage and how it would have been easier if Carola had gone to school but she had promised Cousin Andrew to look after her.
p36 (22)  -  At the end of the paragraph ending 'clinging to her cases like grim death' a sentence is missing about a man asking if he can carry Carola's cases aboard and then advising her to move out of the way.
p38 (22)  -  Details of Carola's meal have been missed out.  As have details of Carola hoping to buy something from a platform trolley at some station on the way.
p39 (23)  -  Details of the Welsh countryside have been cut from the beginning of the paragraph starting 'There were no Chalet Girls in her carriage.'  As has a sentence about a fellow traveller helping her off the train after arriving at Swansea.
p40 (24)  -  'Tired as she was Carola noticed that she had a charming voice, fresh and sweet, and even under the somewhat dim lights, it was plain that she was very pretty.' has been cut before 'Miss Slater, busy with her list.'
p47 (29)  -  A sentence is missing about Clem's opinion of Mary-Lou after she departs.  Also a sentence is cut about Miss Burn carrying one of Carola's suitcases.
p48 (29)  -  'to hang up berets and coats and change their walking-shoes for house slippers' is cut after 'sent to the cloakrooms.'  A paragraph is cut about Clem telling Carola to take her slippers out of her case and Carola replying that she did not know which they were in.
p53 (33)  -  'Carola pulled herself together.  "y-yes, Miss Annersley," she said faintly.  Just at the moment she felt as if the world were composed of eyes - eyes that were all fixed on her.  Perhaps the Head guessed that.' is cut before 'The Head gave the command to stand.'

Chapter IV - Carola Has to Explain

p54 (33)  -  "Take that pouffe, child.  Not too near the fire, are you?  Good!  Now begin and tell me what all this is about" has been cut after "I want to hear what all this means."  A paragraph is missing about Carola's idea of what the interview would be like.
p59 (36)  -  After 'when Matron appeared,' the sentence 'very trim and crisp in her uniform, with spotless apron and angel's wing cap,' is cut.  "Remember," she added warningly, "we have a good deal to do tomorrow and you must be fresh."  "Come along," Matron said, touching the girl on the shoulder.  "I haven't any too much time to spare." is missing after "go to sleep as fast as you can."
p61 (38)  -  "The story - the story!" Hilary Burn clamoured.  "You keep you diatribes for young Carola and tell us the yarn."  "Very well; here you are."  And while she sipped her coffee, the Head repeated the tale she had heard from Carola.  "What do we do next?" Miss Wilson asked when it was ended and they had all said what they thought about it.' is cut after "Is it likely?" Miss Wilson demanded.'  A couple of sentences have been cut with regard to what would happen if they had not had a vacancy.
p63 (39)  -  There are a few short paragraphs missing about Hilary wanting to be the first to tell Jo and Biddy having beat her to it, and Jo's reaction to it.  The last paragraph of the chapter has been removed in which Miss Wilson says that Hilary is no longer staff baby now Biddy is with them and Hilary will have to grow up now.

Chapter V - The First Taste of School

p65 (40)  -  The sentences 'She hardly thought that Cousin Maud would break her journey to come back for her now.  Most likely she would be told to stay where she was at present.' are cut from the paragraph about Carola waking up.
p69 (43)  -  Clem's "Pity she was in such a rush to pop off to Jamaica she couldn't take time to  see you were properly fitted out, though.  It's such a nuisance to have to get things like that after you come to school.  Well, come on now.  It's high time we were down." has been cut after "I suppose they'll see about it here."  "Hi! Not that way!" as Carola began for the main staircase up which Matron had brought her last night.  "Only prefects and Special Sixth and Staff use the front stairs. We go down here." is missing from her next speech.
p70 (43)  -  'Vanna Ozanne, who sat next to her, explained that they were "only dried stuff, of course" is missing between 'Scrambled eggs on toast' and 'toast.'  After 'Clem said' the sentence 'as she pressed the marmalade on her 'lamb.' is cut.
p71 (44)  -  A few sentences about Con creating confusion getting up from the table have been cut.  This explains Carola's later attraction to Con which appears rather suddenly in the pb.
p74 (46)  -  "Thank goodness no one's ever even suggested I should learn music!  There'd be battle, murder, and sudden death if I did."' is missing after 'that nearly takes the skin off you."

Most of page 74 is missing.  It contains several paragraphs about Clem explaining who the triplets, Lady Russell and Mrs Maynard are.

p75 (46)  -  'Carola said no more.' is cut from the beginning of the paragraph 'She thought to herself.'

Chapter VI - Carola Goes On Tasting

p84 (52)  -  A whole page is missing regarding the details of Miss O'Ryan's History lesson.
p86 (53)  -  'who was scolding Polly Winterton for using a number six needle and twenty-four cotton for stitching fine nainsook.  "They do it here, though.  That's the worst thing I know about this place, I think.  They do insist that you sew decently -' has been cut after 'with one eye on Mademoiselle.'  This makes more sense of Mademoiselle's following remark.
p87 (54)  -  'The one fly in her amber was that she kept wondering at times what her parents were going to say about her running away and what they would do with her.  She had forgotten them to a certain extent and she had no idea what their reactions would be.' is missing from the end of the paragraph describing Carola's evening.

Chapter VII - The Cable arrives

This Chapter is unchanged.

Chapter VIII - The Doctor Arrives

p98 (61)  -  "I'm on to a very interesting piece of work.  This'll interest you, Jigger-"  "Not before the wife!" Jack protested.  "Wait till I get you alone in the den and I'll be glad to hear all about it.  Jo loathes medical shop, though, and won't have it.  Besides, I know she's aching to discuss your girl." is cut after "and I've been very busy."
 'He twinkled at her as he spoke and she had the grace to blush.  "I didn't mean to be rude, anyway, it was Jack who said it.  I do dislike shop, though.  You wait till after dinner and then you two men can retire to the den and yatter to your hearts' content."' is cut after '"I'm not going to bore you with it."
p101(63) -  After 'to make peace with her father,' the sentence ' and also, as Jo, quoting from 'The Mikado,' observed, add a little verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and uninteresting narrative' is missing.
p102(64) -  After 'life with her cousin' the sentence 'She made no attempt to hide her discontent during the past eighteen months or so, and by the time she had finished, he felt he knew where he was' has been cut.

Chapter IX - Complications

p107(66) -  'It seemed horribly mean to let the girls blame Cousin Maud because she had turned up at school so poorly equipped, but as she was still forbidden to say anything about her exploit she had to put up with it' is missing after 'had nothing to say to this.'
p113(71) -  'Indeed, there was a story current in the School that in the days when Mrs Maynard had been just Jo Bettany and a schoolgirl, he had, on one occasion, slung paper, pencil, and rubber at her head!' has been cut after 'was not a patient creature.'
p114(71) -  After ' at least trying her hardest.' the sentences 'He sat down in her seat and pointed our that a finer brush might have produced better results and that it was not necessary to load her brush with paint.  He even brushed in a twig to show her what he meant and then left her to try with another.' are missing.
 Several small paragraphs relating details of Carola's music lesson are missing.
p116(72) -  "We chose this because Mummy liked the sound of it and I liked being on an Island.' Jean wound up with a laugh.  "We were both pleased that way." is cut from the end of Jean's speech.
 After 'Gillian began to explain how she came to school.' the sentences "Mummy knows a Mrs Carr, and her girl Elsie was here ages and ages ago.  Mrs Carr said if they'd half a dozen girls they'd have sent the lot here, so Mummy said that was good enough for her and Daddy, and they sent for the prospectus and that was that.  I came." have been cut.
p118(73) -  There are a couple of paragraphs missing which relate to Clem's suspicions about Carola's arrival at the School.

 Chapter X - A Winter's Walk

p119(74) -  A few sentences are missing about Matron dealing with chilblains and those suffering with them.
p121(75) -  After "if it's not too bad I'll let you come." the paragraph 'With that they had to be content.  In any case, at that moment Polly Winterton slipped, grabbed at her partner, Jean Ackroyd, and the pair of them staggered wildly about, trying to keep their balance, while the rest stood still to watch the fun.  In the end they managed it, and the Biddy, with one eye to the keen air, moved them on.' is cut.
p123(76) -  'With this most unschoolmarm-like warning, she turned once more,' is missing from the beginning of the paragraph 'Finally they came out to the common-like space on the cliffs.'
 'Here the ground sloped up to the edge of the cliffs,' is missing before 'or the young mistress would certainly never have contemplated bringing her flock.'
p126(78) - There are a couple of paragraphs missing relating to the minor injuries sustained coming down the slope.
p128(80) - "Hi! mind your feet, Primrose!" as Primrose executed an involved slither.' is cut after '"if they didn't have to shut down again."

Chapter XI - A Spot of German Conversation

p132(82) - There are several sentences cut which describe the comments about the introduction of more German conversation.
p133(83) - 'She snapped out an order to sit to the girls and then proceeded to cover the board with questions nicely calculated to find out all their weakest spots.  They groaned inwardly, but something in the mistress's eye, as she surveyed them, kept them from voicing their disgust aloud.' is cut after 'preparing tests for her form.'
p139(87) - There are several sentences missing relating to Peggy's treatment of the middles the previous term.
p142(89) - There are a couple of paragraphs missing telling how Nita got her idea from a school story called Barbara Bellamy - Schoolgirl.

Chapter XII - Half-term Begins

p144(90) - 'Filthy' has been changed to 'horrid' in Bride's comment about the length of the term.  After Peggy's reply about being home for half-term the sentence "And don't use such disgusting language," has been cut.  As has the comment after Bride's reply 'conveniently forgetting the last part of her sister's speech.'  A Few short paragraphs from this and the next page are missing relating to whom will be affected the next time Easter is this early.
p147(92) - 'Rousing up from her earlier listlessness. She had hoped to spend the holiday with an aunt in London, but a letter on the Monday had told her that the said aunt had had to go north to Scotland unexpectedly and would not come home again until the Saturday night.  Jean had been very depressed over this, but Dickie's words cheered her up again.' is missing after "Will they let us come?" Jean asked.'
p148(93) - There are a few sentences missing with Matron's instructions about Carola and Jean going to Carnbach and the pair getting ready to go.
p150(93) - "They might be Merchant Navy," Carola pointed our.  "Who on earth do you suppose lived in that one over there?  They've different coloured curtains at every window.  It looks likes an advertisement for someone's dyes!"  "P'haps it is."  Jean began to giggle.  "Doesn't it look awful?" is cut after 'standing in either window of the ground floor.'
 "Girls play with engines as well as boys; I did myself when I was a kid.  Daddy had his old puffer, and I always played with it." is cut after "You can't be sure."
p152(95) - 'The Bunch of Violets' is missing from Carola's speech about going for elevenses.
p153(95) - 'Daisy Venables had vanished, and they saw nothing more of her, for the Bunch of Violets, the café favoured by the School, had not been the one she and Miss O'Ryan had chosen.' is missing after 'cooling down from their embarrassment, hurried along the road.'
 After 'only ten minutes left in which to catch the ferry' the sentence 'They paid their score and set off at top-speed to the landing.' is cut and the sentence 'Still, they were in time, and despite their cream cakes orgy, brought healthy appetites to Mittagessen' is missing from the end of that paragraph.

Chapter XIII - Unexpected Bath

p155(97) - "Mind you put on woollies under your coats.  The castle stands high and the wind is still chilly." is missing before "Jean and Carola, when you've finished your Frühstück."
p157(98) - There are a few short paragraphs missing relating to Doris being thankful that there will be no essay to write about the trip.
p158(99) - "But remember what I told you about Pembroke." is cut after "not chilly at the moment."  "In addition" is replaced by "but."
p161(101)- There is a paragraph missing about Jean and Carola promising copies of their snaps and Miss Norman saying only if each girl wanted to buy them or it would be too expensive for Carola and Jean.

Chapter XIV - Miss Wilson Pronounces

p174(110) - There are several short paragraphs concerning Doctor Johnson's visit which have been cut.
p175(110) - 'She darted a warning glance at Biddy O'Ryan, who seemed to be on the point of choking.  Then she added.' has been cut before "You better go back to bed now."
p176(111) - There are two paragraphs missing relating to reminiscences about Biddy O'Ryan's story-telling in her days as a middle.
p177(111) - After "Have you forgotten that awful sister of hers - Astrid?" the sentence "I've always wondered that my hair didn't turn white ages before our wild adventure at the end of the time in Tirol, considering how that little demon played us up." is missing.

Chapter XV - Adventure for Con

p179(113) - 'Mademoiselle was unable to solve the problem and was, in any case, due for a lesson with Special Sixth, so she laughed and went off and Matron turned to the next job in hand.' is missing before 'Jo arrived during the afternoon.'
p182(114) - There are a couple of short paragraphs missing which tell who arrived on the scene after Matron, and Miss Annersley sending the middles away.
p186(117) - There is half a paragraph missing telling of Carola's search for a member of staff.  At the end of it 'Here she struck oil, for it was Biddy O'Ryan's room,' has been replaced with the rather dull 'Eventually she found Biddy O'Ryan's room.'
p189(119) - There are a couple of short paragraphs missing about Biddy trying to send Carola to bed and her pleading to stay and help.
 After "I'll go and get Miss Annersley." the sentence 'She went off and Peggy took Carola's arm and pulled her towards the Senior common-room where the ashes in the big fireplace were still warm.' has been cut.
p190(120) - After "If-if she's outside in her pyjamas--' there are a few short paragraphs missing relating to Con getting dressed in her sleep.
p191(121) - After 'a series of howls' the rest of the sentence 'that the most tragic banshee Ireland ever produced could not have bettered.' has been cut.
 After 'Con was a most appalling looking object.' the sentences 'She had dressed as far as knickers and blouse and had one stocking on.  The other foot was bare,' are missing.
p192(121) - 'However, and Miss Annersley gave the cup to Carola who was nearest, and then stood up Con still in her arms.' is missing from the end of the paragraph about Miss Annersley reassuring Con.

Chapter XVI - Carola Does a Little Cooking

p194(122) - There is a paragraph missing about Jack Maynard secretly visiting Sr. Briavel's.
p195(122) - 'Jack Maynard grinned.  "Still brooding on Biddy's doings?" he asked teasingly.  "Well, it's the only other cause I can think of," she replied defensively.  "It may be some quite little thing.  Children won't tell, quite often.  I hope you can get something out of her," is cut after "which is the only other thing I thought of."
 "O.K. Hilda, I have a proper go at it tomorrow," is cut from the end of the following paragraph.
p197(124) - A paragraph about Miss Annersley realising that the story-telling had taken place in lawful hours has been replaced with the phrase "even when they're playing."
 After 'she was told to tell no more frightening tales to the others,' the paragraph "But they're so lovely," she had argued.  "It's such a gorgeous  feeling when your spine cruddles  up!"  Miss Annersley was hard put to it not to laugh.  She controlled herself, however, and merely repeated her ukase.' has been cut.
p199(125) - There is half a page missing about Frau Mieders remonstrating with Clem for suggesting that they use the same deep fat for the doughnuts as they used for the fish and also searching for a doughnut recipe.
P200(125) - There are a couple of paragraphs missing relating to Gillian suggesting vegetable oil and stating that the Canadians must have a lot of lard because of all the pigs they killed in Chicago, and the class laughing at her lack of knowledge of North America.
 Before 'Frau Mieders nodded slowly,' the sentence 'Frau Mieders promptly turned to the fish section and read the fried fish recipes,' has been cut.
 The following paragraph 'The fact of the matter was that since the proprietor of the School had sent her the book the opportunities for using it had been all too few, and she was not sorry for the excuse to experiment.' is missing.
p201(126) - The sentence 'Frau Mieders herself set it on top of the cooker,' is missing the word 'Aga' before 'cooker' and the phrase 'they always used as being safest for the girls,' has been cut after it.
p205(128) - There are several sentences missing about when Matron appears and asks where Mary-Lou and Vanna are and if they had had any of the doughnuts.

Chapter XVII - Carola Solves a Problem

p208(130) - After 'One year they had used fairy-tales,' the rest of the sentence 'and Snow-White and the Seven Dwarfs, the Sleeping Beauty, Rapunzel of the Golden Locks, and several other fairy-tale characters had had a good airing.' is missing.
p209(131) - After Clem's suggestion of 'Kilts, bonnets and plaids' the following is missing.  "We ought to have one of our own lands,"  Clem said wisely, "and Welsh hats would be the limit to make!"  "And what's the matter with an Irish stall?" Miss O'Ryan had demanded when they told her.  "You haven't got a national costume," Clem told her, grinning.
 There are a few short paragraphs missing about the fifths getting Mademoiselle to allow them to do Sale work in needlework that afternoon.
p211(131) - 'Of Armishire' has been cut from the sentence about the house imitating the old black and white houses.
 There are a few sentences missing relating to Carola asking Tom how it all fits together and saying that it is 'super.'
p213(133) - After 'had been howled down for such an appalling suggestion' there are a couple of paragraphs missing which tell of Bride telling Nancy she couldn't do it herself and Tom declaring that they were not having it.
p215(134) - After "As if we needed anyone to tell us that!" Tom said with scorn' there are a few sentences  about Tom not thinking much of the idea but they must make do if they can't find anything else which have been cut.
p216(134) - 'They eyed the gay little frock in primrose yellow with a tiny Fair Isle border in reds and blues round the hem, and agreed with Clem's dictum' is missing from the beginning of the paragraph 'Carola folded up her frock.'
p217(135) - 'Tom grunted, but said no more, concentrating on fitting the dovetailing of a workbox she had been making.  Carola held the pieces she had been given until the glue began to set.  Then Tom took them from her, giving her a curious look' is missing from the beginning of the paragraph 'Carola went back to her seat.'
p219(136) - Before 'At first it was easy enough,' the paragraph 'They calmed down a little after this.  Carola was supplied with someone's pad and someone else's ink-pencil, and while the rest resumed work, she sat writing.' is missing.
 After 'for the little pillows and cushions' there are a few sentences missing about Bride teasing Sybil about the things she took from her Auntie Jo's.
p220(137) - After "I found in a box at home" the rest of the paragraph "I really wanted to light it by electricity, but I wasn't sure how to manage the wiring safely," Tom confessed.  "I had to fall back on wax candles instead." is missing.

Chapter XVIII - 'A-selling We Will Go!'

p223(139) - After "so surely we'll have enough" the rest of the Anthea's speech "I say, Natalie, you might fix that bead and bamboo curtain thing.  It looks like collapsing any moment." is missing.  As is the beginning of the next paragraph 'Natalie rushed off to secure the Indian curtain which hung over a doorway.'
p225(140) - After 'go to bed at once and stay there till tomorrow' the paragraph 'That settled Signa, who had no  wish to miss all the fun.  She retired behind the others and made up her mind to be good until the Sale was over, at any rate.' has been cut.
p227(141) - After 'each girl taking one tartan and concentrating on that' the rest of the paragraph ' They had neither shortbread nor Edinburgh rock nor tablet, such things having been handed over to the cakes and sweets stall by unwritten law.  You chose your stall and stuck to it, only such things as properly belonged to it being placed thereon.' is missing.
p232(145) - After 'And Clem headed the rush back to their stall', there are a couple of paragraphs missing about Miss Burn saying she ought to haul Clem over the coals for her language.
p234(146) - After "O.K.," Jo agreed.' the rest of her speech "As you seem so certain I haven't really a look in, if  I manage to win it, they shall have it, " she added hastily.  "No sense in giving  them a disappointment." has been cut.

Chapter XIX - Carola to the Rescue!

p246(154) - After "Ah, now, ye won't be angry with Grizel," she coaxed,' the rest of her speech "Sure, the poor creature is ready to beat herself for her carelessness." is missing.

When you read through there is quite a lot cut out of the pb, although there are very few alterations.  It is mostly a few sentences or short paragraphs that have been cut but there are a few longer bits cut out including whole pages in a couple of places.  Nothing is actually missing from the plot but there is much interesting detail missing some of which gives a better understanding to the story.  I would certainly recommend the full length hb version of 'Carola' instead of the shortened pb, as it really brings the whole story alive.

Aileen McGoogan

Publishing history