A Problem for
the Chalet School 

HB/PB comparisons      Publishing history  

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

A Problem for the Chalet School - Hardback versus Paperback

The major immediately obvious difference between the hb/pb editions of this title is the loss of two chapters from the second half of the story.

CHAPTER I

We meet Rosamund and Joan and learn of the latest developments in the fortunes of the Gay family.  The opening paragraph which gives us Rosamund's first reaction to her winning of the Gay Scholarship is much amended.  A mention after 'French and German' of 'other lessons' is omitted.  Miss Keating's reflection that a 'school like that would never have kept Tom Gay for six years' is deleted.  There are minor omissions from the discussion about Rosamund's wish to travel and her future career.  Miss Keating no longer pats Rosamund's shoulder and the first part of her encouraging remarks have been deleted.  Mr Lilley's views on the friendship between Rosamund and Joan are omitted, both that he has forbidden Rosamund to go out at night with Joan and his feeling that Joan is a bad influence on Rosamund.  There are omissions from the paragraphs concerning Joan's views of the Rector's wife.  Rosamund's intention of persuading her parents to refuse the scholarship is omitted.  The paragraphs concerning Joan and Vic Coles have been toned down and the comment 'Vic certainly was a hot one' omitted.  After the statement that Joan knows her influence over other girls and exploited it to the limit, the hb continues playing off one against the other with a delightful feeling of power.  After Rosamund has trudged home storming inwardly at her fate, the pb fails to inform us that 'Joan went off with pretty empty-headed Kath Stevens and the pair enjoyed a good giggle over Joan's story.

In the description of the Lilley's home we are no longer told that the zinc bath had to be filled with a bucket.  Rosamund no longer goes fiercely red when addressed by Mrs Gay.  The fact that Rosamund changes out of her school tunic into last year's summer frock is omitted and she is no longer described as 'the picture of a fresh-faced, well trained school girl'  after she has changed.  The paragraph about good manners is abbreviated.  After telling Rosamund how much she will enjoy life at the Chalet School Mrs Gay no longer says 'I know my girl enjoyed every minute of her time there'.  In the discussion about the trip to London, the phrase 'Saturday is half day in London' is deleted (possibly because that was no longer true).  After 'walk me to the gate, Rosamund, I'm sure mother will excuse you' and Mrs Lilley's response, are deleted.  After Joan coming along the road hb has 'and starting with all her eyes'.  The last paragraph of the chapter has omissions telling us that Joan's grandparents live in Worthing and that (Joan) would have Rosamund where she wanted her after Easter.

CHAPTER II

Takes us to Switzerland where Joey, the Triplets or at least Len the responsible one, and Margot, the problem one, and baby Cecil enter the story.  In the opening paragraph the pb fails to tell us that Joey is sitting in a big chair and that she has been kept in bed) following the birth of Cecil) until today.  The following paragraph referring to a discussion between Jack and Frank Peters about making Joey rest has been entirely removed.

Len no longer describes Cecil as 'a complete duck' and her later comment 'while she's still wee' is deleted.  In the discussion about Con's story, Joey's comments 'that it's too late to do anything about it now' has been deleted.

In the discussion about Margot, the fact that her reports have improved in the last two terms, and that slogging still doesn't come easy to her are omitted.  There are minor alterations to the section about Tom Gay's letter and at the end Len no longer says 'I've not read many of those things (school girl weeklies) you wouldn't let us'.  Before Joey asks Len to give her Cecil she no longer says 'Take my cup to Anna'.  After asking Len to take Bruno for a run, her remark that he can always do with a run is deleted.

The fact that Joey still loathes sewing is omitted, as is the fact that the parish in Innsbruck is the one that the school began to help when Joey herself was a school girl.  In the conversation between Joey and Margot about relying on Len, Joey no longer tells Margot 'It's time you began to stand on your own feet'.  There are minor omissions from the paragraph about the remainder of the holidays and the return to school.  We no longer learn that Margot 'longed to toss the wretched garment aside' or that she had spent two years in Canada to the other's one.  Joey no longer looks at Margot's sewing with a broad grin.

CHAPTER III

The first day of term Rosamund arrives, meets the school and finds a ready-made friend.

Joey's conversation with Len has lost its ending 'and give me the answer.  Now you really must go'.  After Joey stops the stand-up fight between Felix and Michael the comment that she 'had no more time for thinking' is omitted.  The fact that the early arrivals at school lived on or about the Gornetz Platz is omitted.  After Mary-Lou's remarks about gnawing chunks out of Jack Maynard (for cutting her hair) Jo Scott no longer says 'I'm glad you didn't try'.  After Mary-Lou says 'isn't that the sound of a horn, she no longer continues 'come to the door' and we no longer learn that they had been crowding round the door.  There are minor cuts in the paragraph concerning the driving off of the coaches and the lining up of the girls and after they have lined up we are no longer told that the coaches had now gone.  Blossom no longer tells the upper thirds to go quietly to the splasheries.  Len no longer tells Heather that she will 'simply love (Cecil) when she sees her.'  Maeve no longer asks Rosamund if she can manage (with two inches of wash basin).  There are minor omissions in the conversation between Rosamund and Con concerning Rosamund's name.  The paragraph concerning Rosamund's reading of the works of Josephine M. Bettany has been condensed.  After Rosamund says of the books in the common room 'can we have a lend of them when we like' we no longer discover that Len and Con have never heard that particular piece of bad grammar before, and it is not made clear that it is after the books are finished that they have to be put back in their proper places.  In the discussion about the members of the Maynard family, we are no longer told that the twins 'were the babies until Cecil came'.

While the girls are lining up for Kaffee und Kuchen Katherine no longer tells Len to 'see that Rosamund gets in to her proper place'.  After Maeve has said we don't have tea here' she no longer says 'I don't know why but we don't.  During the conversation during Kaffee we are no longer told that baby Cecil 'was regarded as almost a school possession.'  After roomful of others, in the description of the dormitory, 'so that she was never private' omitted.  Len no longer tells Rosamund that she has 'half a dozen (books) in addition to her bible and missal in her cubicle.  The fact that the Twins were still tiny when the photo was done is omitted.

CHAPTER IV

'Early Days' consists mainly of letters between Rosamund and her family telling of her first impressions and giving her news from home, including the fact that Joan's father has won the football pools.

From Rosamund's letter is omitted the comment on Nina Rutherford 'everybody says she is a wonder and a real genius, and a reference to a schoolgirl  weekly type story and there are other minor deletions.  Following Len's query 'why's the why of that the hb contains the additional information that they were putting away their things and were going to the Speisaal for their lemonade and biscuits.  After Rosamund sighed, hb continues 'as she set her glass on the nearby tray', the further reference to Len disposing of her own glass is also deleted, as is the finishing of their buns in the garden.  From the discussion on keeping a diary of events, Len's comment about Miss Dene letting Rosamund have the book to use in that way, and the fact that the idea was only a passing thought of Betty's have been omitted.

From the replies, the fact that the letters were contained in a big envelope is deleted.  After the news that the Bakers are going to live in Worthing the hb says near Mrs Baker's father.  The pb says Mrs B says she must come home till they remove.  Hb has Mrs B says she must come home to see what she wants to keep.  After the news that Edna Baker has sent Reg Harrison his ring back the reaction of Reg's mother has been deleted.  The fact that the letters are all in one envelope 'to save on stamps' is deleted.  The early part of Dorothy's letter is omitted, the fact that Charmain's hospital is in the big city in the next county is omitted.  In the later conversation with Len and Con the information that there are only three new girls this term is omitted.

CHAPTER V

In which the school acquires a fourth new girl - Joan Baker.

In the opening paragraph we no longer learn that the letter from Joan's grandfather 'was written in a copper-plate hand and was expressed with great formality'.  One unexpected non-deletion is the fact that both Miss Annersley and Miss Wilson still smoke, Miss Annersley no longer says 'I really am bothered' about the letter.  After Miss Wilson has said they have no pupils from Worthing but that's nothing to go by, hb says 'they may have met somewhere.  After Miss Annersley has suggested consulting the rest of the staff, 'they may have some ideas' has been deleted.

After Miss Annersley and Miss Wilson have adjourned to the staff room with their cups, saucers and chocolate biscuits, Biddy O'Ryan goes to fetch them some coffee, but we no longer learn that she presently returned with two full cups.  The fact that Margot's fall into Lake Lucerne 'seems to have been a turning point for her' is omitted from the conversation between Miss Derwent and Miss Andrews.  We lose Miss Derwent's remark 'But before all I am conscientious, that Upper IVB are to lose their free time for English Grammar and that if the tooth can be seen to, it will save Miss Derwent a lot of pain.  In the following discussion Upper IVB are no longer described as young pests.

At the end of the chapter in the conversation about Maria Marani, after saying Herr Mensch is dead, we are no longer told that Gottfried thought he ought to be near his mother and Tante Luise (we are told that Gottfried is coming to join the San and Bernhilda and Kurt are coming to live in Berne but there is no mention of this in later volumes of the series).

CHAPTER VI

In which Rosamund meets Joey and gets an unexpected shock when Joan Baker arrives at the Chalet School.

In the opening paragraph we are no longer told that Mary-Lou is not a prefect.  We no longer learn that the reason for not rambling off the path is to avoid getting wet.  The fact that Felicity's long curling lashes 'redeemed her extreme fairness from insipidity' is omitted.

From the conversation between Len and Rosamund about speaking German Len's remark 'Mamma and Papa always spoke to us in whichever came handy' has been deleted.  In the paragraph about Len's and Margot's friendships the fact that Len's friendship with Prunella began with a violent quarrel between them is deleted.

The tennis match is given in full but at the end Miss Burnett no longer has a 'quick colloquy with the Heads before announcing the exhibition game, during that game the hb tells us that (Rosamund) 'had never played beyond a little pat-ball on the public courts last summer.  Rosamund's thought that she had come too late (to tennis) to be as good as Katherine and Blossom is deleted.  We are no longer told that Rosamund 'was about to address a remark to Len' when Matron arrived.  At the chapter's end we no longer learn that Elinor Pennell is Head of Tulip Dormitory.

CHAPTER VII

Describes Joan's first evening at the Chalet School.

The first paragraph has minor cuts in details.  Rosamund is no longer described as 'flushing to the tips of her pretty ears' during her conversation with Mary-Lou and Mary-Lou no longer 'draws her away from the door to let a bunch of Vb girls come in'.  After I mean Mrs Maynard 'she may have left school in the dark ages' deleted.  At the end of the conversation Mary-Lou no longer says 'they put every farthing of tuppence on the way we express ourselves in this abode of sin let me warn you'.  The fact that Rosamund goes round the sides of hall because she is too shy to go across is omitted.  There are minor deletions in the conversation between Rosamund and Betty Landon.  After Margot says about paper games 'we play them at home hb continues 'and have scads of fun'.  From Rosamund's reply after 'consequences' 'I've played that sometimes omitted after Joan's dismissal of the triplets as 'mere kids' hb has 'well she would show them a thing or two before she had done'.  After the comment about Rosamund losing her Hampshire accent we are no longer told 'it had never been strong in any case.  While Betsy is giving instructions she no longer says 'the final winners will be given out at the end of the evening.'  The fact that Len bent her dark red hair over her own list and they were silent omitted.  Betsy in collecting the lists no longer says 'let's see which of you have to move.  During the mid-evening refreshment break we no longer learn that Joey had received the gooseberries in 'a huge hamper from her French friends Mons. and Mme De Bersac.

In the prize giving at the end of the evening we no longer discover that Betsy had sacrificed the china duck to the general good.  Before prayers we are no longer told that it took ten minutes to rearrange hall for prayers.  Before Elinor shows Joan her bath cubicle the fact that Elinor has a towel in one hand and her sponge bag in the other is omitted.

CHAPTER VIII

In which Joan and the Chalet School discover their mutual incompatibility.

In the opening paragraphs Rosamund no longer doubles her pillow to look out of the window, or digs her chin into the bed clothes.  After the rising bell has rung, the hb tells us 'she had to jump up, throw back the bed clothes and wriggle into her dressing gown and bedroom slippers, snatch up her towels and sponge bag and scuttle off to the bathroom for her bath', the pb reduces this to 'go for her bath'.  Mary-Lou is no longer 'in the midst of her gay chatter with her friends' when she catches sight of Rosamund's troubled face.  Mary-Lou no longer tells Rosamund 'unless the Head cancels the invitation you'll go of course'.  Mary-Lou no longer says 'She will have a word with them (Betty and Alicia) and that'll be all right'.  After Mary-Lou had scudded off, the pb deletes 'leaving Rosamund to obey her'.  From Con's observations about Joan, after 'it never is in term time' 'doesn't she know that'.  After 'looks like that' 'if she was sixteen fifty times over' have been deleted.  Joan's uncomplimentary remark about Mrs Gay's choice of school is removed.  After the girls return to their letter writing the fact that even Emerence added a little more to her home letter is deleted.  After the morning service we are no longer told that Rosamund 'was dutifully partnering her' (Joan).  Joan's unkind remarks to Rosamund have been modified.

CHAPTER IX

In which the Triplets and Rosamund spend the afternoon at Freudesheim and we become re-acquainted with Maria Marani.

We no longer learn that Maria's accent 'was not quite English' nor that the triplets were 'only toddling when Maria left England.'  Maria no longer asks 'which is which?' of the triplets.

Joey no longer says of Rosamund 'but we hope she is settling in comfortably.'  After Joey has made enquiries about at least a dozen people, the hb tells us that these include Jo Scott, Jessica Wayne, Nina Rutherford and Prunella Davidson.  We are no longer told that Rosamund 'couldn't go on being shy with this very friendly person (Joey).  In the talk about a future visit to Canada Joey's remarks 'that we will go some day, and that she would rather wait until Cecil is a little more independent before tackling such a journey have been deleted.  After 'being told that Jack had to go out early the hb tells us that he only got back in time for Mittagessen.  There are minor deletions from the conversation between Joey and Rosamund in the rose garden and at the end Joey no longer says she needs her tea after all that preachment.

CHAPTER X

Joan's first school day at the Chalet School reveals further problems.

At the beginning of the chapter, the phrase 'and if she had troubled to think of it' is omitted after 'to be helped continually'.  After the reference to her wanting to go to the same school as Rosamund as a paying pupil the comment 'hence her refusal to consider anything else has been removed.  That Joan might have thought twice about going to a school where French and German were spoken all day on certain days is omitted.  We are no longer told of Elinor Pennell that she is 'a conscientious prefect'.
 

Joan no longer says 'good old English will do me'.  When Joan departs for the bathroom we no longer learn that she is carrying her towel and sponge bag, the fact that the bath was half full is deleted.  We are not told that Elsie Morris is 'an ornament of Upper IVB'.  The comment that Joan thought stripping her bed 'a great waste of time and energy' is omitted and she no longer wonders if bed stripping is a daily event.

The fact of this being Barbara Henschell's first post is deleted.  Rosamund no longer turns scarlet when speaking to Biddy O'Ryan.  The alpen roses are no longer described as being in bud.  In the arithmetic class we are no longer told that Miss Wilmot 'bent all her energies to finding out how far on this girl was'.

CHAPTER XI

Mary-Lou takes a hand and Joan gets worse.  Nina is no longer described as spreading out her work.  Her reference to Rosamund as 'quite a nice child' is deleted, her description of herself on her journey with her cousin Guy 'I was as pasty-faced as you could expect to see and skinny into the bargain' is also omitted.  We no longer learn that Mary-Lou was 'not particularly musical though she had a pleasant little pipe of her own'.

After explaining that Mary-Lou has already read Dombey & Son the hb tells us 'so she merely skimmed the pages and finished in ten minutes'.  The fact that preparation takes place after Kaffee und Kuchen is omitted.  After Betsy has said that if Joan does not go to the head, she will report her hb continues 'and you'll be sent for, I don't advise you to try that'.  The fact that Joan secretly stood in a great deal of awe of the head has been deleted.  After she has had the penalties of a 'Head's report' explained to her Joan no longer stands before the head's desk shifting uneasily from one foot to the other.  After Joan scrapes her chair backwards and forwards on the polished floor the comment that 'the maid who was responsible for the polishing had any amount to say next day' has been deleted.  After Miss O'Ryan has intervened in the swearing incident Joan is no longer described as looking rather ashamed of herself.  At the end of prep we are no longer told that usually (Mary-Lou) was one of the first to bundle her books together.  After the tennis game we are no longer told that the players were strolling back to put their racquets and balls away.  The fact that Joey won't be late back because of Cecil and the twins is deleted.  The last sentence of this chapter 'on the whole everything looked like going according to Cocker and what more could you ask' has been deleted.

CHAPTER XII

Mary-Lou seeks advice from Joey and receives it from Jack.

After Mary-Lou and Lesley would certainly be sub-prefects if not full blown prefects hb continues this, as Barbara Chester has sighed would make a big difference to them all and it was clear that gang as it had been constituted must begin to break up now.  After Mary-Lou arrives at Freudesheim Anna is no longer described as Joey's great support.  That the tall fair man (Jack Maynard) was crossing  the front lawn until he came to the hedge dividing the two lawns is omitted, as is his remark to Mary-Lou 'not much wrong with you now, that's evident'.  That Joey could remain in Montreux because she had all her own infants with her is deleted.  After the excited Bruno has hurled himself on Jack, Mary-Lou no longer clasps her hands to her ears and shrieks.

When Jack goes to phone Miss Annersley pb omits to say that the phone in the hall was not often used and that the room opposite with the third extension was used by Jack as a kind of dressing room.

A couple of minor phrases have been removed from Jack's conversation with Miss Annersley, these include the facts that nothing infectious is keeping Joey t Montreux, that Alan Embury is getting beyond the control of the family Bonne, and that Mary-Lou can stay to supper with him.  After the incident with Bruno and the lemonade Jack no longer tells him not to be sick on the carpet.  At the start of Mary-Lou's conversation with Jack she is no longer sipping daintily at her glass.  Joan is described as having cheap ideas, but that she also has cheap tastes has been deleted.  In the incident between Joan and Hilary, Joan's remark 'that it was all a lot of affected rot to talk as she did' is omitted, as is the fact that Hilary said there was a lot more like that but she wasn't paying a lot of attention.  Jack no longer says after 'a girl's outlook can be very good for a boy but both must be healthy and straightforward'.  After saying that Joan belongs to people who finish school at fifteen, hb continues 'or thereabouts and either train for a job or go straight into one'.  We are no longer told that Mary-Lou was appalled at the idea of being responsible for Joan's future.  After 'once you begin you must keep on so make up your mind about that before you do anything' deleted.

CHAPTER XIII

In which the prefects wake up to Mary-Lou's activities and half term plans are altered.

In the talk about the message to the Rutherfords, Mary-Lou is no longer described as happening along at the psychological moment.  In the ensuing conversation Betsy no longer describes Mary-Lou as a law unto herself as you ought to know by now, nor describes Joan as cheap.  At her entrance Carola no longer says 'isn't this a ghastly day'.  Hilary no longer says 'I think Madame is right'.  Mary-Lou's birthday usually said to be in June has now moved to July.  Mary-Lou although still said to have taken Jessica Wayne in hand is no longer said to have made her pull herself together.  Verity is no longer described as 'really the world's worst mooner at any time.  After Betsy had said that Joan is nearly fifteen hb continues she ought to be getting a little more sense.  Blossom's comment that the crowd she's with now are too level-headed for the sort of rot she talks is deleted.

Betsy's icy glare directed at the girls when she is quietening them in hall has been omitted, that all talk ceased at the Head's approach is also deleted.  Jo Scott no longer says 'I was going to ask you on Monday.'  Miss Annersley no longer says to Betsy 'Don't be too long or you'll make her miss her train.'  After Katherine arrives in Upper IVA with the postcards she is no longer said to have distributed them.  We no longer learn that the Chalet School has 'contrived to remain free from such silliness as sentimental grande passions.  The writing on Joan's card is no longer described.  In the paragraph about Joey being at Montreux we are no longer told that Maria is taking the trio (Mike, Paul and Robin Embury) for lessons, and that she has them all in excellent order.  The suggestion of the Grisons for the half-term trip is deleted from the guesses about where they are going at the end of the chapter and Miss Lawrence no longer crashes into 'London Bridge'.

Chapters XIV and XV disappear more or less completely from the story being condensed into six paragraphs which tell us about the arrival of Simone's second son, her phone call and her request that an extra day be added to half term in celebration.  We are also told the names of those in the same group as the triplets for the half-term expedition and that their destination was Basle, that Mary-Lou has invited Joan to spend half-term with her in practice tennis.  A little about Friday's activities in Basle and that the girls are staying in the suburbs at a pension belonging to Frau Piguet.

Lost from Chapter XIV are the delay in the posting of the half-term lists, due to the phone call from Andre De Bersac and the fact that Anna's French is scanty and liable to desert her in a crisis.  The shortage of vacancies at the Chalet next term; Rosalie's phone call to Joey in Montreux and their discussion about Simone's family; Joan's panic when she fails to find her name on the lists and the attempts of the triplets Rosamund and Emerence to comfort her; the fact that Katherine Gordon also goes home with Mary-Lou due to the unreliability of Katherine's Aunt Luce.  Also lost are Andrew De Bersac's promise to send hampers of apricots and strawberries to the school after half-term and the announcement by Miss Annersley that swimming and boating will also start after the break, Joan's resolve to try and be a real Chalet girl, Emerence's deteriorating French and the suggestion that next half term she be sent to stay with Simone and speak nothing but French for the whole holiday, and remarks about last minute exam revision.

In the missing Chapter XV the hb tells us that Biddy O'Ryan is coming to Basle to spend half-term with the Von Ahlens, that her knowledge of history will be useful to the girls on days when she joins their expeditions.  There is a full description of the journey when we learn that most Swiss trains are electrified, that Basle has no buses only trams, there is a full description of the Pension and of the meal awaiting them - clear soup, Lake perch fried and served in a rich butter sauce, dishes of black cherries and coffee with blankets of whipped cream.  When they plan the afternoon's activities, Margot wants to visit the zoo, Hilary Wilson suggests a visit to the Roman remains at Augst.  There is a discussion about the wearing of hats, and Miss Wilmot teases them about wearing gloves.  On the return to the city there are observations about the lack of people other than tourists on the streets.  There is also a great deal on the history and geography of the city, a break for lemonade and leckerlis, a visit to the botanical gardens and a discussion about remembering all they have seen for their diaries.

CHAPTER XVI

In which Rosamund visits the dentist, spends a quiet day in Hilary's company and has an unexpected encounter.

To accommodate the six paragraphs for Chapter XIV and XV the beginning of Chapter XVI has been curtailed - missing are Miss Wilmot's instructions to Hilary and Rosamund as to how they might spend the day.  After Hilary has routed out Miss Wilmot the opening of the following paragraph telling us that Matron insisted on Mistresses on half-term escort duty taking a simple case of medical remedies has been deleted.  We no longer learn that Miss Wilmot 'had marched Rosamund along to the dentist'.  We no longer discover that Nancy doesn't want to call on Biddy for help because Biddy is tired and has been looking forward to a quiet half term without responsibilities.  No longer is Miss Wilmot said to be doubtful about leaving Rosamund in Hilary's charge.  A sentence about the dentist stopping the bleeding from the extracted tooth almost at once has been deleted.  Hilary no longer mentions that they have an extra day thanks to Mme De Bersac and her new baby.  It is no longer said that the visit to the Munster had been arranged the day before.  After Hilary has been left with Rosamund we are no longer told that the patient 'was dozing comfortably' after making ready to go out, Rosamund no longer takes a final look round the bedroom before leaving, and no longer says to herself 'Oh thank goodness that beastly tooth can't ever ache again'.

During the meal the fact that they avoided sweet desserts and had fresh fruit instead is omitted.  In the discussion about buying books Hilary's remarks about the Tauchnitz books 'that you aren't supposed to take them out of the country' and that her father was a traveller for his firm are deleted.  From the opening of the next paragraph, the opening sentence 'however they were not reduced to Tauchnitz' is omitted.  Hilary no longer says 'I noticed there were seats there yesterday when suggesting going up to the Pfalz.'  At the end of the paragraph hb tells us it had a marvellous view.  Hilary no longer points out the ranges of hills before they settle down to read.  We are no longer told that Hilary's cards are to be sent to her mother and Katherine Gordon.  We no longer learn that Hilary had forgotten and Rosamund didn't know that postcards could have been posted at the shop where they were bought.  During the buying of the stamps Hilary no longer says 'No-one will eat you if you make a mistake' or 'no need to fill up the counter if you're not going to do the job!'  The girl with the pile of parcels is no longer followed by a party of shrill Americans and a bearded German.  In Rosamund's decision over the sending of her third card she no longer muses that 'she had promised to help (Joan) when she could' or 'that Dorothy would see the one of the botanical gardens anyhow'.  While heading for the tram Hilary no longer says 'you've done enough walking for the present'.  After being told that the pavements were thronged hb continues 'and she had no mind to be parted from her charge'.  After Rosamund says to Joan 'what are you doing here?' her further questions 'when did you come?' 'where are the others?' have been deleted as is her comment that 'she couldn't go with the rest' after having her tooth out.  Hilary no longer steers the pair into a doorway out of the crowd.

CHAPTER XVII

Joan wants to run away home but won't say why.  Hilary no longer tells Joan that it is abominable manners to run away from people who are responsible for you and Joan's response 'this aspect of the affair had never occurred to her' is deleted.  That Joan's suitcase had been removed from her hand before she knew is deleted.  Joan's response to Hilary's suggestion has been re-phrased and we are no longer told that she tried to wrench her arm free.  After Hilary says 'you are coming with us' we are no longer told that she was 'still keeping a firm grip on the girl's arm'.  After Hilary tells Joan to have a little self-respect, we no longer learn that she had shrewdly calculated that this would touch Joan's pride.  That Miss Wilmot's name would carry more weight on the telegram is deleted.  Hilary no longer says to Joan 'you won't leave us until Miss Wilmot has seen you'.  In Joan's reply we are no  longer told she had the sense to keep her voice down.

In the paragraph following on from Joan's swearing, that Joan was dumb, that the slap would have been across the mouth, that Mrs Baker was lax in many ways and that Hilary thought swearing 'the outside of enough' are all deleted.  After Joan has been settled between Hilary and Rosamund on the tram hb says 'and simply dare not make a bolt for it'.  Hilary no longer tells Frau Piguet 'we really meant to have (our coffee and cakes) at a cafe'.  From Frau Piguet's reply 'you will wish to wash no doubt' 'and after five minutes all will be ready for you' deleted.  After she bustles off the hb says she was 'on good deeds intent'.

When  Rosamund and Hilary take Joan up to the dormitory it is no longer described as being at the top of the house, Hilary is no longer said to return upstairs after leaving the case with Frau Piguet, Joan is no longer standing 'by the window' Rosamund has no longer 'tossed off her hat' and Hilary no longer locks the door after her.  In Hilary's subsequent conversation with Joan she no longer says 'you can choose for yourself'.  At the end of the conversation we no longer learn that (Joan) hated to give in.  After Hilary passed this over we are no longer told that 'she had won her victory and was thankful that it had not come to the worst.  That Rosamund sitting at a small table in the window of the speisaal is 'quietly going on with her book' has been omitted, as is the fact that she looks up but says nothing when the other two enter.  The coffee is no longer described as 'steaming hot in big cups', Hilary no longer says to Rosamund about the Kugelhopf 'risk it if you like'.  That Joan enjoyed her cake 'despite all the feelings churning up inside her' is omitted.  After (Hilary) wanted to spin out (the meal) as long as possible the further information 'she had no idea what to do with her charges when it was over' has been deleted.  We are no longer told that 'if she and Rosamund had been alone they would still have been on the Rheinweg, thinking of catching a tram back' or that there was 'nearly an hour left' before Miss Wilmot would return.  The cherry tree and currant bushes disappear from the description of the garden.  In the conversation about swimming and boating Rosamund no longer says 'I've never had much chance of boating'.  After Miss Wilmot and the other girls return we lose the information that the girls would go straight upstairs 'to wash and brush up ready for abendessen'.  In the description of Joan at the end of the chapter after 'hating everyone' the hb says 'and everything connected with the Chalet School'.  Hilary no longer tells Joan that being rude to Miss Wilmot 'won't get you anywhere, or that it's quite clear that I can't (help you).'

CHAPTER XVIII

Miss Annersley solves the problem.

After being told that it was a sticky position hb adds that 'only once before had she had anything so difficult to tackle.  After 'worry about that' Miss Annersley no longer says 'Hilary always keeps her word and I think we may trust Rosamund to do the same'.  Nancy's remark that Frau Piguet 'thinks it all just another proof of English insanity' is deleted.  That Biddy will hang on until (Nancy) gets back and that Miss Annersley 'is not out of the country' are also deleted.  After Nancy has fallen asleep in Mrs Embury's garden we are no longer told that she slept 'till one o'clock'.

In the description of events at the Rosleinalp following Joan's disappearance we no longer learn that 'no amount of hunting found (Joan) when she was first missed or that thinking she might be shopping Katharine and Mary-Lou 'had played a singles with Verity acting as ball boy and expecting (Joan) to turn up sooner or later.

That Nancy Wilmot had dragged from Joan the cause of her flight 'during her inquisition in Frau Piguet's little office' is deleted.  Following on from this at the Von Ahlens after decided, hb continues 'that Biddy should take her place with the girls giving the explanation she had told the Head'.

In Joan's interview with the Head the phrase 'despite her vaunted sophistication has been removed between' 'not yet fifteen' and 'there was a good deal of the child in her' Miss Annersley no longer says to Joan 'you resented it'; before hurt your pride or that the worry given to other people was 'for no reason at all'.  After Miss Annersley tells Joan she has  been rude and ill-bred hb adds 'and a gentlewoman who is that always apologises'.  The Head's reflection that an apology to Mary-Lou and Katharine 'must be left to Joan's own good feeling' is deleted as is her comment speaking of the need to apologise to Miss Wilmot and Miss O'Ryan 'and I shall expect you to offer them one'.

From the last paragraph the opening sentence 'you sound rather more crackers than usual' Joey informed her as she got up to claim her baby and bear her off to the nursery' has been deleted.

CHAPTER XIX

Half a term has passed and it is now the last day of term.  Joan with Joey's assistance makes her peace with Mary-Lou and Katharine.  From the opening paragraph we lose the information that everything had been tidied away.  The tennis players no longer saunter out to the tennis courts, Mary-Lou no longer says of Robert Louis Stevenson 'Besides I love his books!'  Blossom no longer says 'As for my maths, Miss Wilmot told me that she agreed to my being promoted so that she could get rid of me!  You can believe it or not as you like'.  That Rosamund and Len 'came on the scene just then' is deleted.  From Carola's remark about hopping over to Switzerland, the phrase 'to see how you're all getting on without me' is changed to 'often'.  After 'Rosamund had become completely reconciled to being at the Chalet School' hb continues 'she was one of her own gang and happy in work and play'.  We are no longer told the score in the match 'ten games to eight' and the victors no longer 'pull on their white knitted jerseys'.  After saying that the second half of the term had been different for Joan the hb tells us 'Miss Annersley's treatment on that memorable Sunday had made her resolve to do her best to become a real Chalet girl if she could'.  That 'she had had to put a guard on her tongue, one of the most difficult things to do' is deleted.  We no longer learn that Joan shrank from owning up to Mary-Lou and Katharine because 'she could just imagine how it would look to both girls'.  Much of the middle of the next paragraph has been deleted, after owning up, should continue 'if only she could bring herself to it!  Somehow she felt that if only that was cleared up she would find it easier to go on with her reformation'.

After Joey has joyfully flown home to pick up the reins there, we are no longer told 'she had been welcomed with open arms by her entire household and had settled down to her usual summer pursuits, this time with the additional joy of her new baby to add to them'.  That 'Maria could deal with Mike who was proving a problem now that he was at home without the companionship of the Embury boys is omitted.

Margot no longer asks Joey 'why didn't you bring her (Cecil) with you?'  From the conversation about plans for the holidays the 'need to find a good tenant' for Plas Gwyn, that Emerence and Margot had already made plans for amusing themselves, and that 'we'll have plenty to do and not too much time to do it' are all omitted.  After Joey has asked Biddy to let Joan stay with her, she no longer says 'what with a new baby and having to take charge for Winnie Embury after her appendix do I haven't had time to see her or Rosamund much'.  After 'Good-bye Rosamund' Joey no longer says 'have a good holiday and come and have tea with me next term'.  After the girls form 'into line for the march down the road until they reached the point where they would turn off for their ramble' is omitted.

After Joey and Joan arrive at Freudesheim Joey no longer says 'I'll tell Anna to say 'not at home' if anyone wants to see me'.  After saying that Joey had kept out of the half-term fuss at the time hb tells us 'Miss Annersley and she had both felt that a third person would be distinctly in the way but of course she knew most of what was to be known'.  Joey's 'burst of golden laughter after her brief outline of the school's history' becomes 'laughing' in the pb.  After Joey has realised that something is not well with Joan we no longer learn that Joan 'was smiling and even laughing at Joey's reminiscences, but the shadow still remained'.

At the beginning of Joan's confession when Joey phones the school Rosalie Dene is no longer said to have answered the telephone.  The paperback omits the fact that after Joey left the room she went to her study where she sat for ten minutes by the clock before she went to the kitchen.
 

In spite of its length this comparison gives only the major omissions, deletions and alterations in Problem for the Chalet School.  A complete word for word comparison would be a third again as long and very tedious so I decided to concentrate in the main on alterations which make a difference to the story, such as the toning down of Joan and the loss of most of the references to Rosamund's shyness.  For me the mot irritating omission in the paperback is the loss of the information as to how Katharine came to be spending half-term at the Rosleinalp.  Before half-term we have her writing to Aunt Luce at the Tiernsee, then without explanation she is playing tennis with Mary-Lou and Joan at the Rosleinalp.

Philomena Jones
Sadly, Philomena Jones died on 8th April 1998.   This article has been reproduced with permission from her estate.

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