Trials for the
Chalet School

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

Trials for the Chalet School - Hardback versus Paperback

When I first read Trials I was not very impressed and thought it one of EBD's weaker stones. It was not until I bought the hb that I realised how much had been cut and what a huge difference these omissions made to the whole atmosphere of the book. It is not a great deal longer than a number of books with fewer cuts So why such wholesale changes? A number of descriptions are cut totally, particularly with reference to the visit to St Moritz. A good deal of extraneous information about former pupils is omitted as well as a number of changes to achieve political correctness. However, what interests me more are the omissions giving further insight into the characters and beliefs of Naomi and Mary-Lou. I dare say that Armada must have decided that young readers might switch off at so many discussions of belief, but I have to admit I find them fascinating and believe the book is the poorer without them.

Chapter I

There are a number of small cuts and a few changes to phrases which were obviously not politically correct enough for modern readers. For example Naomi is no longer "deformed" but "slightly crippled". Gone too is Joey's question as to whether Naomi is a Jewess and Hilda's subsequent story about twins she had gone to school with who were called Ruth and Naomi. We are no longer reminded of Mary-Lou's help in sorting out Jessica Wayne, nor of Joey's reluctance to be Head Girl in the dim and distant past. Joey's announcement of her pregnancy is followed by remarks that they can afford another set of twins "especially if they are girls", since their education is free and there are all those hand me downs just waiting for them. She does, however, remark that boys would be more difficult but they had managed well enough so far.

Chapter II

There are more extensive cuts here. Barbara tells the other Seniors that Beth has had news of the Pertwees through Corney van Brandt. Yet another EBDism? - I thought her name was van Alden. Mrs Pertwee is beginning to recover and the three girls are at High School. Yseult has had her hair cut and is showing signs of wanting to be fhshionable. Mary-Lou remarks that she is glad that Mrs Pertwee is recovering as the girls have no other relatives. Hilary's use of misanthrope instead of pessimist is omitted as are Mary-Lou's subsequent remarks about her misuse of English. The history of the Chalet building is omitted. We are told that it had been a tourist hotel but that tourism had moved away from the area. It had been bought by the school as had other chalets nearby and all were linked by wooden passages on the ground floor. This has caused my mind to boggle somewhat. Surely the hotel would have been in its own grounds. The additional chalets could not have been that close. So how long were these wooden passages? I have visions of miles of them stretching out from the main building!

Chapter III

Mary- Lou's explanation of the layout of the school is omitted as is her apology for walking too fast "I'm afraid I'm in the habit of going with a seven-league boot stride." Mary-Lou also remarks that she has flown a number of times, but that the first time she flew she felt very lonely, as if she were the last person left alive. The description for the arrangements for clearing the tables and the packing of the trolleys is cut. Mary Lou is shocked to find that Naomi had not been baptised - "Mary-Lou had never met an unbaptised person before" We also learn the first evening's prayers "had begun to unravel the terrible knots into which the poor girl had twisted her own character."

Chapter lV

Vi explains why she wants to write to Julie. She still feels homesick for school at the beginning of term and Vi's letters help. We are reminded she had an extra year at school due to peritonitis and then a year at St Mildred's. Kitten, the last of the Lucy's, has about another 10 years of school in front of her by which time Julie will either be married or well into her chosen profession - the Law. Mary-Lou tells Clem all about Naomi in her letter and Vi writes 5 sheets to Julie. Those who wish to could go to evening service and the others are expected to occupy themselves quietly. Joan's indignation at the rebuff from Naomi is omitted, as is Jocelyn's feeling that she had never really liked Joan and that she came from the soft of home where comments such as Joan had made would soon have been crushed. During a literature lesson. Naomi corrects a slight misquotation of the Head's to the horror of the listening girls.

Chapter V

Some of the conversation between Barbara and Mary-Lou before Naomi's first art class has been cut, including Mary Lou's reprimand to Barbara for saying "Cripes". Further explanation of the expression "light ship" is omitted. Mary Lou learned the expression from Clem who heard it when she was visiting cousins of her mother's in Norway, one of whom was a sea captain. Mary Lou and Vi stop to look at the view when taking Naomi to the meadow on her sled. Many of the religious views expressed by Mary-Lou have been cut from the p/b. She says here that she feels that beautiful sights here on earth must be some kind of preparation for heaven. Naomi asks her if she is one of the pi kind. Mary-Lou denies this and says that in fact she is grateful for the beauty around her and that not to feel that way would be rude to God. Mary-Lou's attitude makes Naomi think deeply, but not for long as her feelings of envy for the physical health of the other two turned her mood black again.

Chapter VI

Some of Herr Laubach's background is omitted. His father died before he was born and his mother worked hard to give him his training, dying when he was still a young man. He had felt sad at the lonely life his wife had to lead as she was unable to get about and very grateful when he came to school and Joey and others befriended Frau Laubach and eased her loneliness
There is further discussion between Hilda, Nell and Rosalie about finding a replacement for Herr Laubach. Rosalie is told to send a notice to the agencies and that it might be better to have a mistress this time. Nell remarks that it is funny that it should be Joey who is trying her best to change Herr Laubach's mind about retiring and drags up the old story about Joey being thrown out of his class.

Chapter VII

A comment about Josette looking like 'The Spotted Wonder from a menagerie" when she is suffering from scarlet fever is omitted. When Mary Lou tells Naomi about Con's remark about Daniel in the lions den, Len retaliates with Mary Lou saying "Not a sausage" to the head in front of the whole school when asked if she had any idea of the cost of flying to Switzerland. The Sixths went down to Welsen for three weeks when they were out of quarantine. Rosalie
 has been very seriously ill and Jack Maynard and Dr Morris have been very worried about her. Hilda is glad it has been good news they were able to send to her futher.

Chapter VIII and Chapter IX are combined in the p/b

The half term is extended to give everyone a break after all the troubles the scarlet fever outbreak caused. The remark "What lucky wenches some folk are" is changed to "How lucky some folk are". Rosalie's weakness after her illness is further discussed. The doctors do not feel it would be advisable for her to go home to England because of the weather there, but agree that Evadne's idea of going to the Riviera is a good one. Evadne says if the weather in the South of France proves stormy they will move south, perhaps to Sicily. Evadne's father makes all the travel arrangements. The Seniors are all able to crowd into Dr Graves' car on their way to St Moritz as Matey has only allowed them to take one case between two. Naomi is looking much better for the quiet ordered life she is leading and looks much happier than she had at the beginning of term. Carol admits to hating the road to the valley because of the steep incline and the hairpins. Mary Lou gives the rest the history (more or less) of St Moritz which takes up four pages and is completely omitted from the p/b.
There is a discussion on the work ethic of the Swiss which is omitted in its entirety. All girls in Switzerland are trained to domesticity from an early age and are quite capable of working and running a household. ft makes no difference whether a family is rich or not - "No Swiss girl would be thought well educated if she could do nothing in the house" They do have fun but there is a time and a place for it - it is not the be all and end all of their existence.
Naomi's gradual change is commented on and the fact that she can see that a number of the girls (not just Mary-Lou) try to live up to their faith though they rarely talk about it. Three pages are omitted which contain descriptions of racing sleds, the Cresta Run and the fact that Mlle Lachenais had been on the Cresta Run herself many times. Another four pages of history of St Moritz are omitted.

Chapter X

All of the information Mary-Lou gleaned from Frau Tratschinn about her family is missing. We are no longer told that Mary-Lou is reading a Patricia Wentworth thriller - simply a thriller. She no longer thinks a quick prayer for help before she tries to help Naomi see things straight, nor does she "kiss the cold cheek - and kisses from Mary-Lou were rarities". Mary-Lou talks to Naomi about the wonders of modern surgery including skin grafts and corneal grafts, which really surprised me - I'd no idea comeal grafts were being done as early as 1959. She suggests that perhaps it might be possible to replace some of Naomi's damaged ligaments and plans to ask Jack about it. When Naomi complains about people staring at her because of her deformity Mary-Lou says that half the time they will be staring because she is so lovely, and tells her off for ignoring that fact.. Naomi later tells Mary-Lou that if she ever sees her in danger and still believing in God, she'll try to believe too.

Chapter Xl

There is an extensive cut at the beginning of the chapter describing a game played one evening at Kathie Ferrar's instigation. Each person writes a motto or word on a piece of paper and puts it in the middle of the table. Everyone picks up a slip and has to talk for 2 minutes on the subject on the paper. It's a pity this is missing as it is in fact one of the funniest descriptions of games in the series. Again there is mention of the Cresta run and the fuct that it would be too dangerous for them. Hilary mentions that she hates the Fohn which is due to arrive in the area the next day. There are no ski lifts where they are tobogganing, so they have to pull their sleds to the top of the run themselves.

Chapter XII

After the avalanche there are many cuts and grazes but no serious injuries. Jeanne is awake when Mary-Lou and Naomi start talking but she realises that Mary-Lou is starting to get through to Naomi and lets her get on with it rather than telling them to be quiet for fear of disturbing the rest. Much of Mary-Lou's soothing of Naomi is missing. Her matter-of fact treatment of the situation help to calm Naomi down, though she still asks Mary-Lou to promise that when they are rescued, Mary-Lou will see that Naomi is left till last.. Mary-Lou scathingly refuses saying it will not be up to her. The girls are afraid that there parents may have heard about the avalanche and be worried. Jeanne says that for sure Hilda and Nell will know. In fact, the news that they had been trapped had been broadcast, which was why members of staff including Matron had come to get them and take them back to school.

Chapter XIII

There is some discussion about previous pantomimes for Naomi's benefit - 3 pages of this are omitted. Hilary announces ruefully she has toothache and undoubtedly this will mean that Matey will hold a tooth inspection., culminating in 23 people going to the dentist next day. Verity points out that there are not only former Chalet pupils at St Mildred's and that others might conceivably have parts in the pantomime. When Mary-Lou decides she will have to look m Lost Property for fountain pen and biro, Vi's remark "You must be a gone coon if you're reduced to hunting there" is changed to "You must be desperate " We also learn that among the items found in the cupboard were a number of items belonging to staff including Kathie Ferrars case for her synthetic maps, Nancy Wilinot's penknife, Mlle de Lachenais' embroidery scissors and Matey's reading glass

Chapter XIV

Meg Whyte is disconcerted to find that she is the only Senior who has not had anything taken. We learn that Prunella Davies is leaving in the summer to go to train at Raft's and the Rutherford twins are going to accompany Alixe and their parents on a long sea voyage to finish Alixe's cure. A reference to the disappearance of Beth, Gwensi and daisy when they were at school is omitted and with it another EBDism - Gwensi's surname is given as Tudor not Howell. Naomi's dream that Jack finds something that will make her straight again is also omitted.

Chapter XV

There are no major changes

Chapter XVI

This chapter is omitted in its entirety. Torrential rain brings problems to the Gornetz Platz. Mary-Lou phones Joey to tell her that she and Vi will not be able to visit that afternoon because of the weather. In the course of the conversation we Mary-Lou tells her about the Middles' latest. Joey anxiously asks if Ailie has been given a Head's report, as Madge and Jem were not impressed with her last term's effort. In their discussion of Naomi Joey says that Jack thinks that something could be done for Naomi, only Jack would have to discuss it with her aunt. Matey tells the staff that there is no likelihood of running out of food, but floods are feared. The Gornetz bursts its banks and the roads are impassable. The telephone lines come down. Some chalets built in hollows are flooded. Hilda calls an emergency staff meeting to make plans. Ground floor rooms are cleared as far as possible. Dormitories are rearranged to have more beds put in, so that school furniture may be stored in the larger dorms which will be used as form rooms. Karen's store cupboards are emptied but she refuses to leave the kitchen unless absolutely necessary, as she maintains that she cannot possibly feed the whole school using the small kitchen attached to the san. Papers from the office are put in the linen cupboard. The gym is cleared, as are art and domestic science rooms. The rain stops the day after these preparations are made and there is no flooding, except in the gym. The school is, however, surrounded by water which takes quite a few days to go down.

Chapter XVII

There are a number of cuts but the most interesting are Joey' s meeting with Carla and some of her chat with Evvy. Carla has been in Italy recovering after being found by Maria von Weftheimer working in a coffee shop in Salzburg and looks much better and ready to start work next term. She had a few happy months after her marriage but her husband and baby died
- her husband in a concentration camp and her son soon after (that information is from Coming of Age). She is going to spend the holidays with Frieda and then visit Wanda, after which she says she will visit Joey. Evvy tells Joey that her fianc6's (Sir Edgar Watson) first wife had died of polio when Marcia was a baby and his mother had been living with them until she died last year. Joey suggests first Hilary and then Biddy as Matron of Honour. Evvy's parents are delighted she is to be married and as Evvy herself says "and I - I'm happy Joey" at which Joey tells her that things are going to be made up to her at last.

Chapter XVIII

There are a lot of small cuts in the detail of the pantomime but nothing major

Chapter XIX

Three pages are missing describing how Cecil contrives to kick a tray with a dozen cups of coffee on it during the interval and deluge a total stranger. She later has to be removed from the theatre because she is screaming. Jocy has only brought her because she could not find a baby-sitter. Mary-Lou tries to persuade Joey to go and watch the rest of the panto while she watches Cecil but Joey refuses. When the prefects are walking back to school Hilary Burn stops in her car to chat and has Tom Gay with her and explains that Tom will be staying with her.

Chapter XX

Hilda decides that the Seniors must be told about Naomi as they have grown fond of her during the past few weeks. Hilda is concerned with the effect that the shock may have on Joey and sends her home offering to send someone to be with her. As she leaves Jocy considers that it could have been one of her own children in the accident. She later phones Hilda to say she is OK and does not need anyone and is in fact going to the San so she can be there if - when Naomi wakes up. Hilda says more to the girls in persuading them to go on with Spot Supper, reminding them that they are verging on womanhood and that they should want to be the kind of people who and face up to trouble with courage. She also tells them that Naomi's operation will be very long and a delicate affair. The reason for the blackout is given - one of the big generators at the power station has broken down and it will be a big job to fix it.

I know that a number of members are not fond of Mary-Lou, but this is the book where I think she appears at her best but not necessarily in the p/b!. So for all you fans out there who have not read the hlb - try and borrow a copy!

Trish Wilkie

Publishing history