Exploits of the
Chalet Girls

HB/PB comparisons      Publishing history  

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

Exploits of the Chalet Girls - Hardback versus Paperback

This is the ninth book in the series, published 1933.  It deals with the 14th term in the Chalet School's history - a Christmas term. (The paperback used is the 1972 edition)

Chapter I - Term Begins

We begin in the Prefect's room.  The eight prefects, Joey, Frieda, Marie, Simone, Sophie, Bianca, Carla and Vanna have met to exchange holiday news and discuss the coming term.  It would appear that they have sixteen new girls this term, including Enamie and Joanna Linders, Elma Conroy (the first of her name!) and Alixe von Elsen - but there turns out to be a seventeenth.  She is sixteen - she has never been to school before - her father is "something in the army".  To quote Elsie Carr she is an out-and-out snob!  Her name - you must wait!

2nd paragraph.  Frieda possessed "if the staff is to be believed" - cut in pb - "Marie ... was the school beauty though a less vain girl rarely lived" also cut.

"At this moment when this story opens" dropped - "Jo was perched on the arm of a wicker chair (telling Sophie and Bianca of the Guide camp) which she had attended "while they had not" cut.

"(Lonny looked) no worse than you looked", said Frieda .. "looking up from the books she was sorting at the table" - dropped.

Later is dropped "Kaffee? Oh good!" said Jo, ignoring the question.  "I'm ready for it, I can tell you".  "Giver her her Kaffee, Carla", said Sophie, laughing.  "Poor thing, she looks faint for lack of food!"  Carla poured it out, and someone else supplied the head girl with one of the delicious fancy bread twists they always had for this meal.  Then, when she was comfortably settled, they insisted on hearing something about the new girls.

Last two sentences of hb are dropped - (Jo said) "Now trot back to your own quarters, you two.  We'll meet soon at assembly."

Chapter II - Explanations

We begin with a potted history of the Chalet School.  After four years it now has 105 pupils, and the originally delicate Jo is now the school's healthy and energetic (if reluctant) head girl.  In the Prefects' room Jo and Simone, while making out notices, exchange news of Old Girls and discuss hairstyles.  When they have finished it is time for the opening assembly, in which Mlle Lepattre welcomes the school and tells them of the newly-formed Annex which they will be taken in turns to visit.  Afterwards the prefects adjourn for their first meeting, which begins with discussing the term's weather prospects.  The chapter ends with Frieda poised to read "the previous term's record".

1st paragraph dropped "While the School is busy with Kaffee und Kuchen, its afternoon meal, it may be as well, for the sake of those who have not met the Chalet School previously, to explain a little at this point".  A bit later "the Tiernsee lies 3,000 feet above sea-level" is cut, as is the next paragraph.  "For the rest, you must go on with this story, and you will learn what happened this Christmas term at the Chalet".

Later (the time) is seventeen and a half "said Simone, "whose watch could always be relied upon" cut and shortly afterwards a translation of "eighteen o'clock" to "six by English time" is also dropped.  "Charabancs" is changed to "coaches" shortly afterwards and throughout the book (the only "modernisation" I spotted!)

When assembly ends, Mlle Lepattre's final instructions are cut from pb - "Juniors, you will go back to La Petit Chalet with Mlle Lachenais, who will tell you there what you are to do.  Middles, and all Seniors, except the prefects, will get ready and go for a walk.  Miss Wilson and Miss Stewart will take the Middles, and Miss Annersley will take the Seniors".  The prefects depart - cut is "Good idea to take the rest out" said Jo, as she sat down at the head of the table.  Also dropped is the closing paragraph - "And Jo lay back in her chair while Frieda stood up, an open exercise book in her hands, ready to read the previous term's record."

Chapter III - The Prefects in Conclave

Mlle Lepattre enters the meeting to explain to the prefects that due to the School's increased size, the First and Second Forms are now in their own "Le Petit Chalet", with separate matron, form-rooms and library and two more mistresses.  After she departs the prefects settle to dividing up duties - an extra prefect, Eva (surname not given here, but is it Eva von Heiling?)  appears at this point and is re-appointed Pets prefect (is this office, or indeed any Pets, mentioned anywhere else?).  The meeting continues with exchanges of news - Rosalie Dene is coming to be assistant secretary to the Sanatorium, Stacie Benson (convalescent) will again edit the "Chaletian" and Luigia di Ferrara has entered the Poor Clares. Business concludes - Joey decides she must see this "wonder" of a new girl.

"Matron Gowland" - cut from pb is "the girls stared, not recognising "Matey" by this name" (and neither do we.  This is a blooper) "has enough to do over here.  So at Le Petit Chalet the children will have Matron Lloyd".  In same paragraph is cut "She (Mlle Lepattre) knew that the girls were dying to discuss all this news, but could scarcely do so with any freedom while she was there".  After Minutes are signed, is cut from pb"  That done, they had duties to consider.

Later (Joey appointing Bianca Stationery prefect)  "Then I'll put you down for it" - cut is "This must be rewritten before I give it to Mlle.  Otherwise, she'll be setting me copies again!" said Jo as she looked at the appalling scribble before her.

Chapter IV - The New Girl

Downstairs, Joey meets an angry Evadne Lannis and Marie Marani, who give her their opinion of the new girl - Thekla von Stift.  It transpires that she is a member of the "Junker" or German officer class, and, considering most of her fellow-pupils socially beneath her, plans to write home asking to be removed.  Thekla reluctantly answers a summons to meet Joey (and the whole Sixth Form) in the common room, where she recognises her second cousin, Marie von Eschenau.  Thekla expresses her dismay at being obliged to "consort with daughters of shopkeepers".  After she has left the room Marie explains that her own branch of the family have had no contact with Thekla's since the Great War.  Abendessen follows, when Thekla gets the worst of an argument with Miss Wilson after protesting at being forced to mix with "girls whose parents are tradespeople and innkeepers".  There follows an explanation of why Thekla has been sent to the Chalet School - her ex-governess has married and Thekla's half-brother is expected home shortly, having "imbibed a great deal of the spirit of young Germany".  The Chalet School was thought by Thekla's parents to be socially select because a Crown Princess was formerly a pupil!

Cut from first paragraph - "On the morrow, any girl caught speaking on the stairs would get an order-mark - today, they might do as they chose about it".  From second paragraph goes the first head-girl's name - "now Gisela Mensch".  Third paragraph "The rest of the Lower Fifth" - cut is "as the B forms were often called in the school".  Later Evadne and Marie "returned to the cloakroom, where they hung up their hats, changed their shoes and then" - is cut - looked around for Thekla.  Later "Also Paula and Irma come" - corrected to "came" in pb.

Chapter V - Thekla Makes a Scene

Battle of the stationery cupboard.  Thekla decides for some undisclosed reason that she "would become a new exercise book" and when told it is not as easy as that flies into a hysterical rage, until being marched off by Matron.  Several prefects discuss the situation and decide it must be hushed up as far as possible.  The Staff decide that the way to help Thekla settle in is to give all the girls plenty to occupy themselves with - a long walk to the Barenbad Alpe is planned for the next day (Saturday).

Most of the girls were out in the playing field - cut is "for it was the afternoon, and they were making the most of the fine weather with which September was ending".  Miss Annersley (came) from the staff room - "where she had been correcting books" - is cut.  Later a remark of Miss Nalder's is cut - "I know they say it will be a long autumn, but you can't tell".  Shortly after - Miss Leslie nodded "Rather! I've never been that way before" cut is - "Then its all settled?  After Guides, we have Mittagessen immediately and then we all set off for the Barenbad? Good".  Final sentence goes from pb - "So it was that the head girl was absent from the long walk which was fraught with so many strange results".

Blooper.  One minute Thekla is clearly stated to be speaking English, next minute everyone speaks German, so it must be German day.  To speak English voluntarily is the last thing I can imagine Thekla doing!

Chapter VI - Up the Barenbad Alpe

The next day, after Guides (which Thekla refuses to join) is followed by most of the school setting off for the Barenbad Alpe.  Several prefects attempt conversation with Thekla, to be met with total arrogance.  Interruption - several Middles try picking blackberries from hazardously placed bushes - Cornelia Flower finds a crack in the earth and disappears into it.  The crack turns out to be a cave "die Maultasch" said to "lead into the very bowels of the earth".  Rescue comes in the shape of a large peasant with a rope and an ice axe.

First paragraph - The rest - "with the knowledge of the pleasure before them" - cut - were in high spirits.  The Yellow dormitory "which housed eight wild members of the Fourth" - cut - "nearly got itself excluded from the walk".  Next cut is "Most of these unfortunate beings, (non Guides) were children whose parents wished them to wait until they were old enough to go straight into the Guides" (i.e. rather than Brownies).

Later - Frieda, who was "the very embodiment of her name, and" cut - peacemaker to the school at large Marie flushed too.  Cut is "She was fond of Sophie, who was a very nice girl, and she was indignant to think that one of her friends should have been so insulted by her cousin."

Next cut - "Frieda knew very well that Five B would be most unmerciful if they began" (to deal with Thekla).  Later Frieda's exclamation of "Oh", is changed to "Ah".

Later - the girls often gathered baskets of (wild strawberries) cut is "carrying them up to the little chalet on the alm, to eat them with the saucer of whipped cream which can be had for the sum of about threepence in English money".

Cornelia fell in the earth - cut is "The Staff were first to get to the spot".  Miss Wilson got on her knees "with due caution for any snakes or prickles about" - cut.  It was very dark .. cut is "Also, she was rather scared of snakes, though so far she hadn't found any".  When she was rescued "the two mistresses .. "Miss Annersley had climbed over the fence to help" cut "(were) paying out the rope".  Cornelia emerged "using forbidden slang ... The mistresses said nothing "for once" is cut.

Chapter VII - Thekla

The expedition continues minus Cornelia.  Thekla becomes increasingly unhappy during the unaccustomed "scrambling about mountains" and at one point a full-scale row, culminating in an argument over the parts played by Germany and Austria in the Great War, erupts between Marie and Thekla in which the former shakes the latter!  The party returns to school for a quiet evening - except for the lectures delivered to Marie and Thekla.

Fight between Marie and Thekla "Of course, it was not allowed to go on" is cut.  They led out of the little valley "leaving behind the wonderful flower carpet" is cut.  Thekla struggled to her feet.  "She had no wish to be left behind" cut.  (Miss Annersley) was a very humane person "more so, perhaps, then 'Bill' " cut.  Return to school - there is cut "Matron's lineament was efficacious, even though it did smell, as Joey Bettany had once said, like a turpentine can mixed up with vinegar barrel".

Inconsistency - Cyrilla Mauris, supposed to have gone to the Sonnalpe instead, turns up on the walk!

Chapter VIII - The Prefects in Council

Prefects' meeting in which Marie apologises for losing her temper with Thekla, Cornelia considered likely to be in a subdued state (for now) and the coming Staff Evening discussed, which is to be a Halloween party with traditional games (from several countries!).  Joey refuses to produce artistic invitations, her lessons with Herr Laubach (whose temper tantrums equal if not outdo Thekla's!) having been stopped the previous week.  They do not get around to discussing the problem of Thekla, to Marie's regret.

"Far as that goes", said Joey - cut is "getting off the table where she had been sitting, swinging her crossed feet,"  "I can't understand".  Later Joey "dismissed the problem with relief" - cut is "and turning from the window whither she had wandered".  When Frieda enters she remarks "as she sank into the chair on Jo's right hand" is cut "She (Corney) has been very good ... so far".

Also arrives Simone - cut is "who had settled herself next to Frieda, since at prefect councils the head-girl had to sit between the second prefect - Frieda, in this case - and the Games Prefect, who was Marie".

"The truth of the matter was that" cut - Jo ... was always a trial to Herr Laubach.  Penultimate sentence cut - "She ran off to attend to one of the big urns in the Common Room, Frieda following her to take charge of the other".

Chapter IX - The Senior Middles in Trouble

All is quiet (apart from Thekla!) when the Fifths complain about the school clock, which is losing time and lengthening lessons.  Margia Stevens and Elsie Carr find in two books all they think they need to know to alter the clock, and take all the Fifths into their confidence except Thekla, who overhears some strange conversation but considers it unimportant at the time.  The next morning, something is clearly wrong - the clock strikes 207 times and stops dead.  Laughter all round is interrupted by Thekla exclaiming "You have done this, Margia!"  The Fifths are all naturally furious with Thekla for "telling tales" - a moral concept which Thekla in face does not understand.

The names of four Middles (Margia Stevens, Elsie Carr, Evadne Lannis and Ilonka Barcocz) cut from first paragraph.  From the next is cut "But the next week trouble began".

Later "you may make up your mind to that", declared Elsie Carr - cut is "who had been in trouble with Joey that day for untidiness".  (Miss Wilson) was going up to the Sonnalpe for the afternoon and evening - "Indeed she had been delayed by having to clear up her premises", is cut Elsie and Margia should get the clock down - "it was one of the wall variety" - cut.  Once again the translation of "half-past-eighteen" is cut (Thekla) left the laboratory, followed by the others - cut is "for the second bell was ringing, and there might be trouble if they were late".

Chapter X - Half Term at the Sonnalpe

The girls not going home for half-term are to visit the Sonnalpe, some staying at the hotel and others at Die Rosen (the Russells' home) and Das Pferd (that of Gottfried and Gisela Mensch).  Three more are staying at the newly-opened Annexe.  The greater part of the chapter is devoted to Madge welcoming the visitors, exchanging news of school and Annexe, and listening to Joey's dire warnings of possible earthquakes - she has been swotting up gruesome Tirolean history!

Fourth paragraph, referring to the new road up the Sonnalpe "Till then the only way up had been by the mountain path" is cut, as is "It was a winding road to make easier the stiff gradient, and took some time to negotiate, but it was likely to prove a great boon to them all".  Later (Madge to Rix) "Who told you that?" demanded his aunt - cut is "as she tried to put her son's attire in order again."

"Das Pferd" the home of her (Frieda's brother, Gottfried Mensch and his pretty wife - cut is "once Gisela Marani and the first head girl at the Chalet School".

Two paragraphs are omitted in which Madge tells Elsie Carr that her sister Lilias is nearly well and may soon return to England.

Later Madge returned to the house - cut is "still holding her son, though she set him down as soon as they were indoors".  (Rix and Peggy) adored Robin Humphries (known to the whole school as the Robin, and the pet of everyone" is cut, no great loss!  Later is cut Madge's remark "Jo, if you tickle David like that you will make him sick," as is the fact that Jo is soon "turning her nephew right side up, and proceeding to smooth his curls".  Cut from last paragraph "the school magazine of which Stacie was editor", qualifying the Chaletian.

Chapter XI - The Storm

Joey visits Stacie's room where they exchange school and other news and discuss the contributions for the Chaletian.  Joey, Madge and the other girls then visit the Annexe, returning with Robin to Die Rosen just in time to escape a thunderstorm.  Only serious consequence is that Joey is so surprised she knocks over and smashes a bowl of flowers.  The girls then play a game of "Statues" (not the version generally played today) followed by a lavish supper and bed.

(Stacie's bedside) table "made by Captain Humphries" is cut.  Later, cut is "For it had been decided that the Annexe should have their own part in the magazine, and not tackle one of their own, which had been the first suggestion".  "Jo's face cleared at this explanation" (of an operation at the San) is cut.  Later, Jo ... ran down to the salon "encountering her sister in the hall, and they reached the door together" is cut, as is "The two sisters stood in the doorway and watched the fun" (of Statues).

Chapter XII - Winter Begins

Next day (5th November) it is snowing and a bonfire is out of the question, to Joey's disappointment, but Madge proposes indoor entertainments for the whole day, namely indoor games, dancing, a sing-song and tableaux for the evening.  The girls staying at the hotel and at Das Pferd arrive at Die Rosen, and the day is spent as planned, much of it in preparing for the tableaux, which begin straight after Abendessen.  There follows a detailed description of the tableaux, which are interspersed with several solo singers and players.  The final item "The Sleeping Beauty" ends in the hastily-rigged curtains collapsing and Madge "scolding" the girls for their audacious borrowing of assorted textiles ranging from sheets to Madge's wedding veil!

The rain had become snow by eight o'clock - but is "The wind was howling eerily round the house, and the garden was already being buried under a mantle of snow".  Later is cut "Listen, all of you!" before "She (Stacie) will be in that little room off the stairs".  Description of sewing room - cut is "Today, it looked very snug, with a red fire glowing in its great porcelain stove, and bronze and gold chrysanthemums in a glass jar on the table".

Later - Dr Jem groaned for his cloth (of the billiard table) but the girls were careful, and ... "as he was obliged to acknowledge later" - is cut - did not harm.

Andreas had been coaxed to ... rig up a special lighting arrangement - "he was very handy with his fingers" is cut.  Later - Corney ... could not hope to vie with Jo "who was the School's prima donna par excellence" - is cut.  (Joey) was encored, of course.  Cut is "It would have been all the same if she had elected to yell the latest 'Jazz!" (EBD's quotes, of course).

From "Jewels of coloured chocolate papers gummed on" the word "chocolate" is cut.  From same paragraph is cut - "As Jo was tall and Evadne was short, the jumper was the right length" (for a page's costume).  The girls ... had forgotten all about the curtains till the last moment - cut is "when they had to manage as best they could!"

Mrs Russell's own wedding veil, which Joey had unearthed "needless to say, without asking the owner's permission" is cut, as is later "She (Madge) looked lovingly at her precious coverlets which she had rescued, unharmed.

Chapter XIII - A Glorious Time

Next day everyone is housebound due to snow.  A typical "gentle Sunday" is passed at Die Rosen.  The following day the snow has settled and a snow-fight, which includes four mistresses, rages for more than an hour, described in vigorous detail.  Refreshments follow, during which a long walk to the other end of the alm is proposed.

Madge suggests an hour's reading "What do you think?" is dropped.  After "such a gentle Sunday" is cut "But if Sunday was peaceful Monday was not".  After "Remember, girls, no more talking" is cut "And Madge went on to see that the others were safely in their nests, and left them".  "Well, how do we arrange things?"  demanded Grizel Cochrane - cut is "who looked very trig and smart in full climbing kit".  Before the snow-fight there is cut "Even the Robin, in her excitement at being trusted with the making of sandwiches, forgot that she was not to play with her beloved Joey".  When Rix has stopped Peggy "messing him over", there is cut "However, she was a sunshiny little person, and she soon recovered from the rebuff to her well-meant efforts at comfort".

I think most of us would rather have Peggy around than Robin!

Chapter XIV - A Little Science

The long walk takes place (scenery described in detail) the following day seeing the return to school.  All is quiet for about a week until Evadne, in a bad mood after she and Cornelia have been punished for kicking each other under the table, decides to liven up the Fifth's chemistry lesson.  Discovering the nature of a crystalline substance is too boring - she proceeds to mix some mysterious powder with sulphuric acid and set it upon her Bunsen burner.  The result is an explosion - all the girls flee from the building, Evadne's clothes are torn to rags and she is black with soot - there is comparatively little damage beyond broken windows and a ruined bench, it being too snowy for anything to catch fire.

First paragraph, beginning "The long walk was a very delightful one.  Many of the girls had never been to the other end of the alm" is dropped.  From second paragraph is cut "The latter (Rufus) had had a glorious time in the morning, rushing about in the snow, and pouncing on anyone, whether friend or foe, who seemed likely to romp with him".

Return to school "Even Thekla "who had been staying with some cousins in Munch" is cut - came back much better".

Simone ... delighted in all her subjects.  Cut is "What was more, she enjoyed wrestling with a hard problem of any kind; and now that she was verging on eighteen, she worked still harder".  As for Frieda, Carla and Vanna "they worked from motives of conscientiousness" is cut "and contrived ..."  Description of Herr Laubach "the clever, though far from patient Drawing master", is cut, as is from the next paragraph "Even the Third was quiet and placed in those days; but the Fifths and the Fourth kept things lively".  "You must be more careful" said the prefect (Frieda to Evadne) the next bit is cut "and turned to answer a question put to her by Violet Allison of the Third, who was sitting next to her".  Jo, who had ... a nagging toothache "the result of eating largely of Edinburgh rock the night before" cut.

Later is cut "The Chalet School made a feature of its open-air life.  Even in the coldest wether the girls spent a great deal of time out of doors unless it was storming violently" as from the same paragraph disappears "It (an "explosion") was bound to come, and it came".  Later - A voice that made them all jump - cut is "for no-one could have recognised it as the voice of merry little Mlle Lachenais".

The two Fifths "clad in the sensible black overalls they always wore for this lesson" is cut - were greeted by Miss Wilson.  Evadne ... remembered ... punishment-table" with the entire Upper and Middle Schools staring at her" is cut ... now reached (boiling point!).  Description of Rosa van Buren "the weakling of the class, is cut, as is the fact that Herr Anserl "had the pick of the pupils at the Chalet School".  Also dropped is "It had been decided that she (Thekla) had better not take it (science) up, but use the time for extra French and English, in both of which she was very poor".  Later (Evadne) had been ... by herself - cut is "as Miss Wilson was wise enough never to allow her to be anywhere near anyone else."

Chapter XV - Staff Evening

Evadne's exploits calm the whole school down - attention is turned to the Staff Evening, Saturday 29th November.  Invitations go to the Staff bearing the words "Please come in clothes that don't matter" and the entertainment proves to consist of several musical items, followed by an ample supper (the large iced cake turns out to be a dummy containing small gifts all round!) and then the postponed Halloween games - apple bobbing and assorted types of fortune telling are described.  Proceedings end suddenly when Thekla, taking her turn at jumping over the fortune charged candles, sets fire to her (illicit) muslin petticoat, and the flames are put out by two mistresses, Joey's less than expert help leaving the room in chaos.  Thekla is so contrite she even plans to join the Guides!

Cut is Simone's "Au revoir, mes amies!' - 'Same to you', laughed Jo, turning to her history, and that was the end of the chatter for that time.  Later is cut "It is almost like Halloween" said Jo, "but that will make all the more fun".  Fritz' job description "the boy of all work at the Chalet" is cut, as is "When it was half full the girls bade him stop" (his filling the apple tub).

Later disappears "She (Paula) chatted easily to them for on these occasions it was permissible to a large extent, to forget that Staff were Staff, and the elder girls were often able to date a close friendship with one of the mistresses to such an evening".  The fact that Luise was "helped by Anna and Klara, her younger sisters, who helped her in the kitchen" is cut, as is a conversation shortly after between Matron and Miss Leslie in which the latter is worried that some of the younger girls will eat themselves sick.  Cut from the account of fortune telling with ears of corn "a big full one, good luck for the coming year".

Thekla's behaviour has improved but "She had been quite civil, even to the Hamels, and they, being good-natured girls, had met her half-way" is cut; as is "Thekla had a passion for wearing what Joey stigmatised as "fluffies" and there were far too few opportunities for wearing them at School.  She was resolved not to let this one slip".  After the disaster, "It would be a long time before Thekla disobeyed "Matey" again, is cut, while "the other girls let (Jo) down very lightly "for them" cut.

Blooper.  How can 5th and 29th November both fall on a Saturday in the same year?

Chapter XVI - The Christmas Play

The personnel of the Annexe arrives at the main School for the last fortnight of term (Sledge and rail journey delightfully described). Two days later strenuous rehearsals begin for the Pageant.  The dress rehearsal is not perfect, but the Pageant of Christmas through the ages (described in fine detail) goes with no hitches apart from a calf who refuses to kneel down in the concluding Nativity tableau.  The highly successful pageant ends with "a breathless silence in the hall".

Juliet's remark to Grizel re the Annexe "There are four new girls this term, you know, and we know nothing about them" is cut, as is Grizel's "Why do you say that?" (i.e. that Joey will never marry!)  Next paragraph loses first sentence "At once they set aside science lessons, girls, the future, and everything else, in order to plan for the latest arrangement" (the play).

Later.  The great blizzard was over - cut is "and there was little likelihood of its recurrence at present, if the weather prophets were to be believed".  There were many meetings at Die Rosen "of all the grown-ups concerned" is cut, as is "and the mountain path up from the lake was, of course, out of the question".

Further on "However the longest period of waiting comes to an end" is cut (before the Annexe departs).  Herr Anserl is no longer "the cantankerous Music master who was the dread of everybody".  A mention by name of Melanie de Vos and Signa Johansen is also dropped, as is the fact that refreshments at Herr Anserl's house were shared by the muleteers.  The next paragraph, a description of the Tiernsee beginning "It was very lovely" is cut.

Later - It was not that they had not given other plays before - "they had, many a time and oft" is cut.  A comment "Jo wriggled and scowled, but she changed her position, and stood squarely on her feet" (during a rehearsal) is cut.

The Kron Prinz Karl loses its description "the great hotel which dominated the peninsula, and also of the land on which the Chalet property stood".

The fact that the words of "Torches" had been translated into German by Miss Denny is cut.  The Spirit rose from her throne - cut is "where she had seated herself before the coming of the first hair of courtiers".

The lovely old Austrian carol 'Ein Kindlein in der Weigen' cut is "or as Jo kindly translated it for Biddy O'Ryan" - 'The Baby in the Cradle'.

Final tableau.  Dropped is "But what a change had come!  Gone were the gaily clad groups.  The throne had vanished".  The glockenspiel is played by Herr Laubach - "of all people" is cut.

Even her (Madge's) own little carol - "of which we have given the best English translation we could" is cut - told effectively.

Conclusion - This book has only been very slightly abridged.  Nothing necessary to the construction of the story is missing and there has been no "updating" beyond turning charabancs into coaches!

Louise Burbidge

Publishing history