Chapter 22
So the weekend passed happily. There had been many walks – Grizel and Juliet had taken all four Pevensies on rambles to some lovely spots. Surprisingly, Jack Maynard had turned up for most of these, at first sticking close to Edmund and Peter and then gradually falling into step with Lucy and Susan and engaging them in conversation. By the time they had gone on a few walks together, Lucy had gotten over her shyness and became quite comfortable in conversation with him. Jack was content with this as a beginning. He could see that Lucy was not thinking of anything else at present and he had not been blind to Peter's watchful eye on him!
Evenings had been passed in music, discussion and rather silly games at the Russell's pretty home. The four Pevensies felt more and more at home and it was with rather a shock on the Sunday afternoon, that they realised it was time to go back down to the Tiernsee. Stacie was sad to see them go, especially Susan, but was comforted by Dr Russell's promise that she might perhaps return to school in a few weeks, if she continued to make the progress shown over the weekend. Madge shared this news with Susan and Lucy but asked them not to pass it on to the others as yet.
They said goodbye to Grizel and Juliet and to the Russells and began to make their way back down. Jack, who realised that it would look rather obvious if he went with them, had already taken himself back off to the Sanatorium, already hoping for another weekend visit soon.
"Goodbye Mrs Russell, thank you so much," said Susan. "It was a wonderful weekend."
"It certainly was," agreed Edmund.
"I'm glad to hear it," replied Madge gently. "I hope you will be able to come and stay with us again." She waved her hand as the little party made its way down the mountain. Grizel vanished indoors to talk to Stacie and Juliet came to stand beside Madge.
"What did you think of our visitors?" she asked.
"Lucy and Susan are dear girls," replied Madge. "We must have them up again soon. Susan was very good for Stacie, those two seem quite fond of one another. Lucy seemed worried about something though."
Juliet nodded. "I thought so too," she said thoughtfully. "It's funny Madge, I had a sort of an idea that it was something to do with Jo."
"What makes you say that?" asked Madge in astonishment.
"I had a lot of opportunity to talk to Lucy over the weekend and naturally I was asking her about school, how she liked it and so on. She was more than happy to talk about school, in fact, she seems to love being there, but whenever the subject of Jo came up, she just went, well, quiet. It happened on several occasions, otherwise I might have thought I was imagining it. I didn't like to pry, so I never asked her if there was a problem with Jo at school."
Madge nodded thoughtfully. Juliet went off to her own room to do some mending and Madge remained outside, thinking.
Unaware that she was under discussion, Lucy was talking to Susan and her brothers about Jo too.
"I thought I was just being over-sensitive at first," she said, "but it's obvious that Jo doesn't like me. I don't know why either. I haven't done anything to her. From the first moment we were introduced, introduced properly, I mean, she's been cold. Sometimes she's downright rude. It's a bit awkward, I mean she's Head Girl for goodness sake. I've tried to avoid her, but we're both Seniors so we're in the same classes for almost everything."
"Maybe she's still annoyed about the way we all first met," suggested Edmund, his eyes twinkling at the memory.
"Perhaps," said Lucy slowly, "yes, I think you're right Edmund, but there's something else and I don't know what it is. Other people have started to notice it now, you know. I've caught Anne and Gillian staring at me a couple of times after Jo has cold shouldered me or been rude. No-one has actually said anything, but I can tell what they are thinking. I must have done something. You others know how I haven't been to school before and I've probably done lots of things wrong in the way I talk to people. It must be just me," she finished with a slight quiver in her voice.
Peter put an arm around his sister and hugged her. Even though Lucy appeared to the world as the older of the two sisters, she had never looked so young and forlorn to him and he was reminded of the little girl who sobbed so bitterly when they had refused to believe her tales of the land inside the wardrobe.
"It will be ok Lu," he said comfortingly, "you'll see. Maybe Jo will come around eventually. Just you stick with things and try not to let it get to you. Ed and I are always close by, you know. Just talk to Mademoiselle Lepattre whenever you need to come and see us."
"And I'm actually at school with you," broke in Susan wickedly, "even though I'm just your naughty younger sister!"
They all laughed at this and the tension was broken. Lucy felt better for having unburdened herself and they continued down to the Chalet where the girls said goodbye to their brothers and made their way to their respective houses.
"You know, I thought at first that Lucy was having an easier time than Susan, adjusting to the changes and everything, but now I think Susan has settled down much better than Lucy has," remarked Edmund to Peter, as they turned into the little chalet which was home for the present.
Peter nodded his head. "Lucy may look almost grown up, but in a lot of ways she is still a little girl inside. Unfortunately for her, we four and Mademoiselle are the only ones who know it. It could get a little awkward later on because of that."
"Maynard, you mean?" asked Edmund, who had also had his suspicions of Jack Maynard's feelings towards Lucy.
"Yes," said Peter briefly.
"Always thought it would be Susan giving trouble that way," remarked Edmund. "But Lucy and then you're the one who has to deal with it!"
"Don't remind me," groaned Peter. "But I think we're safe for a while anyway" and the subject was dropped for the moment.