Dearest Nell,
I am on the train back to Innsbruck and am missing you already! Yes, I can just picture your face on reading that - but it's true, so you needn't mock me. I have had such a wonderful few days, all thanks due to you, my dear. - and I do hope you won't be as bored as you fear over the coming week or so. If ever you are, remember that some of us will be dealing with at least twice as many impossible Middles in your absence, and redirect your pity accordingly!
But enough shop-talk: This train is so cold and I can't help but think wistfully of your bed. The unexpected ending aside, I have had the most wonderful of half-terms. I don't think I mentioned how thrilled I was to be going with you - how grateful I was that you declined our dinner invitations that first night in Innsbruck - or that it was entirely your fault I could scarcely sleep that night. How could I, knowing you were so close? Never mind sleep, I could hardly breathe! You have been the best possible company, my girl. No matter what else happens, I will always cherish these memories. I warn you I am not going to say anything so soppy on a regular basis, so you may stop raising your eyebrows and just savour it!
Right! My time is nearly up and I must finish this so that I can be sure to post it and still make my connection to Spartz. I want to reassure you that I won't be expecting anything nearly so florid in reply; even if you were struck by some uncharacteristic desire to pen such a screed, I imagine you'd hesitate to post it to me at School. I am merely making maximum use of the comparative freedom of your correspondence at the pension - and my own before I properly return to the Chalet. I certainly shan't be scribbling at such a thing in the common-room - can you just picture that?!
Love always,
Con.
Con,
I am sending another letter, this same day, to Hilda, so the staff room needn't squabble over a single missive! That said, I have little news to impart: sleeping, reading, sleeping, eating, talking with Frau Blitzen when she comes up to see me, sleeping, prodding my foot to see if it's any better, eating, reading, sleeping - I could go on.
You'll be amused to hear that Frau Blitzen has been enquiring as to whether "das schone Fraulein" will be back to see me again before I leave - I think she is not persuaded by my stories of how busy you will all be - clearly she thinks I am entirely dispensable! I have tried not to take offence at this as she really has been most solicitous with her care and her time; but I am alone for much of the day and missing your company very much, my dear - though I know I am hardly a great prospect for such at present, still being largely confined to bed.
(I did try to venture outside earlier today with the aid of an alpenstock I found conveniently tucked away in the hallway here, but my good host was horrified and duly confiscated it before I'd so much as crossed the threshold, alas.)
I hope your journey from Innsbruck was fine and that things at the School are relatively peaceful. - I appreciate this latter may be a hope too far!
Yours,
Nell.
Dear Nell,
A nice touch, sending that letter to Hilda at the same time. It did indeed render my letter rather less loudly 'in demand', which was just as well as I don't know how I'd have explained my blushes. Your company, my love, is ALWAYS a great prospect, and no less so when confined to bed. (I can write this as I am at present hiding in my room on a 'free' and will take the post down myself today - you will, once again, recognise my usual noble and selfless generosity towards my colleagues.)
You may as well hear all the latest: the Juniors have made quite the penny-dreadful of your adventures at Stubai and though the Prefects did their best to promptly squash such exaggerations, the Third, Fourth and Fifth have all, to a girl, sent Eustacia to Coventry. You are evidently very much loved, my dear! The staff, too, are unimpressed by what they now know, though are naturally far more muted in it, and won't lay any blame outright - as you pointed out, there's no evidence for blame in any case - but the repercussions of Eustacia's refusal to cleave to the School and the other girls in it can hardly be ignored, now. It transpires that she and Jo had rather more history between them than we already knew of - Jo had barred her from the library, which I imagine explains that business of her causing havoc simply by 'reading' in the Chemistry lab - do you remember? Kit was quite ready to spank the pair of them, and I can't say I'd blame her! But, to be crystal clear, we are all getting on just fine - if missing you - so stop worrying and don't plot to come back sooner than you must - I know you! It is as well Frau Blitzen is keeping you in hand - trying to make off outside in this weather with your foot as it is - you are incorrigible!
Love,
Con.
I am bored, Con, and imagining your present fate does not make me any less so, whatever you say.
I am bored of the same white walls and ceiling, and even of the view from the window, since I can't go outside to see it more fully. Frau Blitzen has been very kind and attentive but our conversation feels, comparatively, limited: she clearly thinks I am just some mad English woman with no regard for my own safety - stop laughing! - and I rather yearn for a more meaningful interaction of some kind. However, you may be assured I am being a good patient and will certainly return to School thoroughly well-rested - indeed, I suspect I am now so very well rested that I shouldn't need any sleep again for weeks on end...
In my boredom, I have had an unusual amount of time to reflect on the question of Eustacia. It seems to me that any number of things could have been better managed, couldn't they? The poor child has nobody left in the world, really - you can't count her aunt in this, or at least she won't be counting her aunt, as all it must seem to her is that the woman spoke ill of her dead parents and then sent her away - and now she comes to learn that most of her old ideas were wrong. There are any number of us who should have been able to understand her grief and link it to her refusal to let go of those wrong-headed ideas of her parents', but none of us did. Of course she would fixate on Jo as the embodiment of all her parents wilfully failed to help her become! And Jo had no idea of it, nor how to deal with it - and none of us helped her there, either. Hindsight is a wonderful thing! - And naturally, none of this makes any suggestion as to what we might do now, other than hope the worst has passed and things will gradually improve on their own account.
The doctor from Neustift has been to visit again and thinks I will be ready to travel towards the end of the week. I will wire when all is confirmed - until then, I am just counting the days.
Yours,
Nell.
Nell,
I see Frau Blitzen has certainly got the measure of you, and you couldn't be in better hands. Good!
Now to my own grumbles: It is a week in which everything seems to be going wrong. A feud of some sort is simmering between the Fourth and the Fifth, or maybe between the Fourth and the Third, it is hard to tell and all the girls are out of sorts to a greater or lesser extent. Matey has come down with a cold and is suffering fools even less gladly than usual, and meanwhile none of the girls can go five minutes without spilling or breaking something, or bursting into tears - or both! Even the Sixth are in a mess - I am sorry to have to say this, but I suspect it will be better if you know before you get back here: clumsy children that they are, they have broken one of your maps clean in two. I gave them a sharp scolding and made myself exceedingly unpleasant about it, naturally, and they are very contrite, but the fact remains the thing is torn, and no further good to anybody.
Meanwhile, the Prefects are still all revved up for the Sale and have got me knitting in a frenzy - which I suppose at least keeps my fingers busy and gives me a little space to think, uninterrupted. Oh, I have missed you, my dear.
I shan't write again, nor expect to hear from you - but will be thrilled to see you on your return. It remains only for me to wish you the easiest of journeys.
'Til then, all my love,
Con.