Two Chalet School Girls in India by Priyadarshini Narendra

Author:Priyadarshini Narendra [Narendra, Priyadarshini]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Bettany Press
Published: 2011-06-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER XV

JOEY NIGHTINGALE

THE Robin was lying huddled up in a small hollow at the foot of the Balancing Rock, arms folded in an attempt to keep warm, and was barely conscious. Joey moved to pick her up, but Gareth quickly said, “Jo, don’t move her. Let me first take a look and see if anything’s broken.”

He soon looked up thankfully from his task and said, “No broken bones. But she’s sprained her ankle rather badly—it’s already swelling up. And she’s fatigued with her exposure to the fog and cold. Hand me the flask, Jo. And do you have anything that we can put around her to keep her warm?” he asked as he laid her straight and rested her head on the rucksack.

Joey unwound her scarf and gave it to him. It was a rather wide and very long one that she had knitted for herself when she had first begun knitting, and she had been teased aplenty for not knowing when to stop. But she had never been more grateful for it—on slight Robin it functioned like a shawl, and they were able to wrap her about in it—rather like a mummy, as Robin said later. By the time they had finished, the Robin had roused slightly, and let out a feeble moan.

“Rob—Rob darling, it’s me. We’ve got you safe,” said Joey chokingly, reaching out and catching her hand. “We’ve got you safe. And we’ll soon be home.”

“Oh Joey—so nice—,” said the Robin, faintly.

Gareth gave Joey a mug of coffee, and Joey held it up to the Robin and helped her drink it her sip by sip. That revived the Robin slightly, and she raised her head up, saying, “Where am I? Where’s everyone? It’s so cold here—br-rr.” But that momentary flicker did her in, and with a moan of pain she fell back on to the makeshift pillow.

“We have to get her home quickly. How do we do it?” Jo asked Gareth worriedly.

“The two of us will have to do it. We don’t have time to wait for the others, even if they heard our whistles, which, in this pea-souper, I rather doubt. Can you manage a Queen’s Chair? I’d carry her by myself, but she’ll be jolted all the more that way.”

“Oh, I’ll manage. Don’t worry about me, I’m all right,” said Joey.

Gareth looked at her with admiration, but only said, “You’re a plucky girl. Come on then, the sooner we begin, the sooner it ends.”

It was a long and weary journey through the dark forest, and by the time they reached sight of home, Jo’s shoulders were aching badly. She had never been robust herself, and the Robin was a dead weight. She didn’t once complain or ask for a rest, however, and Gareth was all the more moved by her determination. The golden light flooding out from the house was a benediction to the spent girl, and as they staggered up the steps, Mollie and the others came rushing out to clasp the beloved burden and relieve their aching arms.

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