They Both Liked Dogs
Synopsis
Mollie Thurstan is a concert pianist living in a small village in England. One morning her quiet life is interrupted by a letter from her brother Jim who lives in Burma. He asks if Mollie could possibly look after his daughter Erica, as she has lived too long in the unhealthy climate of Burma and he wishes her to spend some time in England. Shortly after this, Mollie hears from her brother Bill, asking her to have Freda to stay for a while. Freda lives in Tasmania at the moment, but her family is going to move to Brazil, which would not be healthy. Mollie agrees to have both of them.
Both girls come over on the same boat, together with Captain Pemberly, who is a friend of Freda's parents. The girls settle down in Mollie's house. Erica is slightly older, but has been spoilt, and is not as able to look after herself as Freda is. Freda soon assumes a role of mothering her, and helps her with her chores. Both girls make the acquaintance of Mollie's alsatian, Tal. Freda adores him but Erica is very frightened of him.
One day Mollie is asked at short notice to play at a concert some distance away. There is a large race meeting going on in the village, so she forbids the children to leave the grounds, as there will be a great many strangers about. At first the girls are happy exploring the attics where they find many old clothes. After a time they begin to get bored, though, and Erica tentatively suggests they should go to the races anyway, and not tell Mollie. Freda is very shocked at her lack of honour, and Erica hastlily agrees to stay.
Mollie anounces her intention to get Freda an alsatian. Before this can be done, however, Erica succumbs to a bout of malaria. Freda nurses her and is very good to her, but Erica shows little gratitude. When Erica had malaria in Burma her ayah would bow to her every wish and she regards this as her right when she is ill. Eventually Mollie takes a hand when she sees how selfish Erica is. Erica then apologises to her cousin. Freda is then taken to choose her alsatian from the same breeder that reared Tal.
At the beginning of the new term the girls start school. Freda settles in easily and soon makes friends. Erica finds things much more difficult and is very jealous of Freda, telling her she should be satisfied with herself alone. Freda is sorry for her cousin but refuses to give up her friends. One day at school a General Knowledge Prize is announced.
The girls sit down to do the papers, and discuss them afterwards. There is a long discussion about where the quotation "All is lost save honour" comes from, Freda declaring strongly that she knows she is right. A muddle with the names causes problems when the result is announced.
The book ends with a very Happy Christmas for the family.
contributed by Sarah Allatt, England __ working from a hardback edition
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