Stepsisters for Lorna
Synopsis
Kath Arnold is troubled by the news from her sister Bess Carey in Madeira. Not only is Bess going to marry again, but her new husband has two daughters, Rosemary and Marigold Corbett, who are in desperate need of schooling after a series of ineffectual governesses. Bess believes that much the best thing for the two girls will be for them to be enrolled at Wynyards, the well-known day school where Bess's own daughter Lorna goes. In turn that means that Rosemary and Marigold will live at the Arnolds' house, just as Lorna does.
Even easy-going Kath feels that Bess is imposing upon her here, but the alternative is that Rosemary and Marigold would have to board all year round among complete strangers.
But even as Kath is pondering how best to break the news to Lorna, the job is taken out of her hands. Rosemary, the elder girl, takes it upon herself to write to Lorna to welcome her into their family.
Lorna is deeply upset. It is less than a year since her father died and she does not like the idea of acquiring two stepsisters who will live with her at all. But a year with the Arnolds has taught Lorna unselfishness and she prepares to make the best of things.
Things might have gone smoothly, for Rosemary turns out to be friendly, and eager-to-please. But Marigold is a little wildcat. She cares little for her lessons, she is jealous of her sister's affection and she greatly resents Lorna's place at the heart of the household. Soon Marigold is at daggers drawn with everyone: her schoolmates, Lorna, Kath Arnold, even her beloved sister. But in one foolhardy act of disobedience Marigold brings upon herself a worse punishment than any of her elders could have devised for her, and eventually, she finds it within herself to control her temper and think of others.
contributed by Christina Erskine, England __ working from a hardback edition
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