“Isabel O’Sullivan and her cousin Alison sat in the small station café drinking cups of tea and eating jammy buns. Both girls were waiting for the train that would take them back to St Clare’s after the holidays.”
“The others looked around as another sixth former approached. Margaret was a remarkably good-looking girl, with straight dark hair cut in a dramatic bob, unusual violet-coloured eyes and high cheekbones that gave her a rather exotic appearance.”
“I am afraid that you will be coping in somewhat difficult circumstance this term’, the head went on. ‘You will have already noticed that all the third formers are to be together in one dormitory instead of two?”
“Mam’zelle stared perplexedly at the girl before her. Why did she speak in this strange manner? And why did she keep calling her Mam? Just then Jennifer Mills, and her friend Barbara Thompson came over, along with Margaret Winters.”
“Mr Murray now took over. They are willing to give you a home.′ Maia took a deep breath. A home. She had spent her holidays for the past two years in the school. Everyone was friendly and king but a home... ‘Not only that,’ said Miss Emily, ‘but it turns out that the Carters have twin daughters about your age.”
“With her idealistic view of the African savanna crushed, Patricia finally gives in to everyone’s demands and leaves with the narrator to attend a boarding school in Nairobi.”