daisy was very pretty and fair—her hair was as yellow as primrose's, but it curled, and was more or less always in a state of friz; her eyes were wide open and blue, and she was just a charming little child, partaking slightly of the qualities of both her elder sisters.

these girls had never had a care or an anxiety—when they were hungry they could eat, when they were tired sleep could lull them into dreamless rest—they had never seen any world but the narrow world of rosebury, the name of the village where they lived. even romantic jasmine thought that life at rosebury, with perhaps a few more books and a few more adventures must form the sum and substance of her existence. of course there was a large world outside, but even jasmine had not begun to long for it.

primrose was sixteen, jasmine between thirteen and fourteen, and daisy ten, when a sudden break came to all this quiet and happy routine. mrs. mainwaring without any warning or any leave-taking, suddenly died.