No royal road : $b or, The thing that lies the nearest. A story for girls.

In a tucked‑away cottage shaded by lime trees, a modest garden bursts with roses, honeysuckle and the gentle murmur of a summer brook. Here Lilla lives with her widowed grandmother, the only link to a past that has lost its father and sister. Their days are filled with simple chores, needlework, and the quiet rhythms of a life sustained by careful saving and the occasional helping hand.

Lilla, now fourteen, is a sensible and curious girl whose keen eye catches the world beyond the hedged gate. She forms a steady friendship with the lively Margie, discovers stories of great women, and learns the value of diligence and ambition. As the seasons turn, the pair navigate school, modest dreams, and the gentle guidance of their elders, finding that the road to adulthood can be as rewarding as it is winding.