Sally Cocksure : A school story

Sally Brendan is a clever, quick‑witted girl whose love of Shakespeare and restless imagination keep her mind racing even in the most orderly schoolroom. When a sudden bell signals an urgent visit from the vicar’s imperious wife, Sally’s sharp tongue and lively eye‑rolling set the tone for a day that feels more like a theatrical farce than a lesson. Her governess tries to hush her, but Sally’s curiosity—and her habit of eavesdropping through carpets—pulls her deeper into the household’s petty dramas.

The vicar’s wife, Mrs Musgrave, arrives in a thunderous temper, convinced that Sally’s spirited cleverness is a dangerous influence on the parish. A ridiculous tale about a goat wandering into a lecture on ancient cuneiform sparks a lively, comic showdown, while the other children watch with a mixture of amusement and awe. The opening promises a bustling world of schoolyard schemes, household gossip, and the charming clash between youthful exuberance and strict Victorian propriety.