
Milly and Olly are a lively pair of fair‑haired children whose boundless curiosity makes every day feel like an adventure. Set in the green‑sprawling valley of Fox How, the story paints a vivid picture of sparkling becks, fern‑covered hills and a quiet stone house that has watched generations grow. Their mother’s sudden proclamation of a “nice something” sends the siblings racing through the house, each guessing wildly—school, strawberry tea, even a map of England—while the older sister’s solemn wisdom balances her younger brother’s exuberant jumps.
The narrative captures the warm, slightly mischievous bond between the siblings and the gentle humor of their household, especially the ever‑present nurse and the absent‑minded aunt. As the children press their ears to the mystery, the reader is drawn into the anticipation of a family journey that promises both comfort and surprise. The opening chapters set a charming, slightly nostalgic tone, inviting listeners to step into a world where imagination and countryside life intertwine.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (254K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Andrew Templeton, Juliet Sutherland, Barbara Tozier and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team.
Release date
2004-08-31
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1851–1920
Best known for the hugely successful novel Robert Elsmere, this English writer was one of the most widely read literary voices of the late Victorian era. Her fiction often took on big questions about religion, politics, and social change while staying rooted in everyday human lives.
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