
A quiet English street becomes the stage for a tender portrait of childhood resilience. Each morning, eight‑o’clock bells summon the mysterious Mrs. Overtheway, whose graceful ritual of bonnet, shawl and fresh rose captivates the orphaned Ida, who watches from her nursery window and counts the moments until the lady departs for church.
Ida’s world is shaped by loss: her mother’s early death and a sailor father who vanished at sea. When a long‑awaited letter arrives, promising his return aboard the “Bonne Espérance,” hope flickers anew, and Ida clings to the fragile promise as she tends to the tiny treasures he once sent. The narrative weaves gentle observation with quiet longing, inviting listeners to share in the rhythms of prayer, the comfort of ritual, and the bittersweet anticipation of a home that may never be reclaimed.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (297K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Sankar Viswanathan, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2006-02-16
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1841–1885
A beloved Victorian writer for children, she brought warmth, humor, and a sharp eye for everyday life to stories that have endured for generations. Best known for tales like Jackanapes and The Story of a Short Life, she helped shape children's literature in the 19th century.
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