Witch Winnie's Mystery, or The Old Oak Cabinet: The Story of a King's Daughter

Four girls at a boarding school—Adelaide, Milly, Emma and Nellie—share a cramped tower suite and a self‑appointed title, the “Amen Corner.” Their lives are orderly and proper until Witch Winnie, the spirited leader of the mischievous “Hornets,” moves in. Winnie’s lively energy softens the quartet’s rigid manners, and together they forge a new bond that feels both daring and comforting.

Inspired by their friendship, the girls organize a “Ten of King’s Daughters,” creating the Home of the Elder Brother, a modest shelter for children of widowed or imprisoned mothers. Their modest enterprise thrives on youthful enthusiasm and modest contributions, offering a dignified alternative to the harsher child‑care practices of the day. Yet the arrival of Cynthia Vaughn, a sharp‑tongued newcomer who despises Winnie, threatens the harmony they have built, hinting at fresh challenges for the group’s growing sense of purpose.