
A devoted young teacher prepares to leave the bustling, multilingual boarding school where she has become the heart of a close‑knit group of girls from across Europe. As they gather around her, each presents a bouquet of flowers and heartfelt promises to keep in touch, the scene brims with tender goodbyes and the quiet hum of distant music. The departure sets the stage for a poignant exploration of the ties that bind students and mentors, and the sense of duty that pulls the teacher back to a family she has long avoided.
On the train home, she wrestles with memories of the lively classroom, the gratitude of her pupils, and the looming responsibility of caring for a sick stepmother. The narrative captures her inner conflict between personal longing and obligations, while hinting at the challenges awaiting her upon return. Listeners will be drawn into a richly detailed world of language, culture, and the bittersweet moments that define a teacher’s lasting impact.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (419K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Nick Hodson of London, England
Release date
2013-07-07
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1854–1914
Best known for lively girls’ school stories and a huge range of popular fiction, this Irish-born writer helped shape late Victorian and Edwardian reading for young audiences. She was remarkably prolific, writing adventure tales, mysteries, historical fiction, and stories that reached far beyond the schoolroom.
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