
Bessie Challoner is a bright‑eyed, lanky girl whose love of learning is matched only by her habit of misplacing everything—from schoolbooks to her own hat. At Middleton School she navigates the daily scramble of late arrivals, teasing siblings, and the constant threat of scoldings, all while staying true to her good‑natured, slightly chaotic self. Her cleverness earns her quiet respect, even as her untidiness makes her the frequent target of playful ribbing.
Together with her friend Alice and a cast of lively classmates, Bessie’s mornings become a whirlwind of hurried footsteps, whispered promises, and the occasional daring scheme. As the school term unfolds, a mischievous cat named Kitty slips into their world, turning ordinary lessons into unexpected adventures and testing the limits of Bessie’s resourcefulness. Listeners will find a charming portrait of youthful camaraderie, the humor of everyday mishaps, and the gentle thrill of discovering how a single curious creature can reshape a whole school day.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (457K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2006-02-01
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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