THE
School Queens
BY
L T. MEADE
Author of “Polly, a New-Fashioned Girl,”
“Sue, a Little Heroine,” “Daddy’s Girl,”
“A Sweet Girl Graduate,” etc.
NEW YORK
THE NEW YORK BOOK COMPANY
1910
BIOGRAPHY AND BIBLIOGRAPHY
L. T. Meade (Mrs. Elizabeth Thomasina Smith),English novelist, was born at Bandon, County Cork,Ireland, 1854, the daughter of Rev. R. T. Meade,Rector of Novohal, County Cork, and married ToulminSmith in 1879. She wrote her first book, Lettie’sLast Home, at the age of seventeen and since then hasbeen an unusually prolific writer, her stories attainingwide popularity on both sides of the Atlantic.
She worked in the British Museum, living in BishopsgateWithout, making special studies of EastLondon life which she incorporated in her stories.She edited Atlanta for six years. Her pictures ofgirls, especially in the influence they exert on theirelders, are drawn with intuitive fidelity; pathos,love, and humor, as in Daddy’s Girl, flowing easilyfrom her pen. She has traveled extensively, beingdevoted to motoring and other outdoor sports.
Among more than fifty novels she has written, dealinglargely with questions of home life, are: David’sLittle Lad; Great St. Benedict’s; A Knight of To-day (1877);Miss Toosey’s Mission; Bel-Marjory (1878);Laddie; Outcast Robbin: or, Your Brother and Mine; ACry from the Great City; White Lillie and Other Tales;Scamp and I; The Floating Light of Ringfinnan; Dotand Her Treasures; The Children’s Kingdom: the Storyof Great Endeavor; The Water Gipsies; A Dweller inTents; Andrew Harvey’s Wife; Mou-setse: A NegroHero (1880); Mother Herring’s Chickens (1881); ALondon Baby: the Story of King Roy (1883); Hermie’sRose-Buds and Other Stories; How it all Came Round;Two Sisters (1884); Autocrat of the Nursery; Tip Cat;Scarlet Anemones; The Band of Three; A Little SilverTrumpet; Our Little Ann; The Angel of Love (1885); AWorld of Girls (1886); Beforehand; Daddy’s Boy; TheO’Donnells of Inchfawn; The Palace Beautiful; SweetNancy (1887); Deb and the Duchess (1888); Nobody’sNeighbors; Pen (1888); A Girl from America (1907).
THE SCHOOL QUEENS
Cicely Cardew and her sister Merry were twins. At thetime when this story opens they were between fifteen andsixteen years of age. They were bright, amiable, prettyyoung girls, who had never wanted for any pleasure orluxury during their lives. Their home was a happy one.Their parents were affectionate and lived solely for them.They were the only children, and were treated—as onlychildren often are—with a considerable amount of attention.They were surrounded by all the appliances of wealth. Theyhad ponies to ride and carriages to drive in, and each hadher own luxurious and beautifully furnished bedroom.
It was Mr. Cardew’s wish that his daughters should beeducated at home. In consequence they were not sent toany school