Spine and corners slightly bumped.
Helen, optimistic as ever, hopes that her last term at Melling will be lazy and peaceful. But her hopes are quickly dashed when the aggressive Miss Whyte appears, to take charge of the school during the illness of the gentle headmistress, Miss Pickering. Miss Whyte takes a swift dislike to the easy-going Melling atmosphere, and enforces a more rigid disclipine, which is immediately resented by staff and girls alike. Helen's unorthodox ways soon bring her into Miss Whyte's black books, and her younger sisters, Roddy and Susan, are equally unpopular with the headmistress. There are stormy scenes when Miss Whyte tactlessly asserts herself. When Libby, the headgirl, blazes up in Helen's defence, troubles come to a head, and Helen is unhappy and in heavy disfavour when suddenly the tide turns. Miss Whyte unexpectedly perceives her own mistakes, and comes at last to appreciate Helen, the girl she earlier thought was "impossible".
