The rather drab dustjacket does what it is paid for on this volume. it washes its face. It keeps the real cover pretty pristine and there to see behind it is the pretty girl, long curly hair in tresses, straw hat - and what is that in her hand - a whip? There is a chapter called 'Doing a wilful deed'. It is quite serious though page 129: 'If to be a New Woman means being well educated, and taking an interest in life, and seeing plenty of my fellow men and women, then I am going to become one', said Barbara stoutly.

Barbara's ambition leads her astray; she leaves the company of her merry sisters and is very naughty, but everything turns out happily in the end (sigh!. She manages to avoid becoming a New Woman - masculine and sophisticated - and goes back to live merrily with her merry sisters on their own dairy farm.

An enjoyable book and not too sentimental or sanctimonious. ( )