In this story, Patty Hirst is the daughter of a hard-working doctor of limited means.

Patty’s father is unable to afford a good boarding school and her uncle, father of the pretty Muriel, pays for her to go to Muriel’s excellent school, The Priory.

Muriel is unhappy about this, and thinks, Patty could go to any other school, why should she be sent to her school. She treats the good-natured Patty with neglect, but Patty’s forgiving nature (lightened by one very good practical joke and prank) comes through in the end.

While somewhat saccharine, the story is saved by totally being sugared-off with some pranks and Patty’s somewhat muleish naive and stubborn nature. The story flows well and is very readable.