The Lark by E. Nesbit

E. Nesbit, best known for her classic children's books such as The Railway Children and Five Children and It, took a departure in 1922 with the publication of The Lark. This novel, aimed at adults, has been praised by writer Penelope Lively as "charming and brilliantly entertaining...shot through with the light-hearted Nesbit touch."

Orphaned cousins Jane and Lucilla, both 19 years old, receive the exciting news that their guardian is finally allowing them to leave boarding school. However, their bright future takes a turn for the worse when they discover that he has made some poor investments and fled, leaving them with a cottage in the English countryside and a modest bank account. The daunting task of finding a way to support themselves looms ahead, but Jane insists that rather than fretting, they should see their new situation as an adventure: "When have two girls like us ever had such a wonderful opportunity - to have an adventure all on our own? No chaperone, no rules, no..."

"No current income or prospects for the future," Lucilla interjected. Undeterred, the courageous girls start off by selling flowers, but when they exhaust their own garden's supply, they begin to seek out additional opportunities. Their luck changes for the better when a diverse group of characters enter their lives, offering assistance, romance, and new sources of income. However, not all of their newfound companions are as genuine as they appear, and their good fortune may not last forever.

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