"With the end of February in sight, the countryside around Lulling grew greener. A mild westerly wind held sway, acronites and snowdrops adorned the cottage gardens, the chickenpox epidemic abated, and the village school had its usual quota of pupils. The three teachers rejoiced as this gentle weather allowed the children to play outside, where they ran off their high spirits and returned to the classrooms slightly more steady for work than in the bleak weeks before, which had kept them confined indoors. Little Miss Fogerty had discarded the silk scarf which had protected her neck throughout the winter, although she prudently retained her thermal underwear and some fine woollen stockings which Dorothy had given her for Christmas. Dorothy herself, despite her more amply padded figure, felt the cold, and was still ringing the changes with her tweed suits, twin sets and hand-knitted jumpers.

Miss Read, At Home in Thrush Green

Chapter 19