Chapter 1-2 Summary and Analysis

The book opens with a description of Cotswold and its buildings. The house is self-contained with its own school and hospital rooms. The children have very little contact with outsiders and find ways to amuse themselves. Unity and Jessica even make up their own language called Boudledidge. The Society of Hons is organized by the two of them and they are the only members. They fight the Horrible Counter-Hons, which consists of their brother, Tom. They play their childhood games within this framework.

The girls are educated at home by their mother and various governesses. There are no tests and they aren't exposed to the modern theories or controversies of the day. The variety they receive in their education is due to the fact that there was a high rate of turnover in governesses, one of whom taught the...