A Little Mother to the Others

A walled garden full of flowers, fruit trees and animals shapes the early lives of Iris, Apollo, Diana and Orion Delaney. Named after figures from Greek legend, the four siblings spend their days playing, watching stars and listening to Iris tell stories. At ten, Iris is the eldest, and her tenderness extends even to a dead earthworm that she insists deserves a funeral. L. T. Meade's children's novel gives these small concerns the weight they carry for the children themselves.

Changes in the family's circumstances bring stricter lessons and household rules. Iris warns two boys against leading Orion into trouble, while Diana struggles with the discipline imposed by their governess, Miss Ramsay. The story connects sibling loyalty with the difficulty of adjusting to adult expectations. Readers interested in older children's fiction will find a close account of imaginative play, wounded feelings and the responsibilities placed on an elder sister.