Norman Vallery

Flowers and carefully saved picture books await Norman when he arrives from India at his grandmother's home near London. His sister Fanny has eagerly prepared for the reunion with her parents and brother, but his impatient remarks soon trouble her. Their father believes a boy should have his own way, while Fanny's upbringing with Mrs Leslie has encouraged kindness, obedience and care for others.

William Henry Giles Kingston makes these differences visible through small domestic encounters and outdoor activities. Fanny's affection for an old doll meets Norman's contempt, and a later boat trip finds him intent on catching fish while she admires the mountains and wooded islands around the loch. The children's contrasting wishes give the story its lessons in consideration and restraint. For readers interested in older family fiction, these scenes show how religious ideas about good conduct shaped both childhood stories and arguments about raising children.