A rather lovely cover featuring an Edwardian lady looking ready for Christmas makes a great start to a cosy domestic scene in middle England. The tale rapidly describes a private orphanage run by a very caring family and the mysterious arrival of Kitty as an abandoned but not uncared-for new-born. The children, the family and the staff are each carefully introduced and show themelves to be a varied selection of realistic characters, ones you'd like to spend more time with.