Claudine at St Clare's recap

During a summer term in the Fourth Form, Claudine's resistance to rules gradually gives way to an understanding of St Clare's code of honour. Angela's snobbery costs her Alison's unquestioning support, while Pauline's claims of wealth collapse when her family's poverty is exposed. A secret midnight picnic leads Claudine to lock Matron in a cupboard, but she confesses and accepts punishment. Suspicion over repeated thefts falls first on Claudine and then Pauline. Eileen finally admits that she stole to help Edgar after he lost his job, and Miss Theobald decides that the temporary Matron's harshness drove both children into secrecy. Matron and Eileen leave, Edgar finds work, and the regular Matron returns. Pauline is cleared of theft but must make peace with her mother and stop using her savings without permission. Angela begins to reform, with Alison remaining her friend on more honest terms.

Previously: Pat, Isabel, Alison, Bobby, Carlotta, Hilary, Mirabel and Janet are established pupils at St Clare's. Miss Theobald is the headmistress, Mam'zelle teaches at the school, and Matron oversees the pupils' welfare. The returning girls begin this volume with those school relationships already in place.

So far this book: Pat and Isabel return to the Fourth Form for the summer term, but Lucy Oriell has left for an art scholarship. Miss Ellis becomes the calm new form mistress, while an unpopular temporary Matron replaces the regular Matron. New pupils Pauline Bingham-Jones and Angela Favorleigh compete in extravagant claims of wealth, and Alison attaches herself to Angela. Eileen Paterson, Matron's daughter, is defensive and unpopular but devoted to her older brother Edgar, also called Eddie. Angela disparages Eileen and Carlotta, then gains power over Eileen after finding Edgar secretly outside the school. She withholds his note until Eileen promises not to report her and agrees to speak well of her. Eileen then meets Edgar outside the grounds and returns visibly worried, despite claiming that all is well. Mam'zelle's niece Claudine has also joined the form. Clever and amusing, she copies work, keeps borrowed belongings and avoids games, bringing her into conflict with Susan Howes and the school's ideas about honest conduct.

So far this book: Claudine continues to evade rules, even arranging for an outdoor lesson's punishment to place her indoors with the sympathetic Mam'zelle. Eileen remains anxious about Edgar and lacks money, though Hilary begins to see her more sympathetically. As half-term approaches, Claudine's embroidered peacock cushion cover is chosen for display. Pauline's parents cancel their visit, and Isabel includes her with Pat's family instead. Angela's glamorous parents arrive, but her mother criticizes St Clare's, insults Mam'zelle and complains throughout the visit. Claudine, angered on her aunt's behalf, deliberately falls from the gallery into the swimming pool when Bobby and Mirabel are ready to rescue her. The resulting splash drenches Angela's mother. Alison, increasingly uncomfortable with Angela's outlook, chooses to dine with Eileen and Claudine rather than remain exclusively at Angela's side. Eileen visits Edgar in town and returns happier, although the reason for his earlier secrecy remains unknown. Angela responds to Alison's independence by blaming Eileen and Claudine.

So far this book: Janet and Bobby's stinkball prank disrupts Mam'zelle's lesson, then a remaining stinkball breaks accidentally during Miss Ellis's geography class. Bobby admits the accident, and the class completes its work in the foul room as punishment. For Mirabel's sixteenth birthday, the Fourth Form plans a forbidden moonlight picnic and swim. Eileen is excluded because the others fear she will inform Matron. During the outing Claudine discovers Matron preparing to intervene, pushes her into the games cupboard and locks the door. Eileen later releases Matron after returning from a separate secret meeting with Edgar. The form initially shares responsibility and agrees to hide Eileen's meeting if she stops reporting them. Matron also reveals that money and supplies have repeatedly disappeared. Claudine then goes voluntarily to Miss Theobald, confesses to imprisoning Matron, apologizes and accepts a week of mending as punishment. Her decision shows that she is beginning to accept the school's code of honour. The cupboard affair is settled, but Matron accuses Claudine of the thefts because she has recently had money and regular access to Matron's room.

So far this book: Pauline breaks her leg, and the investigation into Matron's missing money intensifies. Mrs. Jones reveals that her family is poor, Pauline's father is an invalid, and Pauline fabricated a scarlet-fever story to prevent a half-term visit. Angela spreads suspicion against Pauline, but Alison and Carlotta reject her cruelty. Claudine clears herself by explaining that her spending money came from secretly selling her cushion cover. When another five pounds vanishes while Matron's mending basket is in the sickbay, Pauline remains vulnerable to accusation. Eileen then brings Edgar to Miss Theobald and confesses that she stole money and supplies to support him after he lost his engineering job. Edgar thought the money belonged to Eileen and has now found work. Their fear of Matron had kept both silent. Miss Theobald removes Matron rather than Eileen, and Pauline is cleared. Eileen leaves to train in shorthand and typing near Edgar, while the regular Matron returns. Pauline admits using her savings without permission and must seek her mother's consent in future. Claudine has learned to accept responsibility, and Angela begins reforming after Alison replaces flattery with honest correction.

Eileen prevents Pauline from being falsely accused by confessing that she took money, food, stamps and stationery from Matron to support Edgar during his unemployment. Edgar had believed the help came from Eileen's own funds and has since found another job. When Eileen and Edgar explain their fear of their mother, Miss Theobald decides that the temporary Matron must leave St Clare's. Eileen also leaves to study shorthand and typing, intending to work near Edgar, while the regular Matron resumes her post. Pauline is cleared of theft, but Miss Theobald takes charge of her savings book after learning that Pauline funded her pretence of wealth through withdrawals made without permission. Pauline remains at school with reconciliation and honesty still required of her. Claudine has accepted the school's standard of honour and completed her punishment for confining Matron. Alison and Angela stay friends, but Alison will no longer flatter her, and Angela intends to challenge her mother's contempt for St Clare's and continue changing her own conduct.