Miss Potter is back in the Lake District just at the time spring is really making an appearance. The village is preparing for May Day celebrations, the village school is about to break at half term and it's lambing and calving time.
There are two village children we have met in previous books, Jeremy Crosfield and Caroline, granddaughter of the local lady-of-the-manor, Lady Longfield. Both are orphans and Miss Potter has befriended both. In this book, a third orphan has come to the village, a ginger-haired Irish lass named Dierdre. These three play important roles in this book.
Jeremy is a very intelligent boy but unfortunately, he lives with his aunt who does not possess the funds necessary to provide an education beyond the village school. She has obtained two possible apprenticeships, one with the local carpenter and the other with a Hawkshead apothecary. He has passed the exams to be admitted to a school in nearby Ambleside, but knows his aunt cannot afford the tuition, lodging and clothes.
Caroline is a bright, engaging child, but she is unhappy with her grandmother who is old-fashioned in her views about ladies and commoners and and won't allow her to play with the village children. So Caroline sneaks out to meet Dierdre and Jeremy.
Dierdre believes in fairies and the like and she hopes to find them on May Eve. She asks Miss Potter to accompany them, along with Rascal, the Jack Russell terrier.
In addition to the fairy- hunting, Miss Potter is occupied with the rats that have overrun Hill Top Farm, thanks to the lazy cat who lives there. Plus, a local landowner, Major Kittredge, has married and there is some mystery about his wife. And the vicar is plagued by visitors who have worn out their welcome.
Miss Potter seems to be on hand at the right time to help resolve all these problems.
As I've said before, these books are so charming and restful - I just love reading them as a break from more serious fare.