# Under the Lanterns explained — A Popular Schoolgirl

> Chapter companion for A Popular Schoolgirl by Angela Brazil.

## What happens

The girls of the hostel, barred from tennis for a week, conceive the idea of a fancy-dress dance in the school garden. With permission from Miss Burd, they prepare costumes with enthusiasm. Ingred, aided by her sister Quenrede, creates a Red Indian squaw outfit. At the dance, Ingred discovers that her brother Hereward and his friend Franklin have infiltrated in disguise. She urges them to leave to avoid trouble, and they reluctantly depart.

## Themes in this chapter

### Community and Belonging

The dance fosters a sense of shared purpose and joy among the hostel girls and mistresses, strengthening their communal bonds.

### Personal Growth and Self-Control

Ingred must balance her enjoyment of the dance with her responsibility to uphold school rules, choosing to send her brother away to avoid trouble.

## Character check-ins

### Ingred Saxon

Helps conceive the fancy-dress dance, creates a Red Indian squaw costume with Quenrede's help, and later discovers her brother Hereward in disguise at the dance.

### Quenrede Saxon

Ingred's sister, who ingeniously constructs Ingred's Red Indian costume using sacks, paint, and feathers.

### Hereward

Ingred's brother, who sneaks into the dance disguised as an Early Victorian lady, along with his friend Franklin.

### Nora Clifford

One of the four originators of the dance idea; dresses as 'The Kitchen' with dusters, dishcloths, and a rolling-pin.

### Fil Trevor

One of the four originators; dresses as a Dresden China Shepherdess with ringlets and panniers.

### Verity Richmond

One of the four originators; wears a Dutch costume and helps Ingred with her face paint.

### Miss Burd

Headmistress who grants permission for the dance and plans to attend.

### Franklin

Hereward's friend who accompanies him to the dance disguised as Queen Vashti.

## Key lines

> It is an ill wind that blows nobody good, and though Nora, Fil, Ingred, and Verity might chafe at being debarred from tennis for a whole week, their adventure in the garden had given them an idea.

Even a setback can lead to opportunity; the four girls, frustrated by their tennis ban, turn their garden adventure into a creative plan.

_Introduces the origin of the fancy-dress dance idea._

> Great minds generally think in company, and often hit upon the same invention at the same moment, so perhaps all four girls had an equal share in the brainwave.

The idea for the dance emerged collectively, with each girl claiming credit, reflecting how collaboration sparks creativity.

_Highlights the collaborative nature of the idea._

> I’d as soon be a Red Indian squaw!

Ingred expresses frustration with her limited costume options and jokingly suggests a Native American persona.

_Leads to Quenrede's creative costume-making._

> I told you you’d never know me!

Hereward boasts to Ingred about his successful disguise after she discovers him at the dance.

_Reveals Hereward's infiltration and his playful challenge._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_popular_schoolgirl_se/chapters/xx-under-the-lanterns
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_popular_schoolgirl_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_popular_schoolgirl_se/chapters