By Honour Bound: A School Story for Girls

by Bessie Marchant

"By Honour Bound: A School Story for Girls" by Bessie Marchant is a novel written in the early 20th century. The story follows a young girl named Dorothy Sedgewick as she arrives at the Compton Schools, where she navigates the complexities of school life, friendships, and competitions, particularly with her rival, Rhoda Fleming. Themes of honour, identity, and ambition intertwine as Dorothy grapples with her own values in a school environment rife with social challenges. At the start of the novel, Dorothy and her brother Tom arrive in London and head to a department store where Dorothy becomes an unwilling witness to a shoplifting incident. This troubling encounter sets the stage for her internal conflicts as she begins her term at Compton Schools. The narrative explores her excitement and apprehension as she adjusts to school life, makes new friends, and confronts the harsh realities of competition, particularly for the coveted Lamb Bursary. Meanwhile, she must navigate the antagonism from Rhoda, who has her own secrets and insecurities, making Dorothy’s journey one of both self-discovery and moral dilemmas.