readers to the initial story, "Gloria Dene's Schoolfellows," where we meet Gloria Dene, a new student arriving at a boarding school. Immediately feeling homesick and weary from her journey, Gloria is welcomed by a friendly maid and hears enchanting music from Mamselle Narda, the music mistress. As she settles in, Gloria finds a connection with Narda over their shared love for home. The narrative unfolds to reveal Narda's aspirations to use her singing talent to support her struggling family, setting a tone of ambition and sacrifice that resonates throughout the story and hints at the themes of selflessness and determination present in many tales throughout the collection. (This is an automatically generated summary.)