"Everything that's happening to us--yes, everything--is to be regarded as a lark. See? This is my last word. This. Is. Going. To. Be. A. Lark." It's 1919, and Jane Quested and her cousin Lucilla are pulled suddenly from school by their guardian, who sets them up in a cottage on the fringes of London and informs them (by letter, since he's already fled) that he's gambled away their inheritance but is leaving them the house and 500 to carry...