Her appearance, at once bland and solid, produced a favourable impression upon parents and guardians.

Being stout, and between fifty and sixty years old, she was often described as "motherly," though in the timidity, fidgetiness, and primness of her dealing with girls she was essentially a spinster.
Her good conscience and her timidity both helped to make her feel school-keeping a heavy responsibility, which should perhaps excuse the fact that we suffered at Bush House from an excess of the meddlesome discipline which seems to be _de rigueur_ in girls' schools.

I think Miss Mulberry would have felt that she had neglected her duty if we had ever been left to our own devices for an hour.
To growing girls, not too robust, leading sedentary lives, working very hard with our heads, and having (wholesome and sufficient meals, but) not as much animal food as most of us were accustomed to at home, the _nag_ of never being free from supervision was both irritating and depressing.

Much worse off were we than boys at school.

No playing-fields had we; no leave could be obtained for country rambles by ourselves.