Naughty Miss Bunny: A Story for Little Children

In Short

Clara Mulholland's classic Victorian tale follows Ethel "Bunny" Dashwood, an indulgent six-year-old whose unbridled mischief drives her parents to hire a strict governess and a French maid. Her unruly behavior begins to shift when her quiet cousin Mervyn arrives from India to share her home and lessons. Set against the breezy coastal backdrop of Scarborough, the story tracks Bunny's gradual transformation from a reckless, self-centered child into a thoughtful companion. Supported by Mervyn's gentle influence and the guidance of an older boy, Frank Collins, Bunny discovers the rewards of obedience, empathy, and self-restraint.

The Story

Six-year-old Ethel Dashwood, known to everyone as Bunny, lives a life free of discipline. As an only child with an indulgent father, a sickly mother, and an overly lenient nurse, Bunny spends her days pleasing herself. When her mother finally realizes the child is out of hand, she replaces the old nurse with a sharp French maid named Sophie and hires a governess, Miss Kerr. Yet Bunny's appetite for mischief remains strong. Left to herself in the garden, she wanders into the dining room and secretly fills the dinner glasses with water just to annoy the butler.

Life changes dramatically when news arrives that her pale, gentle cousin Mervyn Hastings is coming from India to live with the family while his parents remain abroad. Bunny eagerly anticipates his arrival, though her first meeting goes awry when she panics at the sight of Mervyn's Indian Ayah, mistaking her for a mythical bogie. Soon, however, the two children become close friends, sharing lessons under Miss Kerr and exploring the seaside resort town of Scarborough.

Despite her good intentions, Bunny repeatedly falls into trouble through sheer thoughtlessness. She gets bitten by her pony Frisk after feeding him incorrectly, locks herself and Mervyn in Miss Kerr's room while trying to escape Sophie, and takes Mervyn on a cliffside lift despite explicit warnings not to wander away from their nurse. During a horseback ride along Lady Edith's Drive, Bunny persuades the groom to detach her leading rein, leading to a frightening moment when her pony bolts; she is saved by Frank Collins, a brave older boy staying nearby.

Frank quickly becomes a hero to both children, joining them for outings, telling stories, and teaching them about nature. Yet Bunny's temper still flares. When Frank brings her a wild thrush, Bunny flies into a rage when her mother suggests freeing the frightened bird, snatching the cage and tripping on the path. Later, during a struggle over a box of chocolates, she and Mervyn destroy the package, though Mervyn refuses to eat the fallen sweets out of honesty.

Through these quiet missteps and the patience of Miss Kerr, Bunny slowly learns to reflect on her actions. By the time the family prepares to return to London, her wild nature has softened into genuine warmth and consideration for others.

How It Unfolds

Mischief in the dining room Left unsupervised in the garden while her mother speaks with the new governess, Bunny slips into the dining room through an open glass door. Delighted by the thought of playing a prank on the solemn butler, she climbs onto the chairs and trickles water into every prepared wineglass before getting caught.

An early morning blunder Thrilled by the news that her cousin Mervyn is arriving from India, Bunny sneaks out to the stables early in the morning to tell her pony Frisk. While offering him a piece of bread, her small fingers slip into his mouth, and the pony accidentally bites her thumb, leaving her crying in the straw.

Fright at the front door When Mervyn arrives with her father, Bunny rushes downstairs disheveled after arguing with her maid about her hair. Her excitement turns to sheer terror when she sees Mervyn's dark-skinned Ayah, screaming in fear because her maid had threatened that a bogie would catch her if she were naughty.

Trapped in the lift While out on the Scarborough cliffside with Mervyn, Bunny ignores her mother's rule never to leave their nurse and drags her cousin onto the cliff lift. The machinery grinds to a sudden halt halfway down, terrifying Bunny and leaving both children deeply remorseful for their disobedience.

Saved on the drive Eager to show off her riding skills, Bunny talks the groom into removing her leading rein along Lady Edith's Drive. When Frisk surges ahead out of control, a young passerby named Frank Collins steps in to rescue her, instantly earning the family's gratitude.

Lessons in restraint After breaking a decorative box of chocolates during an argument, Bunny gives in to temptation and eats a cream, while Mervyn refuses. Overcome with guilt, both children confess their fault to Miss Kerr, marking a turning point in Bunny's struggle to control her impulses.

Farewell to Scarborough As the holiday ends, Bunny shows a newfound maturity by hiding her tears when she learns Mervyn will eventually go off to school. Boarding the train for London alongside Frank and Mervyn, she looks forward to future adventures with a quiet, reformed spirit.

The People

Bunny (Ethel Dashwood) Bunny begins the story as a spoiled, impulsive six-year-old who views adult rules as an unnecessary barrier to her personal fun. She longs for constant amusement, acting on every fleeting whim without considering the consequences. Through her misadventures and her growing affection for her cousin, she learns to pause, reflect, and place the comfort of others above her own immediate desires.

Mervyn Hastings Mervyn is a quiet, well-mannered seven-year-old who arrives from India frail and shy. He wants above all to obey his parents' wishes to be good while they are far away. Though easily persuaded into Bunny's schemes, his innate honesty and strong conscience serve as a gentle check on her wild behavior, and he blossoms into a confident, healthy companion.

Miss Kerr The patient and perceptive governess hired to teach the children. She wants to cultivate genuine morality and self-restraint in Bunny rather than forcing superficial compliance. By offering steady forgiveness combined with firm moral guidance, she helps transform Bunny's chaotic energy into positive character.

Frank Collins An older boy waiting for his parents to return from military service in India. Polite, knowledgeable, and brave, Frank acts as a role model for the younger children. He delights in sharing nature lore and nautical stories, helping ground Bunny's restless mind during their seaside rambles.

In Its Own Voice

"If I had no governess," continued the little girl, "and no lessons, and no nasty nurse to say, 'Sit still, Miss Bunny,' and 'Don't make dirty your frock, Miss Bunny,' I think I should be jolly--yes, that's papa's word, jolly."

Before her lesson routine begins, Bunny calculates the exact burden of childhood authority while sprawling across the garden grass.

"I won't want to be naughty so much when I have someone to play with, for it's always when I feel lonely that I want to play tricks on people."

Bunny explains her misbehavior to Miss Kerr with startling candor upon learning that her cousin is coming to stay.

"God is always displeased at disobedience, Bunny," said Mrs. Dashwood very seriously. "The first thing God expects of a little child is that she should be obedient..."

Mrs. Dashwood instructs her daughter on the Victorian ideal of childhood duty after Bunny strays to the stables without permission.

What It's Really About

Naughty Miss Bunny is an exploration of Victorian child-rearing, examining how unguided affection can spoil a child's natural goodness. Clara Mulholland argues that true happiness does not come from unlimited freedom, but from learning self-governance and respect for authority.

The narrative constantly contrasts Bunny's chaotic, spoiled upbringing with Mervyn's quiet discipline, suggesting that loneliness and a lack of firm structure are the true roots of childish mischief. Beneath the lighthearted domestic incidents lies a serious moral question: how can parents and teachers guide a headstrong child toward empathy without crushing her joyful spirit? The book finds its answer in steady companionship, gentle moral instruction, and the restorative influence of the natural world.

Why Read It Today

Modern readers will find Naughty Miss Bunny a charming, transparent window into the world of late nineteenth-century children's literature. It offers a cozy, nostalgic domestic narrative that captures the sensory details of a Victorian seaside holiday—from pony rides along wooded drives to donkey treks up coastal hills and evening views of fireworks over the water.

The story is free of complex subplots, moving with a direct, gentle rhythm that makes it ideal for reading aloud or for fans of historical juvenile fiction. Readers should note that the book reflects the unexamined period attitudes of its era: servant characters are occasionally stereotyped, and Bunny's initial reaction to Mervyn's Indian Ayah reveals the deep-seated cultural anxieties of Victorian Britain.

Despite these dated elements, the core of the book remains surprisingly sweet. The genuine, affectionate dynamic between the boisterous Bunny and the sensitive Mervyn provides a timeless look at childhood friendship, forgiveness, and the small, daily triumphs of growing up.