I have endeavoured in this book to follow Miss Beale’s own suggestions, but also to give some faint idea of what she was to the many she inspired and taught. In her _History of the Ladies’ College_ she left little historical fact unmentioned: it is possible for another to show that she was the real founder, the main builder. Many thanks are owing to those who kindly furnished me with letters from Miss Beale. It was difficult to select from the very large number received, and it was with much regret that many had to be excluded, lest the book should become unwieldy. It remains but to add one word on my gratitude for the unfailing kindness and generous help of those who have read this book in manuscript and proof; to Mrs. Reynolds and Miss Bertha Synge; to Miss Helen Cunliffe who undertook the somewhat wearisome task of deciphering the diaries, and, lastly, to Miss Alice Andrews, whose name Miss Beale associated with mine when she asked me to write a History of the College. ELIZABETH RAIKES. _June 2, 1908._ CONTENTS CHAP. PAGE I. CHILDHOOD 1 II. QUEEN’S COLLEGE 17 III. CASTERTON 36 IV. AN INTERVAL 60 V. CHELTENHAM 81 VI. EARLY HISTORY OF THE LADIES’ COLLEGE 108 VII. A ROYAL COMMISSION 134 VIII. ORGANISATION 158 IX. DE PROFUNDIS 179 X. THE GUILD 203 XI. ST. HILDA’S WORK 226 XII. TEACHER AND PRINCIPAL 254 XIII. PARERGA 286 XIV. HONOURS 312 XV. THE LAST TERM 349 XVI. LETTERS 371 INDEX 427 LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS DOROTHEA BEALE. From the Portrait by J. J. Shannon, A.R.A _Frontispiece_ CAROLINE FRANCES CORNWALLIS. From a Painting by Herself _to face page_ 4 CAMBRAY HOUSE. From an Old Engraving ” 90 MISS DOROTHEA BEALE, 1859 ” 108 MR. T. HOUGHTON BRANCKER ” 120 THE LOWER HALL, LADIES’ COLLEGE, CHELTENHAM. A Photograph by Miss Bertha Synge ” 216 S. HILDA’S HALL, OXFORD ” 238 LADIES’ COLLEGE AND GARDEN, 1908 ” 254