Skipping in Time

Allegra Blyte is 12 when she is sent to the Convent of Daughters of the Cross. She hates it. She struggles with loneliness and fear, and the emotional cruelty of the nuns. She finds herself in the midst of an elitist wealthy society of girls who have ponies, butlers and maidservants. Her own parents have no money and consequently she is unable to compete with them on this level.
However, she is quick witted, resilient and eager to please. She adapts to this cloistered world, learning rigid conformity and subjection to authority. Passionate friendships are the only deviation from her total obedience. Allegra immerses herself in her faith the only thing she can control. Her most important friend is Alice, a highly-strung girl with a frivolous personality. When Alice makes known her intention to convert to Catholicism Allegra is thrilled and tries to help her.
Alice begins to manifest signs of a failing mental health, her irrational behaviour becomes a matter of concern. Allegra tries to warn the nuns of her condition, but they dismiss her fears. Eventually Alice's mind is destroyed, and she commits suicide by throwing herself off the roof of the school chapel. Because suicide is a mortal sin it is construed that her soul will go to hell. Allegra is distraught and feels that she did not do enough to help her friend.
Soon, a new girl by the name of Jo arrives at school. Jo is outgoing lively and promiscuous. They become best friends. Allegra witnesses Jo being sexually abused by a catholic priest. This event changes everything between them and they are distanced from each other. She is angry with the nuns and her faith and everything around her. She is fed up of having to think about religion on an hourly basis and relate everything she does to God. She begins to reject Catholicism.