When orphaned Mary Lennox was sent off to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle, everybody said she was the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen. It was true, too. She had a little thin face and a little thin body, thin light hair and a sour expression. Her hair was yellow, and her face was yellow because she had been born in India and had always been ill in one way or another. Indeed, she was "Mistress Mary, Quite Contrary," through and through

Yet there was something strange about the place she was heading for. Said Mrs. Medlock to Mary beforehand, "Do you know anything about your uncle?"

"No," said Mary frowning. She frowned because she remembered how her father and mother had never talked to her about anything in particular.

"Humph," muttered Mrs. Medlock, staring at Mary's queer, unresponsive little face for a few moments. Then she said, "I suppose you might as well be told something, to prepare you. You are going to a rather queer place "

English-born American author Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924) enjoyed international success with her 1886 novel "Little Lord Fauntleroy." Twenty-five years later she achieved even greater fame with "The Secret Garden, " one of the most beloved children's novels of all time.

Lady Theobald bent forward in her landau. "Belinda," she said, "how do you do? I did not know you intended to introduce garden-parties into Slowbridge." "Dear Lady Theobald-" began Miss Belinda. "Who is that young person?" demanded her ladyship. "She is poor dear Martin's daughter," answered Miss Belinda. "She arrived today-from Nevada, where-where it appears Martin has been very fortunate, and owns a great many silver-mines-" "A 'great many' silver-mines " cried Lady Theobald. "Are you mad, Belinda Bassett? I am ashamed of you. At your time of life too " Miss Belinda almost shed tears. "She said 'some silver-mines, ' I am sure," she faltered; "for I remember how astonished and bewildered I was. The fact is, that she is such a very singular girl, and has told me so many wonderful things, in the strangest, cool way, that I am quite uncertain of myself. Murderers, and gold-diggers, and silver-mines, and camps full of men without women, making presents of gold girdles and dog-collars, and ear-rings that drag your ears down. It is enough to upset any one." "I should think so," responded her ladyship. "Open the carriage-door, Belinda, and let me get out." She felt that this matter must be inquired into at once, and not allowed to go too far. She had ruled Slowbridge too long to allow such innovations to remain uninvestigated.

Sara has a unusual look of maturity about her, for a seven-year-old child. She has seen a great deal of the world. She has felt the blazing sun in Bombay, India, and has crossed the ocean -- and now is somewhere that seems utterly strange to her . . . a foggy and damp city named London.

Her new place in life seems to offer few attractions: Miss Minchin's Select Seminary. Yet Sara takes her place in the seminary's classrooms, and soon finds herself building unconventional friendships -- with girls whom the other students seem not to notice at all.

Then comes news from her father -- that he will become partner in diamond mines in India

English-born American author Frances Hodgson Burnett (1849-1924) enjoyed international success with her novels, including "Little Lord Fauntleroy" and "The Secret Garden."

As long as already five thousand years ago, the allure of the sea inspired humans to recreate its essence in miniature, artistic forms, as public baths where ancient rituals would take place. Since then, it has become quite normal to immerse ourselves in cooling waters, in the privacy of our homes and without religious incentives. Swimming pools have rapidly become status symbols and the source for many diverse experiences: leisure-time athletics, relaxation, or the simple pleasure of just being in water. It is no wonder then that filmmakers and photographers constantly return to the swimming pool as a subject and setting. Reflections of water and light are captured in countless, unique ways in the more than two hundred compelling images that comprise this catalogue. Also included of course are the images of those who animate it. With works by: Abbas Attar, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Peter Marlow, Martin Parr, Alec Scoth, Alex Webb, and others.