Elsie J. Oxenham 
The Abbey Girls [EPUB ebook] 

‘I don’t see why they need choose such an out-of-the-way place to ramble to!’ grumbled a fair-haired girl, toiling along in the rear.
‘What’s the matter?’ and an elder girl turned to look back at the juniors. ‘Who’s grumbling? Carry Carter again?’
‘Carry Carter as usual, you mean, ’ laughed sturdy brown-faced Edna.
The elders had paused at the top of a long hill, and the juniors, toiling after, had caught them up. There were only a dozen of them to-day, for an important hockey practice had kept several members at home. Miriam and Cicely, the leaders, were among the eldest girls in the school. Miriam was eighteen, with her fair hair wound round her head in thick plaits; Cicely was a year younger, but already looking nearly grown-up, with her dark brown hair tied back and her skirts well below her knees. The rest of the party were younger, sturdy Edna and grumbling Carry being fifteen, and the others ranging between them and the seniors.
‘Carry Carter always grumbles on rambles. I don’t know why she ever joined, ’ and Cicely slipped her hand through her friend’s arm and turned to go on her way.