Lucinda's year in New York City began when her family went to Europe and left her with Miss Peters - not, thank Heaven, with Aunt Emily and her four docile, ladylike daughters. Miss Peters understood that a girl of ten wanted to roller-skate to school, and stop and chat with Patrolman M'Gonegal, and make friends with Mr. Gilligan, the cabbie, and even play with Tony, whose father kept a fruit stand down the street. "Roller Skates" is a delightful story of old New York, and about a tomboy who could not help being a lady at the same time.