Take three girls: watch as they break from the chrysalis of their convent -- and soar. The story of Clare, Pippa and Eleanor and their different rides on the carousel of life. Pretty Clare Pearson is socially superior and excels academically. Gorgeous Pippa Sidgwick is fey and a dreamer. Plain Eleanor Hamilton hasn't had quite as good a start in life as her two friends. But then she's got ambition. Post-war babies, the girls are surely destined to become swinging Sixties babes. It's the decade of liberation, endless summers of love and happy hippiedom: to conform to Timothy Leary's gospel of 'turn on, tune in, drop out' is the norm. As Clare marries her upwardly-mobile accountant and Pippa becomes a Bride of Christ, we wonder will Eleanor remain in purdah or shed the chastity belt of her religion; indeed, will she marry anyone at all.