AustLit

English romance and a young woman's coming of age. Alice Allonby leaves the home of her father, a village rector recently remarried, to earn her living and escape the supervision of her stepmother. As governess to two young girls she meets Walter Goulding and falls in love. Soon after she leaves her position and returns home - where a long awaited visit from Walter reveals that he is her step-mother's true love, separated by a misunderstanding over her inheritance. Alice's father dies soon after and Walter marries her stepmother - leaving Alice with the experience of love and loss she had left home to gain. A little tired and convoluted but competently written. Includes fleeting reference to the women's rights movement - a disclaimer of belonging to it. (PB)