AustLit

Romance of the English aristocracy: a woman's inheritance and a love lost and won. The narrator, Paul Lyndon, orphan son of an old friend of Hugh Stuart of Arne Hall loves unrequitedly his guardian's heiress Beatrice. She becomes engaged to the selfish neighbouring landowner, Lord Hardley. Only the reappearance of the real but coarse heir to Arne Hall allows Paul to reveal his love. Beatrice is no longer an heiress and Lord Hardley breaks his engagement. Happiness is reduced, comfort follows - until the estate is restored once more to Beatrice. Light well-written romance; conventional plot through narrator's character give some individuality of the literary dreamer type. (PB)