AustLit

Tragic romance and tale of the supernatural in Australia. A young bride comes to her husband's family home, Greenwood, in the Australian bush - and during his short absence decides to sleep in the mistress' room where only the true wives of Heron men may lie. She is warned out by a baleful ghost and sickens from fright. Only when her husband's first and true wife, a travelling 'artiste' arrives there to give birth to her child does she understand why she could not sleep in the room ... The first wife and child die; Rachel the faithful old family servant despises her master; and a year later the new bride - remarried to him - dies also. All the atmosphere, tradition, family pride and superstition of an English home transported to an Australian setting. Very little Australian atmosphere, though an absorbing tale. (PB)