AustLit

Faith Roden finishes school early to return as companion to her cousin Gerald's beautiful wife Hope and Gerald's stepmother Aunt Cicily Eastcourt who has raised Faith as her daughter. Trouble associated with a neighbour Sir Percival Ryder clouds her return. Aunt Cicily accuses Hope of infidelity to her husband - but he bids Aunt Cicily leave his house. Faith goes with her but still loving Hope and knowing the truth of the latter's love for Sir Percival. Faith hears Sir Percival urging Hope to run away with him one evening in Gerald's absence and rushes in to prevent her. Gerald comes upon them and Hope implicates Faith in her secret. An explosion at the mines owned by Gerald brings Aunt Cicily, Faith and Gerald to help - and Hope runs away with Sir Percival. Gerald divorces her and buries himself in his work. Eventually, after a London season in which Faith meets and repudiates Sir Percival, Faith and Gerald marry and have a son, who is subject to visitations by a mysterious woman. It is the same figure who rescues little Gerald from the fire which burns their house and a final appeal in person to Gerald reveals Hope begging for forgiveness. Gerald feels he is still her husband, and Faith flees. Then Hope's death-scene, and ultimately, Faith and Gerald's reunion. (PB)