AustLit

Motherless Dolores Annie Ravenscroft at sixteen feels heself unloved by her father and sister Olive and is friends only with her neighbour's ward, Jack Constantine. The arrival of Sir Marshall Dane to his rich estates nearby prompts Olive to try and win his affections. Another stranger, a gentle lady, briefly visits the area and meets Dolores by accident. They are drawn to each other and the lady seems to know a great deal of D.'s family, but she faints and disappears while D. is seeking help. Sir M. comes to her aid and their acquaintance steadily grows, with Jack and her family too, until Sir M. asks D. to marry him on her 17th birthday. Her father and Olive practically force her into the marriage, family debts burdening them - and Olive warns her not to bring shame on the family as her mother did in deserting their father. Once married Olive comes to live with them and proves more of a companion to Marshall than D. who feels increasingly cut off from her husband. Jack is cool; and D. meets once again the lady met earlier. ... The mystery of her mother is solved. A severe illness and mental strain intervene - Olive is revealed in all her love of power and vengeance. Annie and Sir Marshall separate, Dolores returning to her father in Normandy where she bears a daughter and motherhood strengthens her. Her father discovers the truth of her mother's continued love and innocence and they are reunited - having a son together. Marshall and D. are reunited by the death of their daughter ... until Sir M. dies ... then Jack.(PB)