
audiobook
by R. C. (Richard Claude) Carton
The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.
In the bright garden of a modest vicarage, an unconventional lady arrives with a curious purpose. Lady Huntworth, accustomed to the comforts of her rank, decides to test the limits of genteel society by stepping into the world of domestic service. Her presence unsettles the vicar, his curate, and the household staff, who each respond with a mixture of bewilderment and good‑natured ribbing.
As breakfast preparations unfold, the scene becomes a lively tableau of clattering china, misplaced letters, and polite misunderstandings. The characters—ranging from the earnest Rev. Audley Pillenger to the sprightly servant Gandy—navigate the chaos with wit, revealing the quirks of Victorian etiquette. The audience is drawn into a gentle satire of class pretensions, all set against the backdrop of a sunlit garden and a bustling kitchen.
By nightfall, the experiment has sparked a series of humorous confrontations, hinting at deeper questions about identity and propriety. The first act leaves listeners eager to see how the vicarage’s residents will adapt to the unexpected turn of events.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (143K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Richard Tonsing, Clarity and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2015-09-30
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1853–1928
Best known for witty stage comedies, this English actor-turned-playwright helped entertain late Victorian and Edwardian theater audiences with polished dialogue and a keen feel for social situations. His work moved successfully from the stage to print and, in some cases, later screen adaptations.
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