Marriage à la mode

A lively social satire opens aboard a sweltering river steamer bound for Mount Vernon, where the gruff English General Hobson and his nephew Roger Barnes watch a crowd of lively teachers on a sunny excursion. Their banter drifts from weather and travel grievances to sharp commentary on the way American history is taught, revealing a clash of perspectives that frames the story’s humor and tension. Amid the chatter, the young narrator’s eye is caught by a striking young woman among the passengers, hinting at the personal entanglements that will soon follow.

The narrative then shifts to the private chambers of Daphne Floyd, whose marriage is already strained by secrets and simmering resentment. In the quiet of night, she lies awake, her thoughts a whirl of love, jealousy, and a fierce desire for retribution. The stage is set for a tale that weaves social observation with the intimate drama of a marriage on the brink, inviting listeners to follow the tangled pathways of affection, pride, and revenge.