
PART I - A Devonshire Lad
Miss Primrose
I. LETITIA
II. LITTLE RUGBY
III. A POET OF GRASSY FORD
IV. THE SEVENTH SLICE
V. THE HANDMAIDEN
VI. COUSIN DOVE
VII. OF HAMADRYADS AND THEIR SPELLS
PART II - The School-Mistress
A sun‑drenched Devon garden becomes the backdrop for a mischievous childhood encounter, where Letitia Primrose—bright‑eyed, quick‑witted, and forever half‑caught between girlhood and womanhood—crosses paths with the curious little Bertram Weatherby. Their playful banter over swallowed grape pits quickly spirals into a whispered legend of a past tragedy, hinting at the superstitions that hover over the seemingly tranquil countryside.
Through a narrator who recalls the scent of geraniums and the feel of a red carpet, the story paints a vivid portrait of close‑knit village life, the tangled friendships among neighbors, and the subtle longing that simmers beneath polite conversation. As Letitia’s laughter echoes and secrets begin to surface, listeners are invited into a world where innocence brushes against the edges of mystery, setting the stage for a tale that balances humor, nostalgia, and the quiet pull of unspoken desires.
Language
en
Duration
~4 hours (286K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Sep 11, 2012
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1875–1933
A newspaper man turned Episcopal priest, he wrote fiction that often lingers over memory, family, and the quiet feelings of everyday life. His stories carry the gentle, reflective mood of early 20th-century American writing.
View all books
by Roy Rolfe Gilson

by Vinceslas-Eugène Dick

by Philippe Aubert de Gaspé

by Abraham Cahan

by Eliza Fowler Haywood

by Laure Conan

by Pauline E. (Pauline Elizabeth) Hopkins