
PROLOGUE.
CHAPTER I. FOUR YEARS LATER.
CHAPTER II. ROSE WRITES TO VIOLET.
CHAPTER III. THE HAPPY SCHOOL-DAYS.
CHAPTER IV. ROSE AND BLANCHE AT HOME.
CHAPTER V. MARMADUKE MEETS MRS. VYNER.
CHAPTER VI. HOW ROSE BECAME ACQUAINTED WITH OUR UGLY HERO.
CHAPTER VII. ROSE VYNER WRITES TO FANNY WORSLEY.
CHAPTER VIII. MRS. LANGLEY TURNER, AND HER FRIENDS.
CHAPTER IX. TWO PORTRAITS.
A thoughtful Victorian tale unfolds through the intertwined lives of three young women—Rose, Blanche, and Violet—whose letters, schoolyard adventures, and family gatherings reveal the quiet dramas of ambition, affection, and self‑discovery. Set against the backdrop of a sweltering July, the narrative explores how each heroine grapples with the expectations of society while learning that true strength lies not in dazzling talent but in steadfast will.
Through witty correspondence and vivid scenes of everyday life, the story captures the subtle tensions of love, rivalry, and friendship. As the characters navigate courtship, social obligations, and personal insecurities, the novel invites listeners to contemplate the balance between intellect and moral resolve, offering a richly drawn portrait of mid‑nineteenth‑century England without sacrificing the warmth of its human heart.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (311K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Original publisher
London: Smith, Elder and Co., 1848.
Credits
Al Haines
Release date
2024-01-11
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1817–1878
A lively Victorian man of letters, he moved easily between philosophy, science, criticism, and the stage. He is often remembered alongside George Eliot, but his own writing and curiosity made him a notable figure in 19th-century intellectual life.
View all books
by George Henry Lewes

by George Henry Lewes

by George Henry Lewes

by George Henry Lewes

by Vinceslas-Eugène Dick

by Philippe Aubert de Gaspé

by Abraham Cahan

by Dion Boucicault