Thorns of regret : or, His brother's wife

A slow toll of church bells marks the somber departure of the town’s most powerful figure, drawing a quiet procession of mourners to his graveside. Among the grieving are his two sons, a widowed sister, and the adopted daughter who have all gathered under a veil of restrained respect, while the minister’s measured words hint at a life built from humble beginnings to vast wealth.

The narrative then turns to Augustus Barrington, a self‑made man who escaped a modest farm for the bustling world of banking, clawing his way upward through determination and shrewdness. His ambition culminates in a marriage to an heiress whose quiet, unassuming nature makes her an unexpected match, yet the union proves more a financial transaction than a celebration of love. As Augustus assumes control of his father‑in‑law’s empire, his growing indifference leaves his wife isolated, setting the stage for a simmering tension that threatens to unravel the fragile stability of their household.