
The story opens on a storm‑laden night at a remote parsonage, where the wind howls through ancient elms and the hearth flickers against the darkness. Inside, a nervous young woman named Elise arrives, desperate to see Dr. Hargrove, while the housekeeper Hannah tends to the fire and the household’s modest comforts. Their quiet routine is interrupted by the arrival of a mysterious, veiled stranger who refuses to leave until the doctor appears, hinting at a secret urgency that unsettles the otherwise orderly household.
Meanwhile, Dr. Hargrove, a compassionate physician, returns from a somber baptism, his thoughts still on a grieving mother he has just comforted. As he prepares to address the unknown visitor, the tension in the rooms grows, and even the house’s loyal terrier senses the unease. The stage is set for a tale of hidden motives, fragile trust, and the quiet desperation that can arise when strangers knock on a door in the dead of night.
Language
en
Duration
~18 hours (1080K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2006-02-08
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1835–1909
A hugely popular 19th-century American novelist, she wrote intense, idea-filled fiction that captivated readers of her day. Her best-known books, including Beulah and St. Elmo, made her one of the most successful Southern writers of her era.
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