
Betty Leicester is a bright fifteen‑year‑old who has just stepped off a transatlantic liner into the bustling streets of Boston. Sharing a quiet breakfast with her father in a modest hotel, the pair exchange affectionate banter while the world outside the window drifts by in soft clouds. Their conversation hints at an imminent parting: the father is bound for a long expedition to Alaska, and Betty must return to her relatives in the countryside.
The story follows Betty as she prepares for the change, packing her belongings and saying goodbye to the familiar comforts of home. Through her mixed feelings of excitement and melancholy, the narrative gently explores themes of family duty, youthful independence, and the anticipation of new experiences. Readers are invited to accompany Betty on the first steps of a journey that promises both personal growth and the warm reassurance of enduring bonds.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (303K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by David Edwards, Emmy and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)
Release date
2009-01-28
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1849–1909
Best known for quietly powerful stories of New England village life, this American writer brought small communities and everyday voices to the center of literature. Her work is especially loved for its warmth, sharp observation, and deep feeling for place.
View all books
by Sarah Orne Jewett
by Sarah Orne Jewett

by Sarah Orne Jewett

by Sarah Orne Jewett

by Sarah Orne Jewett

by Sarah Orne Jewett

by Sarah Orne Jewett

by Sarah Orne Jewett