
In a sun‑lit parlor of a modest London home, a shy young woman named Phebe shares tea with her longtime confidante, Mrs. Colston. Their conversation drifts between the flutter of first love and the steady promise of devotion, as Phebe confides in her friend about a secret engagement to Ralph Waring and an unspoken affection for Stephen Collins. The gentle clatter of a creaking mangle and the scent of geraniums frame a tender portrait of a woman caught between the expectations of society, ambition, and a growing spiritual yearning.
Through witty banter and heartfelt honesty, the story explores the delicate balance of youthful desire and moral conviction in a world where reputation and faith hold great sway. As Phebe navigates the pull of earthly romance and the call of a deeper, enduring love, listeners are drawn into a quietly dramatic slice of Victorian life, rich with nuanced characters and the subtle tensions that shape their futures.
Language
en
Duration
~5 hours (344K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Delphine Lettau, Mary Meehan and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
Release date
2011-02-24
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
A little-known novelist whose work survives mainly through early editions and digital archives, Charlotte Skinner wrote character-driven fiction with a strong sense of endurance, friendship, and faith. Her novel The Little Missis follows a young wife and mother facing hardship with quiet resolve.
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