
A newly‑inherited English country estate has left Peter Odd both humbled and restless. He spends his days wandering the river that winds through his lands, fishing for quiet as much as for trout, while the weight of his late squire’s responsibilities settles over him. The pastoral scenery offers a gentle backdrop to his introspection, but the solitude is punctuated by the lively sounds drifting from the neighboring Archinard property—a modest household with a bedridden matriarch and two spirited children.
Among them is Miss Archinard, a shy, unassuming girl whose presence seems to match the very stillness of the river itself. As Peter watches her from a distance, her quiet grace and simple demeanor hint at a deeper world beneath the surface. Their interactions, set against the rhythms of rural life, promise a subtle unfolding of affection and self‑discovery, inviting listeners to linger in the gentle currents of duty, longing, and the understated charm of an English summer.
Language
en
Duration
~6 hours (374K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2013-02-16
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1873–1935
An American-born novelist who built much of her literary life in England, she wrote psychologically sharp fiction about love, marriage, and the pull between cultures. Her books often mix social observation with a quiet emotional intensity that still feels vivid.
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