
In a quiet English rectory, evenings unfold amid the ticking of an old clock and the smell of soup. Miss Esther, the rector’s sister, runs the household with a meticulous, complaining precision, while her niece Katharine lounges on the rug, questioning the roles imposed on her as a girl. Their banter over the rector’s habitual tardiness reveals a clash between dutiful propriety and youthful impatience.
As the night progresses, the rector finally arrives—smiling, distracted, and oblivious to Esther’s grievances—prompting a subtle power shift that leaves the aunt feeling exposed. Through witty exchanges and lingering doubts about vocation and gender, the story explores how small domestic moments can echo larger questions of identity and expectation. Listeners are invited to watch these characters navigate affection, rebellion, and the quiet drama of a household on the brink of change.
Language
en
Duration
~7 hours (453K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Credits
Produced by Suzanne Shell, Melissa McDaniel and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)
Release date
2013-02-22
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1869–1955
A lively British writer who moved easily between children's stories, journalism, and the fight for women's votes. Her work reflects both imagination and conviction, shaped by years as a novelist, editor, and activist.
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