
A weary, almost immobile farmer sits in a modest London boarding house, his thoughts as still as the silent room around him. When his daughter Rhoda arrives with the frail Dahlia in tow, the quiet is broken by a tense exchange about honesty and trust. Their conversation hints at a troubled marriage, a lingering illness, and the weight of family obligations that have long been postponed.
As Rhoda and the newcomer settle in, the farmer grapples with his paternal instincts and the uneasy doubts that surface when he looks at Dahlia. The atmosphere is thick with unspoken questions—about loyalty, duty, and the uncertain future that looms for the young couple. Amid the clatter of a bustling suburb, the characters find themselves caught between hope and apprehension, setting the stage for a delicate reckoning that will test their bonds and resolve.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (153K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2003-09-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.

1828–1909
A major Victorian novelist and poet, he is best remembered for sharp, psychologically rich fiction and for turning comedy into a serious way of looking at human behavior. His work rewards listeners who enjoy wit, moral complexity, and characters who rarely fit simple categories.
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