A daughter of Jehu

In a sun‑drenched June afternoon, a sprawling white house and its emerald lawn set the stage for a lively family tableau. Two mothers, one ethereal in pale muslin, the other a vivid flash of red‑gold hair, sit on the front steps while their children whirl on a pony, shrieking with delight. The scene captures a world of genteel aspirations balanced against the simple pleasures of childhood, hinting at the social currents that will soon stir.

Eleanor, determined to mold her daughter Kitty into a “gentlewoman of high quality,” dreams of aristocratic connections—namely a marriage to the imagined Duke of Lee. Across the yard, young Tommy, sturdy and earnest, embodies a more grounded, republican spirit, prompting a clash of ideals between refinement and practicality. Their mothers’ competing visions set up a charming tug‑of‑war, as the children navigate games, dances, and the expectations placed upon them.

Through witty dialogue and vivid description, the opening paints a portrait of early‑twentieth‑century family life, where innocence, ambition, and humor intertwine, inviting listeners to follow the unfolding drama of love, class, and the inevitable surprises that lie ahead.