
In a genteel English countryside, Lady Westborough grapples with the future of her daughter, Flora. When a proud lord, Ulswater, doubts the sincerity of Flora’s suitor, Mr. Linden, she proposes a delicate test: a midday meeting that will either vindicate the young man or clear the way for the lord’s return. The correspondence crackles with restrained passion, revealing the fragile balance between duty, affection, and family honor.
Meanwhile, the aspiring gentleman rides toward the distant town of Mordaunt, his thoughts turning over the imminent encounter. The landscape unfolds in a tapestry of river, autumn‑golden fields, and bustling hamlets, mirroring the inner turbulence of a heart caught between love and expectation. As the river glides past, the promise of a decisive moment looms, setting the stage for a contest of character that will shape Flora’s destiny.
Language
en
Duration
~2 hours (122K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
2005-03-01
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects

1803–1873
Best remembered for vivid historical and supernatural fiction, this prolific Victorian writer also left a surprising mark on everyday language with phrases that people still quote today. His stories mix drama, mystery, politics, and the occult in a way that helped shape popular fiction in the 19th century.
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