In the spring-lit world of Stoke Revel, a lonely young widow arrives from America hoping to find family, only to meet the chill of old wealth, old rules, and old resentments. Yet Robinette Loring is no sentimental victim: her wit, courage, and stubborn brightness make her a force in the very house that would rather not be disturbed. Around her, Kate Douglas Wiggin builds a domestic novel of inheritance, class tension, and emotional awakening. Mrs. de Tracy guards the manor's traditions with severe dignity, while Maria Spalding's tactful appeal and Miss Smeardon's anxious caution reveal the household's hidden pressures. Outside, the beloved plum tree at Wittisham stands as a tender emblem of patience, renewal, and the quiet promise of life after loss. As Robinette struggles to belong, she finds an ally in Mark Lavendar, whose candid conversations and river journey with her open into mutual understanding, self-doubt, and growing affection. Their exchanges, set against the formalities of English society, give the story its warmth, humor, and romantic pulse. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.
