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The book begins with Lady Graham's announcement of the imminent return of the elusive Sir Robert Graham and ends as Sir Robert enters the house. What happens in between is more than usually 'Much Ado About Nothing'. We meet Vicar Choyce whose vacillation is matched by Lady Graham's vagueness (as she becomes more and more like Lady Emily). Much of the action consists of a stately pavanne between them as they decide and undecide and decide again that Sir Robert (when he returns -- any moment now) will take over the churchwarden's duties from the ailing Squire Halliday. Meanwhile, Edith Graham, as the only Ingenue in sight, enjoys the vague attentions of three young men, including her cousin Lord Mellings (Ludovic), until Uncle David Leslie and wife sweep her off for a visit to America. Still between generations, Thirkell produces the only book so far with no marriages or engagements.… (more)
User reviews
Unlike many Thirkell novels in this series,
This installment had none of these things. The main characters were largely lesser-known players, which would have been fine if they were given a substantial plot. But there was only one plot thread, which mostly involved a few people visiting one family, and that family returning the visit. So much dialogue, and all of it fairly pointless. There is a tiny flicker of romantic interest which is left to be resolved in a later novel. Towards the end, Thirkell brings her alter-ego character into the story in a way that fills a few more pages with incessant conversation, but in no way contributes to the already unsubstantial plot.
Were it not for my irrational desire to “complete” this series, I would not have finished this book.