"Sprightly" it was not. It was a fairly forgettable, sentimental story about a 16-year-old girl who falls in love with a young man who is engaged, and they both try to be all noble and self-sacrificing about it, only partly succeeding. The outcome hinges, not on them, but on the fiancee. Ultimately both of the main characters just seem a little too victim-like, although it's a happy ending. ( )

Pretty much your standard melodrama romance. It was all a bit much for me and I was hoping for a bit more of Sir Dugald but we soon got to the unspoken passion and broken hearts and all such, happily resovled in tears and kisses. I found Theo's age a bit off putting but it is normal for the time. I am curious to find that so many of Burnett;s adult heroines are tall and dark haired and I am curious to find out what she looked like now.