The World Before Them: A Novel. Volume 2 (of 3)

A provincial community novel traces a young woman, Dorothy, as she endures the desertion of a suitor and the ensuing gossip and sympathy of her neighbors. Clergymen and villagers share reminiscences that uncover secret attachments and a nobleman's concealed sorrow. Interwoven local histories — an elderly shopkeeper, family tensions and maritime ambitions — illuminate motives and social pressures. Dorothy gradually reconciles to her loss, develops a tentative attachment to another gentle clergyman figure, confides in him by letter, and moves toward a domestic resolution marked by the arrival of a bridal party, with the narrative emphasizing moral reflection and pastoral observation.