Running Water

The novel follows Mrs. Thesiger and her daughter Sylvia through a sequence of domestic and alpine episodes that bring hidden relationships and past mistakes to light. Interwoven with scenes of legal maneuvering and social intrigue involving figures such as John Lattery, Mr. Jarvice, and Michel Revailloud, the narrative shifts between hotel salons and mountain climbs around Chamonix. Revelations about parentage, quarrels born of old passions, and confrontations over money prompt journeys, reconciliations, and dangerous ascents, culminating in a dramatic ice-slope episode that forces characters to confront consequences. The work blends social observation, suspense, and vivid mountaineering description.