A Heart-Song of To-day (Disturbed by Fire from the 'Unruly Member')

A midnight conversation turns into a contest of wills when wealthy widow Mrs. Tompkins presses Captain Trevalyon to marry her. He has been thinking of Vaura, while Colonel Haughton has already offered the widow his hand. The arrival of the jealous George Delrose makes an awkward interview still more volatile. Annie G. Savigny builds this society romance through sharp exchanges in which money, affection and pride pull the speakers in different directions.

The novel also makes room for travel and close attention to landscape. Lady Esmondet and her companions pass through mountain scenery, then encounter a ruined castle near Genoa where a religious community shelters travellers. A voice singing from a small chapel draws their attention. These quieter scenes of rocks, pines and music offer a change of pace from the opening rivalries. Readers interested in elaborate courtship dialogue and the social pressures surrounding marriage will find both personal manoeuvring and descriptive passages to explore.