Only a Girl’s Love

Young Stella flees a joyless school in Florence and arrives, half a stranger, at the country cottage of her uncle James Etheridge, a gentle painter content with his quiet corner of England. In that hushed world she finds affection and freedom for the first time, and soon the pull of first love as well, though the differences of rank and fortune that shadow her feelings promise heartache before any happiness. Garvice was among the most widely read romance writers of his day, and this story carries the sentiment, tender misunderstandings, and slow-turning courtship that filled his enormous readership. A free PDF and EPUB edition are available to download.