This was absolutely wonderful! Charlotte Mary Yonge is such a lovely writer. Her prose is rich and engaging, and her characters are complex, relatable, endearing kindred spirits. The plot was very well paced with a rewarding, redemptive conclusion. She was part of the Oxford Movement, and her faith shines through with her exploration of spiritual themes without coming across as sanctimonious or overly didactic. The more I read her work, the more I fall in love with her writing. This is a great place to start if you are new to Charlotte Mary Yonge. This has become a new favorite!