'Eliza Grayling is tall, capable, smart. It is 1830, so tall, capable, smart aligns with unmarriageable. Never mind. She is happy enough being thought about in Sydney Town as the tall spinster. She lives alone, in rather slatternly style, and earns her living teaching some appealing young children. She is also looking out for her father, blind and alcoholic, who lives alone on the edge of the bush.' (Introduction)