Cirrus@Austlit

Romance and tragedy of the rich. Fifine, a respectable shop girl is seduced into a false marriage by the apparently respectful courtship of Pierre Lenoir. He abandons her and she marries a faithful stonemason after giving up her child Cecile to an aristocratic couple. She visits the girl anonymously over the years, and when she learns Cecile is to be forced into a marriage with the sickly highly-strung son of a nobleman she finally intervenes to prevent it. She reveals to the father of Cecile's unwanted suitor that he is also Cecile's father and to prevent incest they must not marry. The son dies of his disappointed hopes and Cecile finally marries the rising solicitor she loves. Subtext of growing independence of lower classes from tyranny of aristocrats. (PB)