Winifred Chester's world is overturned by her father's sudden death, and the reading of the will only deepens the wound. Bound by a conditional inheritance that pits duty against self-interest, she is forced to choose between her brothers, her conscience, and her love for Edward Langton, whose quiet authority and practical vision for Bedloe stand in sharp contrast to the family's greed and suspicion. As Tom Chester arrives with accusations, threats, and demands for cash, the household fractures in bitterness, and Winifred is left isolated, grieving, and uncertain whether she has lost Edward forever. Mrs. Oliphant's second volume intensifies the novel's domestic and moral drama, tracing the painful consequences of inheritance, pride, and sacrifice. When Winifred finally leaves Bedloe with Miss Farrell, Edward searches for her in frustration, only to be held back by an epidemic that calls him to serve the village's sick children. Abroad on the Riviera, Winifred slowly sees how misunderstanding has widened the breach between them. As winter deepens and Christmas nears, Edward's unexpected arrival offers the possibility of reconciliation, even after grief, separation, and the struggle over Bedloe have reshaped every bond in the family. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.