Janey is an orphan and has had no one to love her. When a near-stranger, Mr Rosendale, announces he is "in love" with her, she is so dazzled by having someone love her that she consents readily to the marriage. Now after a week of marriage she has discovered that his "love" is sexual passion and possessiveness - he cares only for her beauty. Her dream of a loving companion is gone.
As the couple travel through France on their wedding tour, an unexpected opportunity arrives for Janey to be alone for a few hours, and to think seriously about what she wants for her future.
This is the first story in the "John R" series - see the link below for more information on the series.
Biographical and other notes
In this story Mrs Oliphant refers to a French village as "St Honorat" (which is actually a small island off Cannes), but refers to the same village in the second story as Cagnes-sur-Mer, a real village located in the south of France on a bay between Antibes and Nice.
British publishing information
Periodical: St James's Gazette & others 30 June - 3 July 1894
First edition: William Blackwood and Sons (collected in A Widow's Tale) 1898
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