Lottie Despard lives with her unsatisfactory father within the precincts of the Abbey Church of St Michael's. He is a Chevalier of St Michael's, a position granted to some poor officers as a sort of pension, carrying certain responsibilities with the title. Lottie has been raised a gentlewoman, and had looked forward to their new life within the precincts, but she finds out quickly that she is not considered on a level with the community's gentry. Her beautiful singing voice gives her entrée to the private singing practices at the Deanery - but she is only being tolerated for her voice.
The Dean's wife Lady Caroline has a nephew, Rollo Ridsdale, who is enchanted by Lottie's voice. Having already gone through his own money, his first thought is somehow to capitalize on that voice - turn her into an opera singer, with himself as her manager. But Lottie thinks he has fallen in love with her; and it is not long before she falls in love with him.
As the novel continues Lottie struggles with the notion of singing on a public stage - no lady would do it, therefore it is out of the question. However later when circumstances change at home she understands the value of the independence which a career furnishes. And Rollo has a plan.
Biographical and other notes
At the time this novel was written Margaret Oliphant had been living in Windsor for over 10 years. She based her "Chevaliers of Saint Michael" on the real-life Military Knights of Windsor. For centuries there had been a tradition of providing pensions and lodging for a small number of retired military officers within the precincts of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle. They were known as the Poor Knights of Windsor until in the nineteenth century their name was changed to the Military Knights of Windsor. Their duties were to attend chapel, say prayers for the Monarch, and perform certain duties for the Knights and Ladies of the Garter.
Within the Precincts began serialisation in Cornhill Magazine in February 1878, and on March 1st Mrs Oliphant wrote to her nephew Frank: "Did I tell you I have brought a hornet's nest about my ears by describing the Military Knights in my new story? . . . . I am very sorry to have vexed the old men, though of course I had not the least intention of doing so, and did not expect the sketch to be so readily recognized. You will see I have kept the Castle out altogether . . . . " (Autobiography and Letters, 1899, page 255. The letter is misdated "1876" by the editor.)
Years later Womanhood Magazine (vol. III 1899-1900) described what followed: "The [novel] was a little indiscreet, and quite unintentionally on her part, certain things in the book gave offense. It was even rumoured in the Crescent [her street] that the Knights were going to revive their fighting days, and were coming forth from their honourable retirement in the shadow of the Garter Tower - a venerable company - to make a midnight raid on Mrs Oliphant's windows. The neighbours trembled behind their fast-closed shutters as night fell, fearing the Knights might attack the wrong house in their wrath! However the little storm blew over, and gradually the Crescent recovered its wonted calm."
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