Marigold's Decision

Marigold Plunkett lives in a cramped, quarrelsome working-class home where her rough, affectionate father struggles against poverty and the sour temper of his second wife. Quietly capable and cheerfully practical, Marigold stands apart from her more delicate sister Narcissus, and the sisters' future is shaped by their mother's belief that domestic service should be learned with care, discipline, and dignity. That conviction sends Narcissus to the Heavitree Parsonage, where wise, energetic Mrs. Heavitree trains young girls for honest work and gives Marigold, too, a year of orderly, meaningful service. Returning home, Marigold finds the household more strained than ever and tries to bring back the Parsonage's tidiness and goodwill, only to meet resentment and blame. Yet her conscience remains strong, especially when she insists on including Mrs. Plunkett in a family outing, even after Narcissus rejects her stepmother's claims. Into this uneasy domestic world comes James Todd, a charming but idle man with a failed past in England and Africa, who has no means, no plan, and no business courting Marigold. As his attentions grow and Mrs. Plunkett grows suspicious, the novel turns into a sharp, intimate study of duty, resentment, kindness, and the dangers of misplaced affection. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.