Arabella

Arabella Tallant, the daughter of an affluent but not well-to-do country preacher, receives an invitation from her godmother, Lady Bridlington, to spend a Season with her in London in order to be presented in society and have the opportunity to contract an advantageous marriage. Arabella is very excited about the occasion and knows that she cannot fail: the godmother is unlikely to renew her invitation for another Season, and she has many sisters and brothers; the former, in the event of her successful marriage, would have an equal opportunity, the latter could be helped in their professional aspirations.

The girl thus leaves for London, but her carriage has an accident. Arabella and her companion, Miss Blackburn, seek shelter from the cold in a house nearby: thus they meet Robert Beaumaris and Lord Fleetwood. Beaumaris is a charming, very wealthy young man from London; his social position, his wealth and his good taste in dress and conduct have made him a veritable arbiter of the fashion of polite society: if he wears a certain garment, that will become fashionable and copied by other gentlemen; if he dignifies a person with his attention, she will become a coveted friend to all the ladies and gentlemen of the beautiful world. Because of an unfortunate joke uttered by Beaumaris and overheard by Arabella in secret, the girl makes the two men believe that she is a very rich heiress seeking leisure in London, asking them not to divulge the information about her wealth status because she is tired of being courted for her money. Of course Beaumaris does not believe her, but decides to play along. His friend Lord Fleetwood, less shrewd, believes the girl and does not hesitate, once back in London, to divulge the news.