Dross

"Dross" by Henry Seton Merriman is a story happening in the late 1800s, showing a time of political games, changes in society, and people dealing with hard times. The main character, Dick Howard, who has a confusing past, gets involved with the family of the Vicomte de Clericy, including his daughter Lucille, which starts a story about love, lies, and trying to find out who you really are; the story begins with Dick Howard thinking about a big celebration, feeling like he doesn't belong, but after meeting an old friend and the de Clericy family, he decides to work for the Vicomte; as Howard starts his new job, he falls for Lucille, who is kind but doesn't know much about the world, showing how Dick's secret plans, his growing love for Lucille, and the big changes happening in society are all connected, making the story exciting on both a personal and historical level.