Married or single?, Vol. 1 (of 3)

"Married or Single?, Vol. 1 (of 3)" by B. M. Croker is a 19th-century novel tracing the life of Madeline West, a young woman whose privileged life crumbles when her family faces financial disaster, leading her to become a pupil-teacher at a boarding school. We see her shift from a carefree student to disheartened young woman as she's tasked with chores and childcare which is then compounded by the absence of her father and the weight of her new reality. Madeline's close bond with Florence provides her with solace and a sense of belonging, which provides her one positive within the environment ruled by the likes of Mrs. Harper. As she grapples with her changed circumstances and the oppressive atmosphere which also foreshadows her journey of self-discovery and her interactions with others.