Miss Merivale's Mistake

"Miss Merivale's Mistake" by Henry Clarke is a story set in a time where social status mattered, and family secrets hid in the shadows; it follows Miss Merivale, a woman with a good heart, as she navigates her relationships with two young girls named Pauline and Rose, but everything changes when she hears about a girl called Rhoda Sampson, and she starts to think about her past and possible family connections because she is related to Rhoda through her sister Lydia, and begins to grapple with themes of who she is as a person and the importance of family bonds, while dealing with the fact that Rhoda is now a part of her life. The beginning of the book shows Miss Merivale listening to Rose and Pauline Smythe talk about Rhoda Sampson, and she immediately becomes concerned about the importance of family ties, and as the story moves forward, we see how the characters interact with one another, including Pauline, who doesn't think much of Rhoda, raising questions about what kind of person Rhoda is and how important she is to the overall events about to take place. The opening lays the foundation for conversations the characters have with one another, revealing dreams, uncertainty, and hope, seemingly hinting at the main issues that will appear as the story moves forward.