Isabel, a beautiful and independent widow, finds herself courted by two very different men: one, a devoted friend from her youth; the other, a passionate and troubled suitor whose intensity threatens her carefully maintained composure. Set against the backdrop of genteel English society, Gissing examines the unspoken struggles of intellect and feeling, particularly in women constrained by convention. With his characteristic psychological depth and quiet irony, he portrays characters torn between duty, desire, and personal integrity. This novel offers a fascinating glimpse into Gissing’s early development as a writer, foreshadowing the sharp social realism and emotional subtlety that would define his later masterpieces.