National Network for Equitable Library Service

When Captain Merrivale dies, his daughters Martha and Penelope are left almost penniless. They find employment as schoolteachers in the Lancashire mill town of Tapton working for mill-owner Jonas Wright. They are charged with educating not only his four young daughters, but also some of the more promising mill-workers. Against her better judgement, Martha finds herself being drawn to Ben Seaton, the father of one of her charges...