Farizeeërs

Summary

Henry Wilmore, the "lord of the manor", recalls his son Lennard from Holland to marry Helen Plugenet, an heiress, in order to save the family fortunes. The engagement is announced when Rachel Neve, an art student whom Lennard had met in Volendam, arrives at the house to look for the son who had promised to marry her. She is frightened for the baby that is about to be born to her. Mrs Wilmore sees her and endeavours to persuade her to go away for the time being, while she makes plans. As Rachel is going, she falls ill, and is found by the Rev. Edgar Linnell, the curate, who extracts her story from her. Thereafter the curate tries to make the boy confess his fault, while his parents persuade him to deny it. Rachel signs a document to the effect that she has never been more than a friend to Lennard, but, finally, the boy breaks down and goes to her admitting his fault, and telling her that he loves her and has only acted as he has done through the coercion of his family.