Nothing like the odd interlude of Victorian melodrama, enfolding the reader in a soothing world of absolute truths, Reaping What One Sows and unswerving moral conviction (in some.)
Mrs Henry Wood takes as her theme alcoholism; by page 24 the reader is very clear on that, after an inebriated nurse has given baby laudanum in error, after Mrs Danesbury has startled the dinner guests by announcing her children should not drink wine and ale (never realised this was so prevalent in 19th century!) and a drunken gate keeper has precipitated a deadly accident...
The tale covers some decades, and illustrates drunkenness in its many forms- the wasted money, imprudent activities under its influence, wretched marriages, harrassed relatives.Three latter chapters- "An Evil Death", "Another Deathbed" and "One More Death" leave one in no doubt of the results...and yet it finishes on a hopeful note.
VERY well written! ( )