This fascinating novel tells the story of a young woman who, against all odds, struggles to carve out a life of meaning and purpose for herself in the male-dominated world of late 19th-century Australia. Faced with poverty, social upheaval, and ruinous scandal, the heroine of the story must find the courage and creativity to make her way in the world and achieve her goals. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.