First published in 1889, this novel is a historical romance set in London during the early Victorian era. The story follows the fortunes of the romantic heroine, a young woman named Penelope, as she navigates the complex social world of the time. Along the way, she encounters a number of historical figures, including Charles Dickens and William Makepeace Thackeray. A delightful read for fans of historical fiction or Victorian literature. 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.