The Rejected Wife

In old Norwich, Connecticut, when cabins, mills, and farms still stood at the edge of the wilderness, the Arnold household prepares for a Thanksgiving reunion that promises warmth but also trouble. The newly finished farmhouse, built through years of sacrifice, becomes the center of a domestic world alive with labor, pride, and uneasy expectation as Mrs. Arnold, Hannah, Hagar, and Dan ready the rooms, the kitchen, and the sleigh for visiting family and foreign guests. Against this vivid New England setting, the novel widens into a story of social change, hidden motives, and emotional strain. Arnold's hard work and severe thrift reshape the farm, but his growing desperation leads him to seek a large loan from Dr. Blake, revealing a secret burden tied to his son Benedict. At the same time, a wintry ride, a village shooting match, and the cultured presence of Laura de Montreuil and her companions expose the tensions between rustic custom, flirtation, and social scrutiny. Meanwhile, religious revival, quiet charity, and small-town suspicion frame the tragic fate of Amy Leonard, whose trust in Arnold is betrayed, leaving her isolated, heartbroken, and spiritually crushed. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.