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Having gone through an Edith Wharton phase years ago, I was totally surprised to find this little gem of a novella on a display at the public library. Not often one can read a Wharton book in a couple of hours, and less rare that the ending to the story is positive.

Kate Orme is a wealthy young woman, and like many of her class and era she is laughably innocent and totally in the dark about marriage and real life. On the eve of her wedding she discovers that her intended husband has done something so morally repugnant that Kate considers calling off the wedding. Instead she goes ahead with it, thinking that she can mold any children of the union so they don't develop their father's loose character. She has a son and just as he is on the cusp of manhood and career success, he is tested just as Kate always feared might happen.