Gay, mannered and attractive, this urbane Regency novel might well attract younger readers to the British novel of manners. Venetia, devoted to an invalid brother, stymied by the selfishness of an older brother and the indifference of her father, is confronted with alternative choices of marriage-and escape. There are other obstacles- but she proves that an inexperienced country-bred girl can make a romantic, intelligent decision about a husband and achieve the life she wants.