A FAMILY LIKENESS

Utterly dominated by her birth-proud, pious grandmama, Tessa Jasmyn doesn't show even a flash of resentment when the aged lady executes Tessa's darling dog, cancels play-time on Sundays, sacks Reuben Bateman (the young groom who loves Tessa), and forces our pasty heroine into an engagement with a greedy older cousin. Tessa's only detectable feeling is an occasional feeble longing (sigh) to get out from under the oppressive Victorian atmosphere of Barmote Hall; has she, in fact, been suppressed to the point of witlessness? Even the slow revelation that Tessa is not a real Jasmyn at all, but has been switched in the cradle to provide Grandmama with an heiress, hardly brings a sparkle to her eye. Yes, it's too late for Tessa, but not too late for you: beware the miasma of dullness that arises from Barmote Hall and infects all who come near it!