BEL LAMINGTON

This author's romances have a hallmark of gentleness, niceties, and a full complement of commonplaces, and here orphan Beatrice Elizabeth (Bel) breaks out of her loneliness in London to a complexity of males, and mishaps, and friendly assists that head her right to the altar. Her rooftop garden, a link with her Sussex country background, brings artist Mark into her life; his portrait of her leads to a renewed friendship with Louise and her father, Dr. Armstrong, so that, when she is sacked from her job while Brownlee, her boss, is abroad, she can turn to them and pick up another way of living. When Brownlee returns his directness is all that Bel needs to decide that marriage is the way for her. As always, comfortable.