Beatrix was only only 20 when wrote this story for The Sketch. It started off as a fairly typical historical romance of yesteryear. A young French exile living poor with her father, falling in love with a sailor and then being pursued by an unwanted rich suitor. But it had some truly wonderful moments in it. When Beatrix gave the descriptions of how the woman had been betrayed by her father for money, how she'd been sold, there was a great feeling of feminist indignation.
"She looked at him She looked at him snivelling and pleading, thinking only of his wish come true, ready to sacrifice his daughter who had stood by him unquestioning and faithful, and her heart was filled with a cold pity that froze the first beating of fear that had struck her.
"Tina, you would be well off... he is rich. Tina, what do you say... speak."
Money-always money. He thought to dazzle her into consenting by a tale of the doctor's wealth. That man who withheld succour from the poor, who would work his wife like a servant; and his eyes...
Tina remembered now how he had looked at her and a wave of horror surged across her senses. She rose unsteadily and went to the window where the fresh evening air rippled in. Her nerves were so on edge that her thoughts were exaggerated and made twenty times more frightening. Her father had sold her, sold her body for a few paltry pounds so that a dream might be realised."
After that it plunges into tragedy, a drunken orgy and a skeleton falling into the sea! Wonderful stuff!
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