Publisher's Synopsis
THE FIRST PART OF THE NOVEL CENTERS ON MRS. MORRELL AND HER UNHAPPY MARRIAGE IN A DRUNKEN DRINKING MINE. SHE HAS MANY ARGUMENTS WITH HER HUSBAND, WHICH HAVE SOME PAINFUL CONSEQUENCES: ON SEPARATE OCCASIONS, SHE IS LOCKED OUT OF THE HOUSE AND HIT IN THE HEAD WITH A DRAWER. A CAPTIVE FROM HER HUSBAND, MRS. MORRELL FEELS COMFORTABLE AMONG HER FOUR CHILDREN, ESPECIALLY HER SONS. HIS ELDEST SON WILLIAM IS HIS FAVORITE AND HE WAS VERY UPSET WHEN HE TOOK A JOB IN LONDON AND MOVED AWAY FROM HIS FAMILY. WHEN WILLIAM FELL ILL AND DIED A FEW YEARS LATER, HE WAS CRUSHED, NOT EVEN CARING FOR THE REST OF HIS CHILDREN UNTIL HE ALMOST LOST HIS SECOND SON, PAUL. FROM THAT POINT OF VIEW, PAUL BECAME THE CENTER OF HIS LIFE AND THE TWO SEEMED TO BE LIVING FOR EACH OTHER.PAUL FALLS IN LOVE WITH MARY LEVER, WHO LIVES ON A FARM FAR AWAY FROM THE MORRELL FAMILY. THEY ARE A VERY CLOSE, BUT AUTHENTIC PLATONIC, RELATIONSHIP THAT LASTS FOR MANY YEARS. MRS. MORRELL DOES NOT CONSENT TO MARY AND THIS MAY BE THE MAIN REASON WHY PAUL DID NOT MARRY HER. HE CONSTANTLY SINKS HIS FEELINGS TOWARDS HER.PAUL MEETS CLARA DIAZ, WHO IS SEPARATED FROM HER HUSBAND THROUGH MARY. AS SOON AS HE BECAME CLOSE TO CLARA AND THEY STARTED DISCUSSING HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH MARY, HE TOLD HER THAT THEY SHOULD CONSIDER RUINING THEIR LOVE AND HE CAME BACK TO MARY TO SEE HOW SHE FELT.PAUL AND MARY SLEPT TOGETHER AND WERE BRIEFLY HAPPY, BUT SOON PAUL DECIDED THAT HE DID NOT WANT TO MARRY MARY AND SO HE SEVERED TIES WITH HER. HE STILL FEELS THAT HIS SOUL BELONGS TO HIM, AND SOMEWHAT RELUCTANTLY AGREES. HE REALIZES THAT HE LOVES HIS MOTHER THE MOST.AFTER SEVERING HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH MARY, PAUL BEGINS TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH CLARA AND THEY BEGIN A VERY INTERESTING RELATIONSHIP. BUT SHE DOES NOT WANT TO DIVORCE HER HUSBAND BAXTER AND SO THEY CAN NEVER GET MARRIED. PAUL'S MOTHER FALLS ILL AND SHE SPENDS A LOT OF HER TIME CARING FOR HIM. WHEN HE FINALLY DIES, HE IS HEARTBROKEN AND, AFTER MARY'S FINAL APPEAL, IS LEFT ALONE AT THE END OF THE NOVEL.
