Was I Right?

A novel likely written in the late 19th century. The story revolves around a young woman named May who faces significant life choices following the death of her father, leaving her and her half-sister Maggie orphaned. As May contemplates her future, two letters she receives create a dilemma regarding her possible employment as a companion and her feelings towards her childhood friend Claude, who has recently returned home but exhibits troubling views on faith. At the start of the novel, May reflects on her life and the emotional turmoil of having to leave her childhood home. She recalls her childhood with her sister and her friends in their quaint garden, juxtaposed against her current plight of financial hardship. As she grapples with the decisions laid before her through the letters from her old governess and Claude, the layers of her past influence her heart's choices. May's struggle is not only about finding a means to support herself but also about her evolving relationship with Claude, who has become a different man, embracing uncertainties about faith that challenge May's own beliefs. This opening sets the stage for her journey of self-discovery, love, and moral conviction.