Agnes Grey II

Agnes finds Matilda and Rosalie silly and selfish, and she starts to visit the poor in the village. She is friendly with one old lady, Nancy, who is losing her sight and wants someone to read the bible to her. THe local clergyman is haughty and insensitive, but there is a new curate Edward Weston, who is kinder. Agnes begins to see him around the village and likes him. Rosalie is attracted to him and tries to pretend to be nicer than she really is, to win his interest. However she wants to marry a rich gentleman. Agnes talks to Mr Weston and they build up a friendship. Rosalie continues to flirt with him but is looking for a suitable husband in between flirtations. Agnes is hurt that her one friend is being drawn away from her...Then she has a letter from her sister Mary to say that their father is very ill. She leaves and hurries home but her father dies before she gets there. She feels there is nothing to go back for, as Mr Weston has not made any advances towards her, and she dislikes the Murray family. After Mr Grey's death, she and her mother set up a small school and make a modest living that way. Later, she gets an invitation from Rosalie Murray who is now married to a baronet, Sir Thomas Ashby. She goes reluctantly and finds that Rosalie is depressed and wants someone to sympathise with her. She has grown to hate her husband, who is controlling and selfish and who resents her flirting with other men. She has a baby daughter but is not maternal. Agnes tries to cheer her but there is not much she can do for Rosalie-. She leaves Ashby Park and goes home and soon afterwards she finds that Mr Weston is now working in the next parish. She meets him at the seashore and they talk and renew their friendship. Mrs Grey meets him and likes him and they plan to marry. They have a happy life and produce three children. Agnes is based on the young naieve Anne, and Mr Weston on Willie Weightman... Anne gives herself a happy ending...but the novel is slight