In this slim, sharply observed tale, a quietly devout widow-like figure named Miss Vernon finds herself drawn into a playful, unsettling mystery after a pickpocket makes off with her purse and a ring turns up on her finger. What begins as a minor embarrassment grows into a test of conscience, self‑image, and how a small town’s gossip mill reshapes a life. The story follows her encounters with neighbors, a practical doctor, and a steady circle of friends as they navigate questions of ownership, truth, and how to respond when public attention turns personal. The balance of humor and moral reflection invites readers to watch a poised, generous woman weigh pride, generosity, and responsibility in the face of temptation and publicity.

A delicate social portrait of a refined, observant heroine and her circle
A pivotal, conscience-driven dilemma around a stolen purse and a mysterious ring
Interactions with a perceptive doctor, a wry cousin, and a community that loves to talk
Moments of humor, restraint, and quietly humane resolution that feel true to small-town life

Ideal for readers who enjoy classic social satire, intimate character studies, and stories that probe what it means to do the right thing under public scrutiny.

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We first started out as ?The Paperback Exchange,? a chain of physical bookstores where we would part exchange your beloved books for new stories to transport you to faraway places. However, as shopping started to evolve to online shops and marketplaces, we bid our stores goodbye to become ?PBShop.? This transition has only allowed us to blossom as we now ship thousands of titles to book lovers across the globe. We pride ourselves in being a community of local book lovers which allows our passion and devotion to shine in everything we do. In 2020 we not only celebrated our 20th birthday but our 1st birthday as being completely employee owned after becoming an E.O.T in September 2019. We are proud to be different and embrace standing apart on a book mountain by working from a virtual inventory which allows us to provide thousands of books that may be difficult to get for your bookshelf or your studies. Working with a number of different suppliers allows us to explore other avenues such as puzzles, sheet music and even stationery so we really do have something for everyone. Life is about being versatile in all realms of existence. If this is your first visit or you are a returning customer, we would like to welcome you to the PBShop family, for there is no friend as loyal as a book. We are a company who put our customers at the centre of everything we do as we understand the importance of reading because once you learn to read, you will forever be free. There are a whole lot of things in this world of ours that we are yet to explore, which is why we will forever inspire curious minds.

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