Violet Osborne, Volume 3 (of 3) by Lady Emily Ponsonby
"Violet Osborne, Volume 3 (of 3)" by Lady Emily Ponsonby is a novel written in the mid-19th century. This concluding volume of a domestic, morally focused society tale follows Violet Osborne as charity, propriety, and shifting attachments test character and conscience. Central figures include Lionel Vane, long presumed for Ida Hamilton, and John Leicester, newly returned from India with quiet hopes. Themes of duty versus desire, principled kindness, and reputation within a
tight-knit community shape the story. The opening of the volume shows Lionel launching a philanthropic training home for servant girls, a scheme rooted in his late mother’s wishes and organized with Ida’s help and Violet’s practical guidance. A hard winter brings floods and want; Violet and Ida run a provision shop for the poor, while Albert Ellis arrives with news of a legacy for Violet and hints—dismissed by her—that Lionel may care for her. Leicester returns to England, glimpses Violet at a public feast, misreads what he sees, and retreats heartbroken. During that feast, caught in a rainstorm, Lionel confesses love to Violet despite the long-assumed match with Ida; Violet rebukes him, and the next day Ida, steady and kind but firm, ends the understanding. Lord Ashford takes the blow badly, while Ida keeps to her duties, Violet struggles with shame and sympathy, and everyday concerns—like the village school and Amy White’s place—quietly continue beneath the emotional upheaval. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Ponsonby, Emily, Lady, 1817-1877 |
|---|---|
| Title | Violet Osborne, Volume 3 (of 3) |
| Original Publication | London: Hurst & Blackett, 1865. |
| Credits | MWS, PrimeNumber, and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PR: Language and Literatures: English literature |
| Subject | Great Britain -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 77992 |
| Release Date | Feb 20, 2026 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 159 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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