This is a used book that I picked up at some library sale eons ago, because I recognized the title. It had been made into a 1940s “woman’s” flick that starred Jennifer Jones, and that was about all I remembered. I was curious as to how closely the movie might have followed the book, but decided to read it first. Judging that our introduction to Cluny is that she is an orphan in her late teens, taken in by a rather sour uncle who is a plumber in London, and is especially tall, ungainly, and with dark hair that has a mind of its own. Well. Jennifer Jones certainly had dark hair, but otherwise I’m not seeing it.
But Cluny is good natured, enthusiastic, and especially keen on her uncle’s profession. She even successfully takes over a call when her uncle is busy, which causes the aunties to tsk-tsk and decide that something must be done. Because of her height, she must go into service, since it will be easier for her to serve at dinner, and so she is sent to Friars Carmel, in Devon, the home of Sir Henry Carmel and family. As Mrs. Maile, the housekeeper, puts it, it is so terribly hard to find a Tall Parlour-Maid these days, so she is willing to put in some work to train her. Son Andrew Carmel has invited a famous Polish writer to stay, as well, as a contribution to the arts, an invitation that he is more than willing to accept, due to some unpleasantness in London. And then there are the usual round of visitors and aspiring suitors, some of whom stay for weeks, so there is a lot happening at Friars Carmel.
Very much a typical English landed class divertissement until the end. Did not see that one coming at all. Cluny is nobody’s fool.