The story in one page
Millicent Almsford seeks refuge from a troubled past by visiting her cousin Barbara Deering at the hospitable San Rosario Ranch. Amidst the roses and the practicalities of California ranch life — including a mule-powered dairy — Millicent draws the attention of John Graham. Their romance moves from the rural ranch to a lavish, earthquake-fearing coastal mansion owned by the eccentric Mrs. Shallop. However, Graham’s rigid philosophy on a woman's capacity for love leads him to break Millicent's heart, driving her back to the Adriatic. As Graham finally relents and sends word of his return, death reaches the Palazzo Fortunio first, leaving a California friend to deliver the final, tragic news.
Who's who
- Millicent Almsford
A visitor from Venice hiding a secret, painful history.
- Barbara Deering
The tall, graceful mistress of the San Rosario Ranch.
- John Graham
An ambitious man who believes a woman can only love once.
- Maurice Galbraith
A kind Californian friend who witnesses the tragedy in Venice.
- Mrs. Shallop
A wealthy, jewel-laden hostess living in a flimsy wooden mansion.
What it's really about
- First Love
- The destructive belief that emotional history ruins a woman's soul.
- East vs. West
- The contrast between California's vitality and Venice's decaying palazzos.
Why it's memorable
- Millicent being placed on a mule to help with the ranch's horse-powered butter churning.
- A wealthy woman wearing heavy ballgown brocade in a house built to survive earthquakes.
The ending, explained
Spoilers — show the ending
Millicent dies peacefully in her sleep in Venice; Maurice Galbraith intercepts Graham’s telegram of reconciliation and replies that she is gone.
For your book club
- Whether Graham's rejection of Millicent is a moral stance or a symptom of his ego.
- The role of the 'Celestial' servant Ah Lam in the domestic life of the ranch.