The Old Maid (The 'Fifties)

Delia Ralston née Lovell receives her cousin Charlotte (Chatty) Lovell who is about to be married. Charlotte confesses that she is the mother of an infamous foundling child. Her intended Joe Ralston who does not know of her child wishes her to abandon her work at the orphanage where the child lives. Charlotte does not want to give up seeing her daughter Clementina (Tina). The child's father is Clement Spender a New Yorker who moved overseas to pursue the life of an artist. At one time Delia was also romantically attracted to Spender. Delia agrees to see to it that Tina and Charlotte are not separated but she also sees to it that Charlotte is not allowed to marry Joe Ralston (a cousin of Delia's husband Jim). Delia's husband dies and Charlotte and Tina move into Delia's home. When Tina comes of age since she is known to society as an orphan with no family or estate her marriage prospects are dim although she attracts many suitors. Charlotte fears that Tina will repeat the pattern Charlotte started by getting pregnant before she finds a husband. To avert this fate Delia adopts Tina as her own daughter and Tina finds a fiancé. The story ends on the night before Tina is to marry with heightened tension between the two older women over who has the right to be considered Tina's mother.