Aunt Sarah begs Daniel Quayne not to go to the Sicaster statutes fair. The Quaynes have never had any luck at Sicaster, but Daniel is set for going. He meets a young woman there, Rosanna, who’s plainly not a northerner from her speech, but her family has relocated from Surrey. They both find places at Campion’s farm. He’s saved a substantial sum of money and intends on going to Canada and establishing his own farm, which he’ll likely do after a year with Campion. Daniel is a simple sort and he is entirely smitten by Rosanna. That he’ll marry her he takes nearly for granted. Rosanna isn’t simple. She has casual dalliances with a number of men, but most significantly, Campion himself has fallen for her. Daniel finds them together and shoots them both. He’s hanged.
Inscription: pasted on the front endpaper is a rather elaborate plate showing a globe and several pastoral images that reads “O, Book, which from its proper shelf, My own good friend hath helped himself. Now like a dove with wings unloosed Come back, return, fly home to roost. Alfred H. Fair”. The title page is also signed A.H. Fair.
