Love at All Ages

In this, the last but one of Thirkell's books, there is a certain 'drawing in'. As usual, not much happens, however most of the discussion repeatedly refers back to previous characters and events without advancing the themes. The ages of the third generation of children have by this time become so muddled that we have Lavinia Merton, age 16, joining the grown-ups for a dinner party while her cousins, 18 and 16 are practically relegated to the nursery. Having, for some time now, run out of young marriageables, Thirkell arranges for one between the Rev Oriel (another of our perennial bachelors) and Lady Gwendolyn Harcourt (sister-in-law to Edith Graham); "after a gentle attachment of some standing; it was highly improbable that they would be troubled by children". But not to worry, the budding romance between Lavinia Merton and Lord Ludo of Pomfret Tower is certain to reach a satisfactory conclusion and we are grateful, as always, that Thirkell, like Mrs Morland, continues to write 'the same book'.