Borrowed feathers by Ruth Lamb
Borrowed feathers by Ruth Lamb is a short domestic romance and moral tale written in the late 19th century. It follows a young woman navigating genteel poverty and social pretenses, showing how modesty and integrity—rather than borrowed show—lead to true happiness and love. Annette “Nettie” Clifford is left managing a shabby but genteel home while her status‑conscious mother and elder sister holiday at the seaside with the family’s best maid. With only
an inept servant for help, Nettie keeps the household going until her affectionate godmother, Mrs. Worsley, arrives, equips her discreetly with a proper wardrobe, and carries her off for a visit to Broadlands once Nettie’s brothers depart for their own trip. There, among relatives and friends, Nettie meets Arthur Boyd, who has long cared for her. A misunderstanding flares at a garden party when Arthur sees a diamond on Nettie’s “engaged” finger—actually a loaned ring from her godmother—leading him to fear she is promised elsewhere. The mistake is quickly cleared when Nettie returns the ring, prompting Arthur to declare his love; she accepts, and their families rejoice. Nettie’s honest nature, unspoiled by her mother’s love of appearances, proves the true ornament, and she resolves never again to appear in “borrowed feathers.” (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Lamb, Ruth, 1829-1916 |
|---|---|
| Title | Borrowed feathers |
| Original Publication | London: The Leisure Hour Office, 1886. |
| Series Title | Produced from The girl's own annual illustrated, vol. VII. 1886, "Lily leaves" extra summer number. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PZ: Language and Literatures: Juvenile belles lettres |
| Subject | Short stories |
| Subject | Love stories |
| Subject | Young women -- Juvenile fiction |
| Subject | Rings -- Juvenile fiction |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 78051 |
| Release Date | Feb 26, 2026 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 5088 downloads in the last 30 days. |
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