The Evil Genius. Wilkie Collins

Whether society should recognize a couple who, after being divorced, become reconciled, agree to forget their past difficulties and re-marry, is the question Mr. Collins tries to solve. The "evil genius "who makes all the mischief is the mother-in-law, who feels it is her duty to open her daughter's eyes to her husband's admiration for the governess. The governess' history takes up a good space in the opening chapters, and is full of interest. Her father is tried and found guilty of deliberately causing the loss of his ship in order to gain possession of a large package of diamonds. The trial, the unsuccessful attempt to find the stolen diamonds, the girl's helpless condition, and so on are all told with the detail Mr. Collins has made specially his own. There is much dramatic power shown in the narrative.