The plot hinges upon secrets; the novel’s milieu is that of an era and social class that, in the name of good manners, rarely allowed the truth to be expressed; and suppression coupled with a fearful secretiveness are its female narrator’s most marked characteristics.
I think this is my personal problem with the book. Even though it creates tension, I was annoyed that no one speaks openly, so a character of Favell was a breath of fresh air, however unpleasant he was.
