Edna A. Brown
The Spanish Chest
"The Spanish Chest" by Edna A. Brown is a novel likely written in the early 20th century. The story revolves around two sisters, Estelle and Edith Pearce, who are adjusting to life after the loss of their father. They have taken up the challenge of running a lodging house in Jersey, where they hope to attract pleasant visitors during the winter season. The opening of the novel introduces the Pearce sisters as they embark on their new venture. Estelle, determined to keep their small family unit intact, navigates the doubts of a kind clergyman while outlining their plans for lodging. Edith, a lively fourteen-year-old, provides comic relief and innocence, showing enthusiasm for their new life. The pair eagerly prepares for potential guests, filled with hope that they will find the right people to share their home, despite facing amusing and unexpected challenges in the process. The introduction sets a charming tone filled with sisterly bonds and the quaintness of their immediate surroundings, laying the groundwork for their adventures ahead.