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The book tells the story of Mr. Clarkson, who is left the "bequest" of his late rival's wife, Mrs. Phipps, after thirty years of unrequited love. Initially, Mr. Clarkson is unenthusiastic about the arrangement and seeks advice from his friend, Mr. Smithson, on how to avoid committing to marriage. However, when he discovers that Mrs. Phipps is likely to inherit a large sum of money, Mr. Clarkson's priorities shift, and he becomes engaged to her, fixing the wedding date and putting up the banns. This sudden change of heart is a result of Mr. Clarkson being outmaneuvered by the cunning Mr. Digson, who had been trying to win Mrs. Phipps' attention, and ultimately leads to a rift between Mr. Clarkson and his friend, Mr. Smithson. The story explores themes of love, money, and manipulation, as Mr. Clarkson navigates his complicated relationships and priorities.
The story revolves around Mr. Clarkson, who has been left the "bequest" of his late rival's wife, Mrs. Phipps, after thirty years of unrequited love. However, Mr. Clarkson is not enthusiastic about the arrangement and feels trapped by the expectations of others. He confides in his friend, Mr. Smithson, who advises him to stall and avoid committing to marriage. Meanwhile, Mrs. Phipps begins to receive attention from a widower, Mr. Digson, and Mr. Clarkson starts to hope that she might marry him instead. But when he discovers that Mrs. Phipps is likely to inherit a large sum of money from an American uncle, he quickly becomes engaged to her, fixing the wedding date and putting up the banns. This news shocks Mr. Smithson, who had been helping Mr. Clarkson avoid the marriage, and he storms out of Mr. Clarkson's house, realizing that both he and Mr. Clarkson have been outmaneuvered by the cunning Mr. Digson.