Escaping from captivity in North Africa, Robin Gyll, accompanied by a young, boyish, Italian waif, Bettina, and her adoptive Father, sets out to return to his home village of Little Baddow in Essex. There he falls in love with one girl after another, always overlooking the one who is truly devoted to him. Finally, Bettina, now grown and beautiful, risks everything to win his heart. This love story, set in the late 17th century, delightfully recreates the life of an English village at that time, as well as illustrating the folly of mixing religious principles with physical attraction. Originally published in 1933, this centenary edition celebrates the arrival of its author, Jesse Berridge (1874 - 1965), as Rector of the Essex village of Little Baddow in 1915. It is written in a style that reflects the interests of its author, in local history, in the religious and spiritual quest, and in telling a good yarn