First published in 1924 this FBY novel is set in the fishing port of Brixham, where FBY himself began his medical career after qualifying in Birmingham. The story mainly concerns Jeffery and Nesta Kenar and their lodger Reuban Henshall and the girl he marries Ruth Parnall. The reader can't help but fear that Reuban's fate is sealed when he borrows money to buy his boat. At the same time he decides to marry, and begins to get furniture on HP and find a house. The money goes out faster than it comes in, and what does come in is generally owed. Ruth is young and inexpierenced in house keeping matters, and gets into bad habits aided and abetted by some of her neighbours. The tragedy that comes is inevitable. As with other FBY books, this novel paints a vivid and fairly awful picture of life for hard working folk, who never have much and for whom life is dreadfully hard. ( )