Anne Bronte

summary

Agnes Grey, a clergyman’s daughter, becomes a governess to help her family and endures difficult households, ungrateful pupils, and social humiliation.
These experiences refine her principles about education and duty and bring her into contact with the kindly curate Edward Weston.
After a period of family loss and setting up a small school with her mother, she marries Weston and attains modest domestic stability.

summary

Markham warns Lawrence, hears of Helen Huntingdon’s self‑sacrificing return to nurse her estranged, dying husband, reads her letters about the relapse and death, and endures jealousy and delays while Lawrence secretly courts and marries Esther.
Urged by rumor he hastens to Grassdale, learns the truth, meets Helen face to face, they renew their affection with prudence (postponing marriage a year), and ultimately marry and live happily at Staningley.