02205cam a22003013u 4500 24587 UtSlPG 20260610133549.0 m cr n 260607r2008||||utu|||||o|||||||||||||| d UtSlPG en iso639-1 PR Cholmondeley, Mary, 1859-1925 The Lowest Rung : Together with The Hand on the Latch, St. Luke's Summer and The Understudy Salt Lake City, UT : Project Gutenberg, 2008 1 online resource : multiple file formats text txt rdacontent computer c rdamedia online resource cr rdacarrier Release date is 2008-02-12 E-text prepared by Louise Pryor, Jacqueline Jeremy, and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team "The Lowest Rung" by Mary Cholmondeley is a fictional narrative written during the early 20th century. The work explores themes of social class and human connection through the experiences of an unnamed female protagonist who unexpectedly becomes entangled with a woman, suspected to be an escaped convict. The opening sets the stage for a poignant exploration of kindness, assumptions about morality, and the complexities of personal identity." "At the start of the story, the protagonist, a sensitive and artistic woman, is compelled to venture outdoors amidst a storm, seeking inspiration for her writing. During this excursion, she encounters a mysterious figure who reveals herself to be a fugitive in tattered clothing. Despite her initial fears and societal judgment, the protagonist chooses empathy and offers refuge to this woman, signifying her moral conflict between societal norms and her desire to help. This chance meeting leads to an intimate dialogue where the fugitive recounts her tragic past, highlighting struggles linked to addiction and exile, ultimately allowing for a deeper exploration of both characters' lives." (This is an automatically generated summary.) Original publication data not identified Short stories, English https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/24587 65588 65588