Caste (1913)

Eccles a profligate old drunkard is the father of two beautiful girls Esther and Polly George DAlroy a young officer in the British Army who is infatuated with Esther brings his friend Captain Hawtree to call The captain is greatly taken with the lively Polly who makes him carry the teakettle about and generally dance attendance on her to the emphatic disgust of Sam Garridge an ardent suitor for Pollys hand Meanwhile Esther shows George a letter from an impresario offering her an engagement on the stage The offer seems a veritable godsend to the girl but she changes her mind when George asks her to be his wife instead A few months after they are married George receives the unpleasant news that he must sail for India with his regiment Owing to her ultraaristocratic ideas George has not dared to tell his mother the Marchioness DAlroy that he has married a girl of common origin and he is in a quandary as to what provision he should make for Esther