Kitty's Christmas tree

In Short

This moral tale follows Kitty, a young girl living in the village of Holford with her mother and cousin, as she falls under the influence of a manipulative schoolmate. Through a series of social and financial entanglements, Kitty discovers that her desire to be perceived as generous is merely a cover for a lack of personal firmness. By examining the nature of pride and the consequences of deceit, the book serves as a classic exploration of character development and the internal work required to live with genuine integrity.

The Story

Kitty Tremain is a bright, impressionable thirteen-year-old whose life in the quiet village of Holford is largely dictated by her mother’s modest, principled lifestyle. Though Kitty considers herself a sincere Christian, she suffers from a profound inability to resist the coaxing of those around her. This weakness is exploited by Fanny Daskin, a girl who masks her selfishness with flattery. Fanny repeatedly coerces Kitty into lending her money and books, and even forces her into a rebellious alliance against their teacher, Miss Oliver.

The central conflict arises when Kitty decides to host a Christmas tree party for her Sunday-school class. She has a strict budget and a plan, but Fanny, aiming to sow discord, feeds Kitty lies about a massive, secret inheritance waiting for her at age eighteen. This revelation makes Kitty’s current life of "economical" living seem shameful. Discontented, Kitty is easily manipulated into lending Fanny the money intended for the party’s presents. When the time comes to reclaim the funds, Fanny turns the tables, labeling the money a "counterfeit" and mocking Kitty for her gullibility.

The social and moral pressure pushes Kitty to a breaking point. She lies to her mother, misses church obligations, and descends into an unhappy state of self-pity and resentment. The turning point arrives when she finally confesses her deceit to her mother. Stripped of her allowance as a consequence, Kitty is forced to reckon with the reality of her own pride. She realizes that her previous "generosity" was a performative act meant to elicit admiration rather than a genuine service to others.

To salvage her Christmas project, Kitty decides to sacrifice her own cherished French picture-books, offering them to the children instead of the store-bought gifts she can no longer afford. This act of genuine self-denial marks her shift away from the "net of the flatterer." As the year concludes, the death of a distant relative brings a modest inheritance, but Kitty has already learned to value substance over luxury. Fanny Daskin disappears from the village, leaving behind a reputation of deceit, while Kitty continues to teach her Sunday-school class with newfound humility and a focus on serving her students rather than impressing them.

How It Unfolds

The net is spread The story opens with Kitty arriving home late and tearstained, having been penalized by her teacher for a mistake she was coaxed into making by classmates. Her mother, recognizing a pattern of weakness, warns her that the desire to be "generous" is no substitute for the justice of saying no.

The lure of the flatterer Fanny Daskin identifies Kitty’s susceptibility and begins to feed her ego by praising her "cleverness" and "influence." Kitty, starved for validation, ignores her mother’s warnings and allows Fanny to convince her that she is a young heiress trapped in unnecessary poverty.

The betrayal Kitty lends her Christmas party funds to Fanny, believing the promise of a quick return. When she attempts to recover the money, she is met with gaslighting and cold indifference, forcing her to realize she has been used all along.

The confession Overwhelmed by the guilt of her lies and her complicity in the school’s disorder, Kitty finally admits everything to her mother. She accepts her punishment—the loss of her allowance—and begins the difficult work of replacing her vanity with true, quiet service.

The resolution Kitty gives up her own prized possessions to ensure the children’s party is a success, demonstrating a change of heart. She finds peace in honest labor and recognizes that her previous desire to be a "pattern" of piety was merely a form of spiritual pride.

The People

Kitty Tremain is the protagonist, a girl whose intelligence is often undercut by her need for social approval. She begins as a "soft" character who cannot resist peer pressure but emerges as a girl who understands that true principle requires the courage to be misunderstood or even disliked.

Mrs. Tremain serves as the steady, firm anchor for the story. She is a mother who values discipline and honesty over appearance, and she refuses to shield her daughter from the natural consequences of her folly, believing that experience is the only way for Kitty to gain lasting strength.

Fanny Daskin acts as the antagonist and the "flatterer" of the title. She is a master of social manipulation who uses others to satisfy her own whims. She represents the seductive nature of worldly influence, ultimately disappearing when she can no longer extract value from those around her.

Cousin Tilly provides a grounding, sensible presence. She is a woman of modest means who understands the difference between true wealth and the outward display of it. She acts as a sounding board for the family, offering dry, practical insights that contrast sharply with Kitty’s dramatic, fantasy-filled internal life.

In Its Own Voice

"You are not at all aware of the seriousness of this fault, Kitty: in fact I am not sure that you consider it a fault at all."

Mrs. Tremain addresses her daughter's tendency to view her own lack of backbone as an "amiable weakness" rather than a moral failure.

"I am sure you will do so and so, Kitty—you are always so generous and kind-hearted!"

Fanny Daskin uses this calculated compliment to manipulate Kitty into acting against her own best interests.

"The human heart is deceitful above all things! We have the warrants not only of God's word, but of our own experience, for saying so."

The narrator reflects on Kitty’s sudden realization that her religious zeal was partially motivated by a desire to be seen by others.

What It's Really About

The central argument concerns the difference between the appearance of virtue and the reality of it. The book asks whether it is better to be perceived as kind and generous, or to be upright and firm, even when that firmness leads to conflict. It challenges the reader to look at their own motivations: are we acting out of a genuine desire for justice, or are we simply trying to avoid the discomfort of saying "no"? It posits that the "net of the flatterer" works only because the victim already possesses an internal desire to be flattered, making the work of self-improvement an inward, not an outward, battle.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate quiet, character-driven narratives will find a surprisingly modern psychological study in this Victorian moral tale. It captures the specific, sharp intensity of teenage social dynamics—the pressure to conform, the sting of being manipulated, and the crushing weight of small, whispered lies. The writing is clear and unadorned, reflecting the author’s background as a contributor to the Sunday-school literature movement, which often prioritized clarity and direct moral instruction.

The book does not shy away from the darker aspects of human behavior, such as the cruelty of those like Fanny Daskin, who view social relationships as transactional. While some readers may find the didactic tone of the mother-daughter exchanges a product of the 19th century, the core struggle—the battle between the need for approval and the necessity of self-respect—is timeless. It is a rewarding read for those who like to see a character genuinely change their mind, not through a grand, sweeping epiphany, but through the small, daily sacrifices of pride and the quiet, often painful, acceptance of personal responsibility. You will walk away from this book reflecting on how often you, like Kitty, have mistaken "softness" for kindness, and perhaps feeling a renewed desire for the firmer ground of plain, honest speech.