Rena's experiment

In Short

Set in the quiet, tradition-bound landscapes of New England, this domestic drama follows two cousins, Rena and Irene, who swap identities to manipulate a potential suitor, Reginald Travers, and claim a legacy left by the late Sandy McPherson. As the masquerade proceeds, the artifice of their "experiment" clashes with reality, challenging their vanity and forcing them to confront the true nature of love and wealth. It is a quintessential turn-of-the-century tale of manners, deception, and the eventual triumph of sincerity over calculated schemes.

The Story

The narrative begins in the rural town of Oakfield, where the local atmosphere is steeped in folklore and the memory of a tragic death at "Nannie’s Well." The central conflict is set in motion by the death of Sandy McPherson, an eccentric ninety-year-old who leaves a will tethered to the appearance of a girl he once admired—a girl whose portrait now haunts the halls of his estate. Rena, a spirited and clever young woman, discovers that she is the intended beneficiary of this legacy. However, seeking to avoid the scrutiny of a formal courtship and desiring to test the character of Reginald Travers—a Princeton graduate and potential heir—Rena convinces her taller, more composed cousin, Irene, to trade places. They arrive in Oakfield, where Irene plays the role of the grand "Miss Burdick," while Rena remains in the background as a humble poor relation.

The ruse works initially, as Reginald, a shy and somewhat awkward man, is drawn to Irene’s outward grace. Yet, the experiment is fraught with tension. Reginald suffers from mysterious bouts of illness, which he attributes to the oppressive summer heat and the psychological burden of the will. As he spends time with the cousins, his initial attraction to Irene begins to falter under the weight of her affectations. Meanwhile, Rena finds herself falling for Tom Giles, a friend of Reginald’s who is privy to the scheme and serves as a reluctant accomplice. The tension reaches a breaking point during a swimming accident, where Reginald discovers that Irene wears false hair—a trivial but symbolic crack in the veneer of her perfection.

As Reginald’s health declines and he becomes increasingly haunted by the image of the portrait and the well, he decides to "propose" to Irene, not out of passion, but as a duty to fulfill the terms of the will and secure his inheritance. Rena, unable to bear the weight of the deception any longer, reveals her true identity to Reginald in his sickroom. The confession acts as a catalyst for a series of realizations. Reginald, now liberated from the pressure of the masquerade, reveals his own capacity for agency. He confirms that he intends to claim the inheritance, but instead of using it for his own gain, he chooses to distribute the wealth to secure a future for Rena and Tom. Though Rena initially resists the gift, she eventually accepts the role of a sisterly beneficiary, finding peace in a resolution that discards the artifice of the "experiment" for a stable, albeit unconventional, future.

How It Unfolds

The charm of the well Lottie Parks engages in a rural superstition at a local well, setting a tone of mystery that mirrors the town’s obsession with its past. This atmosphere of tradition and folklore provides the backdrop for the arrival of the two cousins.

The masquerade begins Rena orchestrates the identity swap, determined to outsmart Reginald Travers and the expectations of her aunt. She positions Irene to take the lead, mistakenly believing that her cousin’s beauty and poise will effortlessly secure their desired outcome.

The call of the suitor Reginald and Tom call upon the cousins, marking the first real interaction between the deceivers and the deceived. Reginald is immediately struck by Irene’s appearance, yet his awkwardness reveals a man ill-equipped for the social games Rena has initiated.

The unraveling of artifice Tensions rise as Irene’s "fine-lady" affectations grate on those around her and the incident at the swimming hole exposes her physical falsity. Reginald’s mental health begins to fray, linking his internal crisis to the external pressure of the McPherson will.

The final confession Rena breaks her silence, entering the sickroom to confess the truth to a vulnerable Reginald. This act of honesty shatters the pretense of the experiment and forces all parties to stop acting and start living.

The resolution of the legacy Reginald turns the tables by asserting his own independence, using the inheritance to act as a benefactor rather than a pawn. He secures a comfortable life for Rena and Tom, effectively ending the experiment while maintaining his own integrity.

The People

Rena is the architect of the scheme, driven by a mixture of curiosity, pride, and a stubborn desire to control her own fate. She begins as a "stubborn little mule" but grows into a woman who values truth over the success of her own plots. Irene represents the outward perfection that the society of the time prizes, yet she lacks the depth of her cousin. Her role as a "tool" for the masquerade eventually leaves her exposed and ultimately less significant in the eyes of those who value substance. Reginald Travers is the central figure of the "experiment," appearing initially as a dull, shy man who is easily manipulated. Through his illness and eventual reclamation of his own will, he transforms from a passive observer into an active, generous force who controls the final outcome. Tom Giles functions as the moral tether; he is caught between his love for Rena and his loyalty to his friend, ultimately serving as the bridge between the deception and the truth.

In Its Own Voice

"I am going to change places with Irene. Aunt Mary has heard that Mr. Travers is to visit Colin McPherson in Oakfield, if he is not there now—going, perhaps, to spy out the goodly inheritance which may be his, and I mean to go there too!"

Rena describes the genesis of her plan to her cousin, Tom, in a letter that reveals her calculated intent.

"I have come to tell you something dreadful and ask your forgiveness. I am not what you think I am, I am the girl Sandy McPherson saw on the beach and the one mentioned in his will."

Rena confesses her identity to Reginald in his sickroom, finally dropping the mask she spent the summer perfecting.

What It's Really About

At its core, the book explores the tension between inherited expectations and individual agency. The "experiment" is a critique of the performative nature of social courtship, where wealth and beauty often mask a lack of genuine connection. The author posits that truth, however uncomfortable, is the only foundation upon which a real life can be built. By linking the inheritance to a physical portrait, the book suggests that people are often valued for how they fit into a pre-existing mold, and the characters’ eventual triumph lies in their ability to shatter that mold and define their own worth outside the constraints of the will.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the classic domestic fiction of the late nineteenth century will find much to admire in this work. It captures the specific, slightly claustrophobic social rituals of New England village life with sharp, observant prose. The dialogue, occasionally colored by regional dialect and the formal manners of the era, provides a window into a world where a letter or a dinner party could be a monumental event.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the pacing, which reflects the slower, more deliberate storytelling style of the period. The characters’ obsession with social standing, their reliance on "charms" and superstitions, and the sometimes rigid gender roles may feel distant, even alien, to contemporary sensibilities. Yet, the central struggle—the fear of being seen as a "fraud" while desperately wanting to be understood—is timeless. The book’s value lies not in its plot twists, but in the way it reveals the messy, human heart hidden beneath the polite surface of social maneuvering. If you are interested in a story that examines the folly of trying to "act" your way into a happy ending, you will find this an engaging, if occasionally demanding, read.