The Travelling Thirds

In Short

Gertrude Atherton’s The Travelling Thirds follows Catalina Shore, a fiercely independent Californian heiress, as she travels through Spain alongside her exasperating, highly conventional American relatives, the Lyman T. Moultons. Rebellious against the rigid social expectations of her companions, Catalina embraces the rugged beauty of the Iberian peninsula, speaking fluent Spanish and championing self-reliance. When an elegant British army officer, Captain Over, enters their orbit, a sharp romance unfolds against a backdrop of bull-fights, ancient cathedrals, and high-strung social rivalries. The novel endures as a vivid portrait of American expatriates navigating transatlantic identity, female independence, and romantic trial.

The Story

The narrative opens in Lyons before moving into Spain, where Catalina Shore finds herself utterly out of step with her wealthy, highly respectable American relatives, the Lyman T. Moultons. While Mrs. Moulton frets over decorum and her daughter Lydia engages in flirtations, Catalina resists their rigid conventions. Dressed in her ungraceful coat with her hands shoved into her pockets, Catalina is at home in the world: she speaks fluent Spanish, comfortably converses with local peasants, buys sweets at train stops, and feels an intense attachment to her vast, working cattle ranch back in California.

As the party travels third-class through Barcelona, Girona, and beyond, they meet Captain Over, a handsome, easygoing British army officer who immediately takes to Catalina’s unconventional spirit and frank intelligence. While Mr. Moulton mistakenly views Over as an ideal escort rather than a suitor, the Captain quickly becomes tangled in the group’s dynamic. He aids Catalina in steering clear of unwanted local suitors—such as the impassioned Marquis Zuñiga, who pursues Lydia—and navigating the chaos of Spanish travel.

Tensions mount when Catalina and Over are accidentally separated from the rest of the Moulton party at a remote train station, forcing them to spend a night sharing the only available room at a modest inn. Though their conduct remains honorable, the incident scandalizes Mrs. Moulton, deepening the rift between Catalina and her snobbish family. Catalina eventually severs ties with the Moultons to pursue her own itinerary through Toledo, Madrid, and Granada, while Over continues to shadow her path.

Their nascent romance faces significant testing. Over is initially torn by his own caution and the distracting presence of Edith Holmes, a brilliant, multilingual American flirt who dominates every room she enters and draws the attention of both Over and a somber European prince. Meanwhile, Catalina grapples with her pride and her distrust of romantic vulnerability, reinforced by her conversations with older, disillusioned travel companions like Mrs. Rothe.

The climax arrives in Granada amidst the ruined splendor of the Alhambra. After a night of social posturing and mounting jealousies, a dramatic nocturnal pursuit ensues down the brush-covered slopes beneath the fortress walls. Over rushes into the dark wilderness to rescue Catalina from an attacker, firing his pistol to scatter her assailant. Reunited in the shadows of the Alhambra, all hesitation dissolves, and Catalina opens her arms to Over, sealing their devotion.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins Catalina Shore stands apart from her rigid, proper relatives, the Lyman T. Moultons, as they begin their journey through Spain. While her family worries about social propriety and railway schedules, Catalina embraces the local culture, effortlessly speaking Spanish with peasants and fearlessly leaping onto moving trains.

An officer joins the party In Barcelona, the party crosses paths with Captain Over, an agreeable British officer who is instantly captivated by Catalina's unpretentious nature and sharp wit. Over becomes an informal guide for the group, helping them navigate local sights while rescuing Lydia Moulton from the aggressive attentions of a Spanish marquis.

Stranded at Albacete Due to a railway mishap, Catalina and Over are separated from the rest of the Moulton family and must spend the night at a tiny, overbooked country inn. Despite the innocence of the situation, the compromise of decorum outrages Mrs. Moulton, prompting Catalina to finally break away from her toxic relatives and travel independently.

The trial of Toledo and Madrid Rejoining and separating from various travel acquaintances, Catalina and Over explore Toledo and Madrid, where they attend a horrifying yet riveting bull-fight. As their personal connection deepens, Over directly challenges Catalina to confront her true feelings, though both hesitate to fully surrender their independent pride.

Rivalry at the Alhambra In Granada, the arrival of Edith Holmes—a calculating, polished beauty who captivates a courtly prince—threatens to drive a wedge between Catalina and Over. Catalina battles her own jealousy and self-doubt while observing the bitter romantic regrets of her older companion, Mrs. Rothe.

Resolution in the dark During a midnight commotion on the heights of the Alhambra, Over braves a dangerous, pitch-black ravine to rescue Catalina from an ambush. Overpowering the assailant with a pistol shot, he meets Catalina in the moonlight, where their mutual defenses drop and their love is affirmed.

The People

• Catalina Shore: A young, self-sufficient Californian heiress who owns a sprawling cattle ranch. Direct, energetic, and proud, she despises social hypocrisy and modern idleness, wanting only to live authentically. Over the course of the journey, she learns to open her guarded heart without sacrificing her fierce independence.
• Captain Over: A handsome, easygoing British army officer who prefers leisure to exertion. Though comfortable within his elite social instincts, his affection for Catalina challenges his conventional views on romance, forcing him to act with bravery and conviction to win her.
• Mrs. Lyman T. Moulton: Catalina’s aunt by marriage, who represents the stifling, hyper-respectable standards of wealthy turn-of-the-century Americans. Her deep-seated resentment of Catalina’s uninhibited behavior culminates in open hostility and suspicion.
• Lydia Moulton: Catalina’s pretty, coquettish younger cousin. She delights in small romantic flirtations—such as her brief entanglement with the Marquis Zuñiga—but ultimately lacks Catalina's fortitude and worldly confidence.
• Edith Holmes: A polished, highly accomplished American woman living in European pensions. Lingual and calculated, she effortlessly commands the attention of men, serving as Catalina's primary romantic rival for Captain Over's affections.
• Mrs. Rothe: A worldly, sophisticated married woman whose candid confession of marital boredom and faded passion serves as a sobering lesson to Catalina about the nature of love and independence.

In Its Own Voice

“And if ever I do get left, just remember that I speak the language and am not afraid of anything.”

Catalina flings this defiance at her anxious relatives after comfortably leaping onto a departing train, establishing her fearless, self-reliant character early in their Iberian journey.

“I believe in work, because idleness horrifies me; some primal instinct in me wars against it.”

During a quiet morning coffee over a travelling-lamp, Catalina explains her core philosophy to Captain Over, contrasting her work ethic on her California ranch with the empty leisure of upper-class Europe.

“Life would be unthinkable happiness if we loved each other—”

Captain Over discards social convention during a candid conversation in Madrid, attempting to strip away romantic posturing and confront his genuine feelings for Catalina.

What It's Really About

Beneath its scenic travelogue and romantic intrigue, The Travelling Thirds explores the clash between American democratic vitality and the rigid, artificial conventions of European class and old-money respectability. Atherton uses Catalina Shore—a child of the open California landscape—to challenge the stifling social expectations placed upon young women of the era. The novel critiques both the idle luxury of the European leisure class and the anxious, superficial propriety of upwardly mobile Americans traveling abroad. At its core, the book investigates what it means to be truly free: whether through financial independence, labor, or the courageous honesty required to build a romantic partnership on equal footing.

Why Read It Today

The Travelling Thirds offers modern readers an engaging blend of late-Victorian travel narrative and spirited romance. Gertrude Atherton's writing shines in her evocative renderings of turn-of-the-century Spain—from the fragrant acacia trees of Lyons and the bustling promenades of Barcelona to the brutal spectacle of the Toledo bull-ring and the moonlight-drenched towers of the Alhambra.

Readers who enjoy independent, non-conformist heroines will find a refreshing protagonist in Catalina Shore. Unlike many fictional heroines of her era, Catalina is unapologetically capable, financially self-aware, and indifferent to social gossip. The romance between Catalina and Captain Over develops through sharp, honest dialogue rather than sentimental melodrama.

The novel does reflect some period attitudes and racial generalizations typical of early 20th-century literature, particularly in how American tourists view local peasants and working classes. Additionally, modern readers may find the Moulton family's initial snobbery tedious. However, these elements serve as authentic historical framing for a story that ultimately celebrates self-reliance, cultural immersion, and the courage to break away from the crowd.