The Ashby Family: A Tale of Twins, Tragedy, and Deception

The Ashby Family

Characters

Jane and Ruth

Jane and Ruth are identical twins. Jane is elegant and modest, while Ruth is friendly and always dressed in old riding clothes.

Eleanor

Eleanor is the older sister. She is similar to Jane in character. Brat Farrar and Roger Clint are both in love with her.

Nora and Bill

Nora and Bill are the parents of the Ashby family. They die in an airplane crash, leaving their five children orphaned.

Simon and Patrick

Simon and Patrick are twins, with Patrick being born 20 minutes before Simon. Simon kills Patrick by throwing him off a cliff. He then writes a suicide note in Patrick's handwriting and places it on the cliff to make it appear that Patrick committed suicide.

Brat Farrar

Brat Farrar is a man who returns to England from the United States. He pretends to be Patrick in order to share the Ashby family fortune.

Bee

Bee is a single woman who takes care of the five Ashby children after their parents' death.

Alec

Alec is an impostor who helps Brat Farrar find someone to impersonate Patrick. He offers Brat a family and a job in a stable.

Plot

The story follows the Ashby family after the death of their parents. The twins, Jane and Ruth, are orphaned and must rely on their older sister, Eleanor, to take care of them. Eleanor is in love with Brat Farrar, but he is also interested in her sister, Jane.

Meanwhile, Simon and Patrick are feuding over their inheritance. Simon kills Patrick and frames him for suicide. Brat Farrar then arrives and pretends to be Patrick in order to claim his share of the fortune.

With the help of Alec, Brat Farrar is able to convince the Ashby family that he is Patrick. However, Simon is suspicious of Brat and eventually discovers his true identity.

A fight ensues between Simon and Brat, and Simon is killed. Brat is injured but recovers in the hospital.

In the end, the Ashby family is reunited and Brat Farrar is exposed as an impostor.