A Life's Eclipse, by George Manville Fenn.
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This is a short book by G.M. Fenn's usual standards, but you will enjoy
reading it. The hero is John Grange, a young gardener on Mrs Mostyn's
estate, who finds himself to be in love with Mary Ellis, the daughter of
the bailiff, James Ellis. But as he is no more than an under-gardener
Ellis is angry with him for even thinking of Mary.
There is an accident when John has ascended a large cedar tree that had
lost a bough in a gale, and a broken branch needed to be tidied up.
John falls from where he was sawing, onto the ground, landing on his
head. He recovers from the concussion, but is now blind.
His rival not only for Mary's hand but also for promotion to Head
Gardener when Dunton, the present Head Gardener, now very old, dies, is
Daniel Barnett, who of course gets the job. But he is a nasty man, not
very good at his work, while the blind John can do his work almost as
well as before, working by touch. Barnett plays a number of most unkind
tricks on his rival John. Eventually John disappears without trace and
rumour is rife that Daniel Barnett had made away with him, so that he
might have a clear run to Mary's hand--not that Mary is interested in
him.
There is a surprise ending to the story, of course.
All the characters are beautifully drawn, and this little book is quite
a masterpiece. It was published by the Society for the Promotion of
Christian Knowledge, and must have been within their guidelines, without
being excessively pious. Do read it--it won't take you long. NH
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