Synopsis

Teresa and David, two young history fanatics, have been copying inscriptions from gravestones at the local Church. At a later meeting of the school history society, Teresa happens to mention that she has in her house an old piece of embroidered cloth signed by an Abigail Parkes, and David immediately connects the name with one he had seen on a grave. They are further intrigued by a part of the inscription that states Abigail died 'Innocent of All Harm'. Together they set out to discover what happened to Abigail Parkes and why she died so young. Teresa discovers that she is a blood relative of Abigail and, as the story progresses, she seems to become almost possessed by the dead girl's spirit. It's a somewhat tragic tale, depicting Abigail as a girl ruined by the death of her beloved in a mining accident. The poor girl swears after his death that she will wear his ring always but accidentally drops it into a canal. Distraught at the loss she attempts to retrieve the ring but drowns in the process. The coroner incorrectly recorded a verdict of suicide, in those days a sin, and Teresa and David must prove the death was accidental and so free Abigail's troubled spirit.