本书是英国神秘故事小说家科林斯（William Wilkie Collins 1824-1889）的第一部主要作品。故事讲的是青年画师沃尔特·哈特莱特，应聘到费尔利家当家庭教师。临去前，他月夜从乡下返回伦敦寓所，途中遇见一个全身白色穿戴的年轻妇女向他问路，看情形刚从疯人院逃出来。沃尔特帮助她躲开跟踪追来的人。

本书是全英文本，用来帮助读者提高英语水平。

Oh,walter, you father never had such a chance as this!'said my mother ,when she had read the note of terms and had handed it back to me.

'Such distinguished people to know,'remarked Sarah,