A satirical social novel traces the fortunes of the Starbuck family and Arthur Holyoke as they navigate ambition, romance, and the rituals of upscale New York life. Scenes range from business and financial dealings to domestic episodes and elaborate entertainments, presented in witty set pieces that expose vanity and pretension. Interwoven vignettes and character portraits alternate comic incident with quieter reflection, examining how personal desires and social expectations shape choices and relationships. The narrative brings multiple threads together while offering a sardonic yet occasionally sympathetic meditation on success, social ambition, and the costs and consolations of early achievements.