The novel follows a young husband's recollections of courtship, marriage, and early domestic life, tracing the couple's transition from youthful idyll to the realities of household management and social obligation. Through episodic scenes—college departure, flirtations, engagements, weddings, housewarmings, and neighborhood gatherings—it satirizes contemporary social fashions, debates about women's roles, and reformist enthusiasms while depicting family consultations, friendships, and comic mishaps. The tone balances affectionate observation with gentle moral critique, exploring how ideals, wealth, and public opinion shape private relationships and domestic decisions.