A young girl and her self-possessed cat come to live in the home of a seminary president, where a series of domestic episodes and neighborhood visits unfold. The narrative traces the child's attachment to light, her struggle with fear of the dark, and the gentle interventions of relatives and friends. Vignettes include gatepost adventures, a silver candlestick, a garden scene, a local snowstorm, and Christmas preparations, all revealing small acts of care, childhood curiosity, and evolving relationships with neighbors, concluding in reconciliations and a tender parting that closes the season of her stay.