An upper-middle-class household in Hampstead is thrown into domestic and social turmoil when a young woman becomes attached to a disfavored suitor, prompting stern paternal opposition and anxious family negotiations. Friends and partners try to mediate as disputes over money, religion, and reputation emerge, and courtship entanglements reveal hidden loyalties, misunderstandings, and personal secrets. The narrative moves through parlour scenes, rides and gatherings to chart the consequences of strict social expectations and parental control, blending romantic tension with elements of intrigue as characters confront the costs of obedience, pride, and social convention.