In the serene New England countryside, a young girl named Esther grapples with the loneliness of her motherless existence, living with her stern father and two aloof servants. Her world begins to brighten when a neighbor enters her life, offering companionship and igniting her thirst for knowledge. However, when his parents whisk him away to college and then to university in England, Esther is left in a void once more. As she navigates the complexities of growing up, where will she seek the comfort and joy she so desperately craves? - Summary by HannahMary