In which the frail Sylvia, haunted by dreams of a lost love, struggles with a delicacy of health that renders her spirit distant and reserved, while her husband Philip wrestles with remorse and jealousy amid the tender and trying hours of her convalescence. Meanwhile, life at home turns restless with silent sorrows and subdued affections, even as Philip finds solace and ambition blossoming in the steady progress of his business and social standing.