In which the gentle country air of Sheep's Acre farm is disturbed by the brewing discord between young Ruby Ruggles and her suitor, John Crumb, whose straightforward devotion clashes with her heart's secretive fancy. The household is awash with tension and unspoken yearnings, as old promises, pondered fortunes, and the stern voice of a grandfather intertwine with the quiet resolve of a young woman determined to follow her own path.