In which the young Maisie navigates the uneasy arrangements of her education and guardianship under the watchful yet imperfect care of Miss Overmore, all the while conscious of her mother’s prolonged absence and the underlying tensions it provokes. The delicate balance of propriety and affection is maintained amidst whispered grievances, social intricacies, and Maisie’s tender, burgeoning understanding of the divided worlds to which she belongs.