The author builds her plot on the notion that American girls are given much more freedom than British ones, who are carefully groomed for submission. Lee meets Cecil in America and falls in love with him for both his intellect and his attractiveness, only to find that he expects her to take a subordinate, auxiliary role. Belittled by the domestic duties expected of the British wife, Lee experiences "moods" of boredom. Cecil derides her American "spoiled child" need to "be an individual", upset that she has been brought up to consider herself rather than to serve a husband. Lee finally exercises her talents after her father-in-law squanders her money, and she helps to rescue the estate.