The novel deals with the first years of a couple who married young, Carl’s struggle to continue and keep up with his studies while he supports a spouse, and Annie’s struggle to learn the basic housekeeping skills then expected of a wife, contribute to their income despite her job skills, and attempts to better herself through education.

The college dean, initially skeptical of his student’s youthful marriage, approves of their willingness to work and bear their hardships, and befriends them.

She audits a college writing class and tries to improve her education, and finds a job working in a dime store.

When the year is up he will help Carl enter a local law firm while Annie attends university as a special student.

[3] Smith was not pleased when she learned that the editors felt the book was much too long and cut nearly a quarter of the manuscript during the final edit.