Its themes include social class, the role of women in society, destructive relationships, sexual awakening and the desire of its protagonist, named Charity Royall.
At the start of the novel, young Charity Royall is bored with her life in the small town of North Dormer.
She secures a job at North Dormer's library in an attempt to save up money so she can eventually leave the town and Mr. Royall's care.
The widowed Mr. Royall makes an inappropriate advance toward Charity one night that she rebuffs but it irrevocably sours their relationship.
Mr. Royall, who holds onto the idea of marrying Charity, notices the two of them growing close and immediately evicts Lucius from his house.
Charity develops fear when she sees Lucius with Annabel Balch, a local society girl, at a social event.
In the end, she writes a letter to Lucius telling him about her marriage and finally returns home to stay with her husband in North Dormer.
In a very classic style, Charity grows from an immature woman who does not understand her world or realities into an adult who can make complex and difficult decisions.
Charity is able to explore herself and "The romance of this seemingly mismatched couple ‘breaks, or stretches, many conventions of romantic love stories and in the process creates a new picture.