Born in 19th century Virginia into a large family, young Nancy Langhorne is shipped off to a New York finishing school.

Nancy meets and falls in love with Robert Gould Shaw, the debonair son of a Boston millionaire. They enjoy a whirlwind courtship in New York, but Nancy`s immaturity causes an unexpected problem.

Nancy and Robert Shaw now live on a large estate near Boston leading a grand social life, which Nancy finds increasingly shallow. With marital happiness eluding her, Nancy adopts a desperate course of action.