The chief of its several plots centres on John Harmon who returns to England as his father s heir. He is believed drowned under suspicious circumstances – a situation convenient to his wish for anonymity until he can evaluate Bella Wilfer whom he must marry to secure his inheritance.

The story is filled with colourful characters and incidents – the faded aristocrats and parvenus gathered at the Veneering s dinner table, Betty Higden and her terror of the workhouse and the greedy plottings of Silas Wegg.