Beatrice is a timid, private, and restless young woman from an upper middle class Glasgow family. Her mother's death leaves her an orphan with no close relatives. In months following her mother's death, Beatrice struggles to find a new place for herself. Comes Christmas, Beatrice doesn't feel welcomed at her half-brother's family she considers snobbish, so she chooses to spend holidays with a friendly country family. Having finally found a place she can feel comfortable and be herself, Beatrice builds her confidence and makes new friends.

Anna Buchan (1877-1948) was a Scottish novelist who wrote under the pen name O. Douglas. She was the younger sister of John Buchan, the renowned statesman and author. Most of her novels were written and set between the wars and portrayed small town or village life in southern Scotland, reflecting her own life.