In England in the 1890s, Colonel Chart, a widower with four children, falls in love with a charming, wealthy American widow, Mrs. Churchley, but his 27-year-old spinster daughter Adela contrives to ruin the relationship. She also turns two of the other three children against their intended stepmother and spoils the widow's plans to help Adela's brother Godfrey out of an unpleasant situation.