Bridie gets a job as a maid on Sir Ian of Seaton's estate & much against her better judgement & will falls in love with Sir Ian's brother's step-son also called Ian. Ian optimistically feels that his father will understand & let them marry but Bridie expects what she gets
- dismissal with Ian threatened with the loss of his inheritance. Ian then gets involved with a burglary on the estate & is killed & Bridie on hearing this deciding she can't bear to live with Ian dead goes out into the snow lies by his grave & freezes to death... The various sub-plots which flesh out this moving story make it a great Scottish women's read.