In Victorian England a young lady looking for a suitable husband must follow strict rule of conduct. Lizzy Doddridge, however, despite warnings from her friends and family, followed her own rules and set her cap at marrying one man in particular. Year after year, she stubbornly holds out for him at the risk of never marrying at all-which could prove disastrous since she is near penniless. The question is: will perseverance and purity of heart win out against setbacks, lesser characters and society's whims?