WilliamMasters,ayoungstoichistorian,rentsalodgeforthesummerintheidyllicIrishcountrysidetofinishhisbiographyofSirIsaacNewtoninpeace.However,hesoondivertshisattentiontohislandlords,theLawlessfamily.Theywereoncewell-offlower-upperclassfamily,buttimeshavebecometoughforallofthem.Middle-agedEdwardisthefriendlyheadofthehousehold.He'sbeendrinkingheavilyasofrecently,andnotjustbecausehehasaproblemwiththestuff.HisstillveryattractivewifeCharlottehasbecomeabitofanintrovertrecentlyandspendsmostofhertimeinthenurserygarden,sincethat'stheirmainsourceofincomethesedays.TheirnieceOttilieGaringer,aprettyyoungwomanwho'sbeenlivingwiththemeversinceherparentsdiedinacaraccident,isverygladthatthere'ssomeonenewintheirlivesandjustwantstoescapethemiserablepassionlessexistencethattheirfamilylifehasbecome.