Anne Whatley is to wed the pedantic Francis Hughley on the morrow. Eight years ago she had been on the point of marrying Will when he was snatched away to make an honest woman of Anne Hathaway. In spite of this treatment of her Anne still suffers a sense of nostalgia whenever she thinks of the erring Will. While Francis and her mother are talking of dowries in the garden Will visits Anne. He is returning to Stratford from London with money for his wife and family, but memories of Anne have urged him to tarry on his way. Anne's mother returns with Francis and Will's father and Will hides himself behind the settle rather than face the old man before he has been home. It appears that John Shakespeare is in Mistress Whatley's debt and the latter, wanting money for her daughter's dowry, is demanding immediate payment and threatening to distrain. At the critical moment Francis suddenly offers too tempting a target for Will's riding-switch to be resisted. Will reveals himself and pays his father's debt; then, doubting that his wife will be overjoyed to see hime empty handed returns to London to earn more money.