Lucy Stevens works in Mme Ravelle's exclusive dress shop in Bond Street, bur her real bent is towards music; she plays sufficently well to have had an offer from a famous music teacher of free training, provided the she will leave home and live in the teacher's care. Her mother opposes this, and visit Mme Ravelle to enlist her support, which is readily given. A famous pianist visits the shop, and when Lucy confides in her, she advises the girl, to take the wonderful chance. It then transpires that the pianist is Mme Ravelle's daughter,who had met with similar opposition and had escsped by marriage, a marriage so regrettable that she left her husband and endured long privation before she could gain her end. She ha never been able toforgive her mother, and Mme Ravelle's present attititude towards Lucy renews the old resentment. The mother is lonely and anxious to win back her daughter's affection, and she sits down to write to Mrs Stevens, in order to pursuade her to allow Lucy's development.