When a handsome young man begins to court Catherine Sloper, she feels she is very lucky. She is a quiet, gentle girl, but neither beautiful nor clever; no one had ever admired her before, or come to the front parlour of her home in Washington Square to whisper soft words of love to her. But in New York in the 1840s young ladies are not free to marry where they please. Catherine must have her father's permission, and Dr Sloper is a rich man. One day Catherine will have a fortune of 30,000 dollars a year.


當一個帥氣的年輕人向Catherine Sloper示愛時，她覺得她非常地快樂。她是一個安靜，而且溫馴的女孩，但是不漂亮，也不聰明。以前，從來沒有人這樣對她，或是到她位於Washington Square的家的前廊，對她傳達愛的耳語。在1840年代的紐約，少女沒有經過允許是不能隨便結婚的，Catherine必須要有她爸爸的許可，而且她爸爸是個有錢人。有一天Catherine也會繼承每年三萬美金的財產。