A homely story in which the two well-contrasted heroines are daughters of an uncommonly mean spirited and miserly old deacon. Each girl revolts in her own way and much to the joy of the reader the deacon is left to retribution in the shape of a fourth wife who is probably "more than a match" for him. The author's well known gifts of characterization, sympathy and humor are all used to create the typical atmosphere of a new England village seventy years ago.