The novel begins in a small rural town called Moonstone, Colorado, in the late 19th century.

Dr. Howard Archie visits Reverend Peter Kronborg’s house. Kronborg’s wife has just given birth to her seventh child, and their 11-year-old daughter, Thea, is sick with pneumonia. Dr. Archie administers medical help to Thea, whom he singles out for her niceness and beauty.

Kronborg appreciates his wife’s fortitude. They never lost a child, and she runs the household with a tight and loving organization, though they also allow their children a good degree of individual freedom, as long as they discharge their responsibilities. Peter Kronborg was born in a Scandinavian community in Minnesota. He speaks both English and Swedish, but in English, “a good deal of his pretentiousness was because he habitually expressed himself in a book learned language, wholly remote from anything personal, native, or homely” (8).

Dr. Archie checks in on the new baby and brings treats such as grapes to Thea. Thea makes progress over several weeks. She is intelligent and loves to read in her spare time. Thea reads English classics and is sensitive about her immigrant background. Thea also takes