The arrival of a manipulative outsider threatens to dismantle the fragile, imaginative sanctuary constructed by a neglected child and his young governess. James, a six-year-old boy largely abandoned by his traveling parents, finds solace in an elaborate fantasy world shared with his seventeen-year-old governess, Gilly. Their insular existence is disrupted by Alex Ainsworth, a deceitful man whose presence introduces adult corruption into their private sphere. The narrative examines the collision between childhood innocence and the harsh realities of human selfishness. The story unfolds through a focused lens on the psychological shifts within this small domestic circle.

Readers and critics often note that this work represents a departure from the author's more traditional rural narratives. Discussion frequently centers on the stark contrast between the internal world of the child and the predatory nature of the adult characters. Many observers highlight the author's ability to maintain a sense of unease as the fantasy world begins to fracture under external pressure. The pacing is described as deliberate, allowing for a deep focus on the psychological development of the two central figures. This novel is frequently cited as a poignant, if unconventional, conclusion to the author's long career.