The refined daughter of a 'good old burgher family,' Gertrude Coppard meets a rough-hewn miner at a Christmas dance and falls into a whirlwind romance characterised by physical passion. But soon after her marriage to Walter Morel, she realises the difficulties of living off his meagre salary in a rented house. The couple fight and drift apart and Walter retreats to the pub after work each day. Gradually, Mrs. Morel's affections shift to her sons beginning with the oldest, William. As a boy, Wil ...