William ventures to Brussels in the hope of becoming a teacher. But he quickly finds that the culture of Catholic Belgians is strikingly different to that of the Victorian English.

'A man is master of himself to a certain point ...'William ventures to Brussels in the hope of becoming a teacher. But he quickly finds that the culture of Catholic Belgians is strikingly different to that of the Victorian English. Lonely and homesick, William becomes involved with the plotting headmistress, all the while developing feelings for the shy impoverished teacher, Frances Henri.