Arriving at the Irish settlement of Denna Point under the protection of the Haines family and their son, Jack, after leaving their famine stricken homeland, Maggie has no option but to throw her lot in with them. Bound by the constraints of the Catholic marriage she has been forced into, she is obliged to play the dutiful wife and daughter-in-law until Fate lends a helpful hand and she is introduced to Miss Rosemary, a local dressmaker. But life was difficult then for an Irish girl who tried to fit in with the local community, being looked upon with suspicion by the wives of the quarrymen and coal miners, who were convinced that the immigrants had arrived to take away their husbands' jobs. And her onerous relationship with Jack didn't help matters. Hovering in the background is Johnny Dockerty, a sea captain, who for the moment doesn't have a major role in the story, but when Jack scarpers to America with his pregnant mistress, Johnny could possibly fill the gap in Maggie's lonely life. Or will she decide to stay with her benefactress, Miss Rosemary?