A young girl goes to live with the Manx family on the Isle of Man near the British commonwealth. The Manx family comprises six siblings: three sisters and three brothers. Ellen, the older sister, is constantly sad but has a power called sight, which allows her to see the future. However, her sight gift isn't as powerful as the middle daughter, Enid's. Enid also has sight but she can talk with family members who have died. The girl explains that Enid descends from an unknown race of half-magic people who occupied the island long ago. Dorothea is the youngest daughter and most spoiled. She hasn't been able to get a husband, which has caused her to be flighty. The three sons also haven't been able to find a partner, and the girl says that the family will probably all be celibate. The young girl notes that the Manx children's parents died a long time ago, but Enid, with her magic powers, continues to talk to their deceased mother and father. The children enjoy talking to the mother as she is kind, but the father is highly tyrannical. However, their favorite dead person to speak to is their grandpa. The siblings also have living relatives, such as their uncle. Their uncle loves the Greek language and teaches the language to students. However, he starts to believe that his head is made of glass. The Uncle puts his head in a cupboard and teaches his classes in this position. The only way the Uncle realizes his head isn't made of glass is when they hired a medicine woman to pour water with stones on the Uncle's head. When the Uncle's head didn't shatter, he overcomes his delusions. The Manx family isolates themselves as they think there are enemies on the island, and the family usually talks about the news in Britain. The girl returns to the island three years later and discovers that Ellen and two of their brothers have died. The family has also moved to a country house in a private park, and Enid still receives visions. When the girl arrives, Enid has a vision that one of the brothers will die.