Charlotte and her brother, Lad, go with their mother to live in the mountains, abandoning their father. The father is a philosopher who doesn't work, instead relying on the money his own father gives him, and keeps his nose in a book rather than speaking to his wife or children. The cabin where they are staying on the mountain is known for a man who hanged himself in the attic, though the mother tries to forget that fact. While up there, the mother gets only enough money for necessities from her father. The mother feels lonely, with almost no adult to talk to in person, and she is constantly writing letters to friends far away. Christmas is coming around, but the mother doesn't have money for presents, so she asks her husband for some. Time goes by and the husband still has not answered, so instead she invites an old lover, Herbert, to visit. Before marrying her current husband, the mother had been engaged to Herbert, but he was not as attractive or interesting as her husband. Finally, the husband sends her money, enough to buy the children presents, and she purchases a tie for him in case he visits, too. While waiting outside the grocery store, the kids see their presents early, making the mother angry and saying that they spoiled Christmas. Defeated, she returns home to see Herbert standing on their porch. After a curt exchange with the kids, Herbert speaks privately with the mother, which leads to him becoming agitated and leaving. The next day it is Christmas, and the husband shows up in time to have a typical family Christmas celebration. While there, the mother asks if he has gotten a job or is ready to be a man like other fathers and husbands, which makes him angry and he leaves too. A few days later, the mother decides to write to her husband again, wanting to work it out for her kids. Despite all his flaws, she thinks a flawed father is better than no father at all.