LadyLolitaVernon,daughterofthelateEarlofWalcottandVernon,hasrunaway.Herstepfather,RalphPiranisforcinghertoaccepttheattentionsandperhapsanofferofmarriagefromhisbusinesspartner,MurdockTanner,whoisveryrichbutoldandrepulsive.WhilesheistryingtocoverhertracksinLondonshebumpsintoasmallboy,Simon,whoisweepingbecausehehasbeenbeatencruellybyhisstepmother.BecauseitseemsastrangecoincidenceandbecauseLolitaisdesperatelysorryforthesmallboy,shelistenstohisstoryandagreestotakehimtohisuncle,LordSeabrook,wholivesinacastlebyLakeUllswater.Whentheyarriveatthecastle,LordSeabrookacceptsLolita’ssuggestionthatsheisemployedasSimon’sgoverness,callingherselfMrs.Bell.LordSeabrookisbeingpursuedbyLadyCressington,oneofthegreatbeautiesofLondon,andshehasstolenavaluablenecklacefromthefiancéshehasjilted.HowLolitaunwittinglystartsachainofeventswhichalertsherstepfathertoherwhereabouts,howsheattemptstorunawayagainthistimefromLordSeabrook,andeventuallyfindsthehappinesssheisseekingisalltoldinthisenchantingromancebyBARBARACARTLAND.