Tom Bertram has mended his ways and settled diligently to assisting his father on the family estates When Sir Thomas dies, and the full responsibility devolves upon the new Sir Thomas, he cannot welcome it the obligations are irksome and difficult he must forego his remaining pleasures - even that of bachelorhood - and he is not equipped for a sober and domestic middle age But in spite of himself, his love life catches up on him, adding to the confusion although finally setting him free to a happiness he feels quite undeserved