"Nothing could have been lovelier...than the vision of Raineland Lodge presented to her by imagination and memory." The ruins of an ancient priory, some lost church silver and a tale of the English Civil War are all a part of Raineland's long story. Joy Fleetwood returns to her old family home hoping it can provide refuge and can restore a way of life she knew before her days as a nurse and missionary. Perhaps too she can find once more her weakened faith and renew here her love for Tim Wenlock whom she has known from childhood and whose family and hers have long been close. But family tragedy has played its part during her absence. The deaths of her uncle in Africa and of her brother have affected her mother and grandfather who safeguard her little nephew at the old home. Secrets and personal feelings it seems, refuse to be left untouched as the story unfolds. "He did not come. It could never again be as it was."