Perpetua is a rich little girl, an orphan, with a guardian very much older than herself. This man is an absent-minded dreamer, unaware of his responsibility to Perpetua. The girl wants to live in her guardian's house, but instead goes to her father's half sister, Miss Majerdie, an angular spinster of 60, with a predilection for monkeys, parrots, cats and dogs. Perpetua is not happy in this antique environment, so she runs away and forces herself upon her guardian, Thaddeus. He endures her for a time and finally ships her back to his sister's. The pretty girl is pursued by several suitors whose ardor cools when she is said to be not worth a cent. And here the moody guardian steps in. He has loved the girl but her wealth has prevented him from declaring his affection for her. But now that she is poor, he doesn't hesitate to offer himself.