Her visit to New York was supposed to be a special treat for Dilly. At least her sophisticated New York cousin, Elmira, planned it that way. But for Dilly, a widow of 52, all the nice parties could not make up for the fact that she was homesick for Kendal, Rhode Island, with its Quaker meetings and community projects.
She was about to return home when she met Durand, a gentle yet persuasive man. He called first on business, but he came back to give Dilly a most important gift - a view of the city through the eyes of of an imaginative guide. A new world opened to Dilly, for Durand's presence lends enchantment to every shared incident.
Dilly returns home and tries to convince herself that Durand is only a friend. She is too old for romance. Yet she cannot forget the man who sang her a nursery rhyme, shared penny chocolate bars with her and taught her to feel the excitement and delight of younger days.