This chronicle covers just over a year in the 1960's. It alternates between the perception of Tabitha, in her early twenties, and her mother. Starting with the same spring weekend when Tabitha is at home in Sussex while Victoria Langton visits the married daughter in London, both become aware things are not quite as tranquil as they had imagined. Tabitha in Sussex starts to examine her life at home and at work, and while doing so looks back ten years - something never referred to had a profound effect, particularly on her mother. Staying near Hampstead with her married daughter, Victoria has buried this too deeply to be conscious of it, but is disturbed by new developments. By the end of the weekend, both parents start to see Tabitha as more of an adult, though there is some way to go for all of them. Over the next eventful months, Victoria faces her personal disaster, and both mother and daughter meet challenges within their family and friends.