On the night that 1899 became 1900, 19 year old Hannah had a futuristic dream in which she meets her own granddaughter. The strangely dressed woman tells her that she will marry the headmaster, William Waverley. He was among the gentry of their small town in the Isle of Man, prestigious, important, even flamboyant, but he was older than Hannah's papa!
It was so ludicrous that at first she dismissed the idea, but little by little, over several years, her dream became a day-dream, and then a fixation, a passion, and no other man would do.
Surrounded by bitter resentment, they resolve that whatever would happen, they would face the music together.