George Macdonald, the author of "Phantastes" and "Lilith," provides a somewhat different tale, here, with the story of Hector Macintosh, a young Scotsman, son of a banker, and a poet consumed by the ideal. But his verse is strictly private: "His mind would dwell much upon love and friendship in the imaginary abstract, but of neither had he had the smallest immediate experience." That is, until he meets Annie Melville, who takes service as a parlor maid in his household to help support herself and her mother. Annie is beneath his station -- but Hector is oblivious to such concerns. Under Annie's influence, he blossoms as a writer. But will he blossom into a man with the courage to let her know his feelings for her? And what might occur if he does?