Belinda is the main character and heroine of the novel. At the beginning of the novel, Belinda is working as the private nurse and companion of a wealthy lady in Boston. The lady considers Belinda to be the daughter that she never had. Although Belinda likes Mrs. Stafford-Smyth and enjoys her life in Boston, she misses her family at home. Belinda gets an opportunity to visit her hometown when Mrs. Stafford-Smyth takes a trip to New York with a friend. Belinda wants to return to her roots, but while she is at home, she feels like she doesn't fit in with her old life any longer. When she returns to Boston and realizes how much Mrs. Stafford-Smyth missed her, Belinda realizes that she cannot leave the lady while she is still alive.
