A young woman's unconventional romantic experiments reshape the lives of her family and friends.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
Academic Rebellion
Babs is expelled from boarding school for prioritizing love research over her studies. Her stern father punishes her by redirecting her trip to Boston instead of Palm Beach.
Key Events
Boarding School Expulsion — Babs is sent home for prioritizing love research over academics. Characters: Barbara “Babs” HardcastleLocation: Boarding School
Father's Punishment — Stern father redirects Babs to Boston instead of Palm Beach. Characters: Barbara “Babs” HardcastleLocation: Home
Boston Arrival — Babs stays with Aunt Emily, finding fertile ground for experiments. Characters: Barbara “Babs” Hardcastle, Aunt EmilyLocation: Boston
Academic Expectations — Academic expectations clash with Babs' interests. Characters: Barbara “Babs” HardcastleLocation: Boarding School
Bostonian Detour
Babs arrives in Boston and observes Aunt Emily's six-year engagement to Jim Winthrop. Family care duties continuously delay their wedding plans.
Key Events
Boston Arrival — Babs stays with Aunt Emily, finding fertile ground for experiments. Characters: Barbara “Babs” Hardcastle, Aunt EmilyLocation: Boston
Six-Year Engagement — Emily and Jim have been engaged for six years without a wedding. Characters: Aunt Emily, Jim WinthropLocation: Boston
Family Care Duties — Jim cares for sisters and aunt, postponing marriage indefinitely. Characters: Jim Winthrop, Aunt EmilyLocation: Boston
Sisters' Status — Unmarried sisters remain part of the family dynamic. Characters: Dorcas Winthrop, Matilda WinthropLocation: Boston
Aunt Care Duties — Elderly aunt requires Jim's attention. Characters: Aunt CorneliaLocation: Boston
Engagement Stagnation — Six years pass without a wedding date. Characters: Aunt Emily, Jim WinthropLocation: Boston
Deceptive Departure
Babs orchestrates a fake telegram to force the Bostonians to travel to Palm Beach. The group departs, surprising Babs' father and shifting the narrative location.
Key Events
Fake Telegram Scheme — Babs fabricates a message to force a trip to Palm Beach. Characters: Barbara “Babs” HardcastleLocation: Boston
Bostonians Depart — Troupe travels to Palm Beach, surprising the father. Characters: Barbara “Babs” Hardcastle, Aunt Emily, Jim WinthropLocation: Train Station
Palm Beach Experiments — Romance follows Babs' love research experiments. Characters: Barbara “Babs” Hardcastle, Aunt Emily, Jim WinthropLocation: Palm Beach
Coastal Arrival — Group arrives at the coastal resort. Characters: Barbara “Babs” Hardcastle, Aunt Emily, Jim WinthropLocation: Palm Beach
Engagement Stagnation — Six years pass without a wedding date. Characters: Aunt Emily, Jim WinthropLocation: Boston
Romantic Resolution
Love experiments unfold in Palm Beach, leading to unexpected news of Emily's marriage to a professor. The love expert applies her remedy, resolving Jim's emotional state.
Key Events
Palm Beach Experiments — Romance follows Babs' love research experiments. Characters: Barbara “Babs” Hardcastle, Aunt Emily, Jim WinthropLocation: Palm Beach
Wedding Rumors — Couple discusses marriage amidst the resort atmosphere. Characters: Aunt Emily, Jim WinthropLocation: Palm Beach
Professor's Proposal — News arrives that Emily married a college professor. Characters: Aunt EmilyLocation: Boston
Jim's Reaction — Jim remains unbothered by Emily's new marriage. Characters: Jim WinthropLocation: Palm Beach
Expert's Remedy — Babs applies her unfailing romantic remedy to Jim. Characters: Barbara “Babs” Hardcastle, Jim WinthropLocation: Palm Beach
Romantic Resolution — Experiments conclude with successful romantic outcomes. Characters: Jim Winthrop, Aunt EmilyLocation: Palm Beach
Father's Amazement — Father reacts to the unexpected Bostonian departure. Location: Home
Love Research Continues — Babs persists in her unconventional romantic studies. Characters: Barbara “Babs” HardcastleLocation: Palm Beach
Professor Identity — Emily's new spouse is identified as a college professor. Characters: Aunt EmilyLocation: Boston
Final Matchmaking — Babs' methods successfully resolve Jim's emotional state. Characters: Barbara “Babs” Hardcastle, Jim WinthropLocation: Palm Beach
Story Breakdown
Academic Rebellion — Babs faces expulsion for prioritizing love research over her studies, triggering her father's intervention.
School Expulsion — Babs is sent home for neglecting lessons.
Father's Punishment — John Hardcastle redirects her travel plans.
Bostonian Detour — Babs stays with Aunt Emily and observes the stalled engagement dynamics.
Six-Year Engagement — Emily and Jim remain formally bound.
Family Care Duties — Jim's obligations delay the wedding.
Deceptive Departure — Babs fabricates a telegram to orchestrate a group trip to the coast.
Fake Telegram Scheme — Babs creates a false message.
Palm Beach Journey — The Bostonians travel together.
Romantic Experiments — Love research continues in Palm Beach, influencing local relationships.
Love Research Continues — Babs persists in her studies.
Wedding Rumors — Marriage discussions emerge.
Unexpected Union — News of Emily's marriage to a professor disrupts the original engagement.
Professor's Proposal — Emily accepts a new marriage.
Jim's Reaction — Jim remains emotionally stable.
Expert's Remedy — Babs applies her final romantic solution to resolve lingering tensions.
Emotional Resolution — Jim's heart is healed.
Final Matchmaking — Experiments conclude successfully.
Family Dynamics — Extended family members influence the central romantic timeline.
Unmarried Sisters — Dorcas and Matilda require care.
Elderly Aunt Care — Aunt Cornelia needs attention.
Father's Perspective — John Hardcastle reacts to the unexpected family movements.
Initial Amazement — Father is surprised by the departure.
Final Acceptance — Father adjusts to the new reality.
After neglecting her studies in favor of romantic experiments, Babs Hardcastle is thrown out of boarding school. In hopes of ceasing her romance studies, Babs’s father sends her to Boston to stay with her aunt. Boston, however, proves to be the perfect place for Babs’s matchmaking. When Babs falls in love with Jim Winthrop, she learns that he must find suitable men for his two sisters, Dorcas and Matilda, and his elderly aunt Cornelia, before he can marry. Babs, determined to marry Jim, takes it upon herself to find them all husbands.
