This is a poignant and melancholic story that explores the lives of a group of individuals living in Lower Provins in 1827. The novel delves into the pathology of retired mercers and the dynamics of a wealthy family and their poor cousins. At the center of the story is Pierrette, a young girl who becomes the object of affection for a local boy named Jacques. As their love grows, they face various obstacles, including the jealousy of an old maid and the tyranny of Pierrette's guardians.