St. Botolphs was once a thriving river port during the heyday of Massachusetts clipper fleets. Today, it survives due to a handful of small industries and an influx of summer tourists. The town has transformed into a nostalgic attraction, filled with antique shops and quaint tearooms that showcase the handcrafted relics of America's seafaring and agrarian past.

Wapshot Legacy

Leander Wapshot's residence, known as West Farm, is a cluttered testament to the family's past glories and its current uncertainties. Once prosperous, both the Wapshots and the village have seen better days. The older Wapshot men were adventurous mariners, returning to St. Botolphs with tales of exotic lands and sharpened wits from foreign trade. Their memories included encounters with beautiful island women, a romance Leander never experienced. He remains landlocked, a spiritual exile, reliant on Cousin Honora’s benevolence as he clings to the fading traditions of the Wapshot name.

Cousin Honora’s Authority

Though Leander is the nominal head of the family, the true control lies with Cousin Honora, the matriarch who manages the family's finances. She views herself and Leander as guardians of the family's legacy—Leander for fathering two sons and herself for holding the purse strings, which she plans to pass on to the boys upon their own marriages and fatherhood. While Leander lacks financial acumen, Cousin Honora dictates the family's economic course, supported by her whimsical yet firm belief in their shared mission. To occupy Leander, she purchases the Topaze, an old launch he uses for ferrying across the bay, deeming it a suitable distraction from potential mischief and a nod to his romantic inclinations. Sarah, Leander’s wife, is a pragmatic woman who accommodates her husband’s whims, tends to their sons, and energetically champions civic causes as the Women’s Club president.

The Essence of Tradition

Despite his shortcomings, Leander's appreciation for tradition and the view of life as a journey of excellence and continuity exerts a profound influence over the family. His enthusiasm for life positions him as the custodian of family rites and masculine skills, values he wishes to impart to his sons, Moses and Coverly. The boys look up to their father, and his lessons of love and wisdom resonate deeply, marking them as true heirs of the Wapshot spirit. Even as the family's fortunes hinge on their ability to prove themselves, their imaginations remain captivated by the mythical sirens of their ancestors' stories.

New Beginnings and Challenges

Rosalie's dramatic entry into the Wapshot household, following a tragic accident, lacks the romantic allure the family seeks. Her relationship with Moses is more a reflection of her despondency than passion. Her brief presence prompts Cousin Honora to urge Moses to seek his fortunes beyond St. Botolphs, in traditional Wapshot fashion.

As Moses departs, Coverly too embarks on his own ventures. Moses initially works for the government in Washington before finding his niche in a New York fiduciary firm. Coverly's path is more varied, including a failed attempt to secure a job at a carpet factory due to a dubious psychological assessment. He navigates through jobs in retail, education, and even a secretive government project in the South Pacific, ultimately landing in a rocket-launching endeavor in the West. Both brothers eventually secure their futures, Moses marrying Melissa, a penniless relative under the guardianship of another penny-pinching Wapshot cousin, Justina Wapshot Molesworth Scaddon. Despite her miserly ways, Moses tolerates her for Melissa’s sake. Coverly's fate lies with Betsey, a humble, solitary Southern woman. With both sons marrying and having children, Cousin Honora fulfills her promise, transferring her wealth to Moses and Coverly.

The Fall of Leander’s World

As fortune...