Alvina Houghton, the daughter of a widowed draper in the Midlands, reaches adulthood just as her father's company begins to collapse. James Houghton buys a theatre in a futile effort to reclaim his wealth and ensure his daughter's proper upbringing. Ciccio, a sensual Italian who instantly catches Alvina's attention, is one of the travelling performers he hires. She flees to Naples with him, leaving her comfortable life behind and entering a world...