Summary
The cloistered world of the Pennington sisters, Sophronia and Angelica, in their staunch Massachusetts abode, is violently disrupted by the news of their nephew Jack's alleged demise on the battlefields of France. These paragons of rigid gentility had previously disavowed Jack's marriage to Dolores, an actress, deeming her profession an unforgivable stain on their lineage. Now, Dolores, newly widowed and utterly destitute, finds solace, if not financial stability, with Gloria Grey, a struggling voice instructor whose own fortunes are rapidly declining under the pressure of mounting creditors. A lifeline appears in the form of a $5,000 inheritance from Jack's estate, yet Dolores, a woman of unyielding pride, spurns the notion of accepting what she perceives as charity. It is the more pragmatic Gloria who devises an audacious scheme: a complete identity swap. Posing as Dolores, Gloria arrives at Pennington Manor, where her quick wit and fabricated tale of a duchess godmother enchant the formidable aunts. Amidst this intricate web of deceit, an authentic romance blossoms between Gloria and Jack's brother, Steven. Their connection deepens with startling speed, culminating in a fervent marriage proposal just as Steven receives orders for naval duty. The meticulously constructed charade, however, faces its ultimate test with the sudden, miraculous return of Jack, very much alive. The ensuing chaos, marked by Jack's profound heartbreak upon discovering his "wife" poised to marry his brother, precipitates a dramatic unraveling, ultimately rectified only by the timely appearance of the true Dolores, bringing clarity and a surprisingly happy resolution to the tangled affections.
Synopsis
Spinster sisters Sophronia and Angelica Pennington of Massachusetts refuse to meet Dolores, the bride of their nephew Jack, because she formerly was an actress. After Dolores receives word that Jack died at the front in France, she moves in with Gloria Grey, who barely supports herself by giving singing lessons. Soon Gloria's money dwindles and her creditors become threatening. When Dolores learns that she will inherit $5,000 from Jack's estate, she refuses to accept it out of pride, but Gloria convinces Dolores that they should go to Pennington Manor with their identities switched. Gloria impresses the aunts when she says that her godmother is a duchess. She and Jack's brother Steven fall in love, and when he is notified to report to naval duty, he proposes that they marry immediately. They then learn that Jack is alive. When Jack finds out that his wife was about to marry his brother, he starts to leave brokenhearted, but he sees the real Dolores and matters are straightened out.
