When Gertrude Coppard, a refined young woman, meets Walter Morel, a rough coalminer, at a Christmas party dance, they feel immediately drawn to each other. After a short romance defined by physical attraction, the couple decide to marry. However, Gertrude soon realizes the financial difficulties of trying to survive off of Walter’s measly salary. These troubles quickly cause the two to fight and grow apart. Walter begins to drink the little money they have away, retreating to a bar every night. Once he becomes abusive, Gertrude becomes dedicated to ensuring that her children do not turn out like their father, and decides to reinvest her love into her two sons, William and Paul. Her oldest, William, is her favorite, and her love is reciprocated; William is only willing to be separated from her when he begins a new job in London, rising from his poor social class. When Paul, Gertrude’s youngest, suffers from pneumonia, she realizes how much she cares for him as well. Unlike William,
