Annabella Lagrage is ten years old and living the life of luxury at Redford Hall. Unknown to her, her parents are unhappily married and their debts are threatening to ruin them. During a family row when Annabella is 17, her father reveals that her real mother is a prostitute.

Manuel and Annabella are on the run, and in love with each other. They find work in a glass factory and marry, but before the marriage is consumated, Manuel is dragged off to prison for assaulting a man who was trying to rape his new wife. Annabella turns to her mother for help, but Rosina tries to have the marriage annulled.

Annabella flees the family home and takes refuge at Amy's cottage in the woods. She is eventually tracked down by her father who is killed in the confrontation which followed. Annabella and Manuel take to the road and find work with the Fairburn family only to discover the other servant is Betty Watford, who still blames Annabella for getting the sack seven years earlier.