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The story begins with a lengthy description of its main characters. Mrs. Freeman is a woman employed by Mrs. Hopewell to run the daily operations of her farm. She is direct to a fault, saying what she wants to say and never admitting her mistakes. Mrs. Hopewell tries to see the good in everyone and everything. She’s also very concerned about social standing and good manners. These two women begin each day over breakfast, discussing the weather, the farm’s business, and their families.
Mrs. Hopewell’s only family is Joy, her daughter. Joy is a large, unmarried blonde woman with a prosthetic leg and a surly attitude. Although Joy is thirty-two years old and well-educated, her mother still treats her like a child.
After discussing the weather, the older women’s conversation usually turns to Mrs. Freeman’s two daughters, Glynese and Carramae, whom Joy resents. Eighteen-year-old Glynese has many male admirers, and fifteen-year-old Carramae is already married and pregnant. To Mrs. Hopewell, Glynese and Carramae are two of the finest girls she knows, and Mrs. Freeman is a true lady.
Mr. and Mrs. Freeman have worked for Mrs. Hopewell for four years. Before hiring them, Mrs. Hopewell had sought a reference from the man for whom the Freemans had previously worked. He called Mr. Freeman a “good farmer” and Mrs. Freeman “the nosiest woman ever to walk the earth.” Because there were no other applicants, Mrs. Hopewell hired them, despite the poor reference. She has kept the couple on so long because the Freemans are, in her estimation, not trash. Instead, they are “good country people.”
Mrs. Hopewell’s three favorite sayings are “nothing is perfect,” “that is life,” and “other people have their opinions too.” She puts up with Mrs. Freeman’s idiosyncrasies because “nothing is perfect” and because it is best to hang onto good country people. Mrs. Hopewell has dealt with people she considers trash in the past, including her past tenants and, perhaps, her ex-husband.
Mrs. Hopewell attributes Joy’s bad attitude to the loss of her leg, which happened during a hunting accident when Joy was ten years old. While Joy was away at college, she legally changed her name to Hulga. Mrs. Hopewell thinks Hulga is an ugly name and believes her child made the change to spite her. So, she continues to call her daughter Joy, refusing to use her chosen name.
Hulga tolerates Mrs. Freeman because she saves her from having to take walks with her mother. Mrs. Freeman does call her Hulga when her mother is not present, but it annoys her. Hulga’s wooden leg fascinates Mrs. Freeman, who is fond of diseases and deformities.
Mrs. Hopewell thinks that Hulga would be more attractive if she would only take care of herself, smile more, and focus on the good things in life. She regrets sending her to college. Hulga would likely still be at college teaching if it were not for her other disability, a weak heart. She is not expected to live longer than forty-five years. Mrs. Hopewell thinks Hulga is odd for reading all day and not enjoying the things that she thinks normal young women like, especially nice young men.
