At twenty years of age, Sally Dare, who had travelled extensively on the Continent with her father, "Dashing Dick," found herself alone in the world when he died suddenly. On her father's desk was an unfinished letter, written to some person in England, unknown to Sally, but whom her father addressed as Saint Cecelia Rainham. Thinking that this person was a lady, Sally started to England with as little delay as possible to visit her. When she discovered that this was simply a nickname for Sir Cecil Rainham her dismay was great, and became even more profound when the whole truth was known to her. Sir Cecil had been engaged to be married to her mother, and just before the time for the wedding Dashing Dick and the lady had eloped. That accounted for the life of father and daughter, on the Continent after the death of Mrs. Dare.