 13-year-old Margaret Ann Brady is an orphan whose parents died when she was only 8 years old.Subsequently she was sent to live in an orphanage for girls, she lives a life of penury and dreams that her older brother, William, who lives in America, will someday earn enough money to send for her.One day, however, her fortunes take an unexpected turn for a better when a wealthy, privileged woman named Mrs. Carstairs expresses the desire for a companion for her upcoming trip to the States.