Marigold Lesley, grew up in Cloud of Spruce as the only child in a well-to-do farming family. Her father died before she was born, but she had a loving but "bossed" mother, steely Young Grandmother, shrewd Old Grandmother, former sailor Uncle Klondike, and former doctor Aunt Marigold who had saved Marigold's life and had hence become her namesake. These people made Marigold's life mostly pleasant and carefree, but she nonetheless had her share of childish adventures, fancies and troubles. However, childhood has to end, and then ...