Rotherham, who has begun to believe that his fiance Emily would wish to end their engagement, is confronted by his young ward Gerard Monksleigh, who is in love with Emily. At first furious and contemptuous of his ward, Rotherham soon realises that they had all made a mistake and tries to make his betrothed cry off. When he has finally succeeded, however, Serena steps in and ruins all his plans. A row between guardian and ward ensues with Rotherham storming off to make sure that his engagement over.