Irelynn has moved to England from Holland to stay with her uncle so that she can attend an exclusive English school and improve her studies. In addition to the expensive day school, her uncle also employs an evening tutor, Mr Kennedy, to teach Irelynn about English literature. An area in which her education to date seems sadly lacking. Even sadder however, is Irelynn's declaration that the English classics are stupid, claims to not understand them and she refuses to study. Mr Kennedy is left with no alternative but to provide the young Dutch girl with a little motivation.