Little Eyebright and her pund o' care

In a modest Victorian household, Mrs. Landor is beset by endless worries—her husband’s lingering illness, the looming influenza season, and the mounting costs of keeping the house running. She juggles the complaints of a cook yearning for marriage, a maid with a bad finger, and a constant stream of chores that leave her feeling perpetually on edge. Amid this strain, her daughter Euphrasia, recently finished with formal schooling, is expected to shoulder more responsibility, yet her reserved nature and brief replies only add to her mother’s frustration.

When a former schoolmate, Letitia Johnston, arrives with an invitation for Euphrasia to visit her family, the prospect of a short journey becomes a focal point of tension. Mrs. Landor wrestles with the idea of letting her daughter leave the home just as she hopes for an extra pair of hands, while Euphrasia herself begins to weigh the pull of duty against the allure of a broader world. The first act sets the stage for a gentle exploration of familial obligation, quiet courage, and the small, everyday acts of care that bind a family together.