Buell Hampton

A wealthy American matriarch dreams of securing a noble title for her family, and she sees her bright‑eyed daughter, Ethel Horton, as the perfect instrument for that ambition. While the two women chat on a lakeside veranda, Ethel’s spirited tennis match against the polished Englishman Lenox Avondale becomes a lively showcase of her vigor and charm, hinting at the social games that will shape her future.

Soon after the match, the conversation turns to the vast Southwest, where Ethel’s father plans to resume his cattle enterprises. The promise of open plains, fierce heat, and distant fortunes looms, setting the stage for a clash between refined European expectations and rugged American reality. As the characters prepare to leave the genteel resort behind, the story invites listeners into a world where ambition, love, and the untamed frontier begin to intertwine.