The Old Stone House

Aunt Faith spends her birthday on the quiet piazza of an old stone house that overlooks the lake, a place that has become both sanctuary and burden after a decade of caring for five orphaned children. The house, with its weather‑worn walls and surrounding garden, reflects the steadiness she craves while the memories of loss and duty linger behind every sigh.

Each of the youngsters brings a different shade to her life: Hugh, the generous yet restless young man on the cusp of a city career; Sibyl, whose flawless manners mask an icy reserve; Grace, whose youth shields her from deeper worries; Tom, whose future remains uncertain; and Bessie, the spirited, wild‑hearted girl who seems to drift without a compass. As summer unfolds, Aunt Faith wrestles with the tension between protecting these tender souls and preparing them for the paths that lie ahead, wondering whether her guidance will be enough.