The novel takes place in Australia, a country of the New World, where in the middle of the 19th century a variety of people came together in pursuit of good fortune. Each of them expects to find a large gold nugget here, which will provide him for the rest of his life. It would seem that cruelty and greed should reign in the tent cities at the mines, but their inhabitants manage to remain human under any circumstances.

The family of the main character, Emmy, also leaves London for the sake of illusory well-being. It so happens that Emmy is left alone and is forced to make her own way in life.

In her life there is only one love - the stern and unapproachable Adam, for whom she has to fight with a woman much more beautiful than herself . And in the end she wins. How could this ordinary, seemingly unremarkable girl turn from a store saleswoman into a chic, respected lady? How did she manage to outshine the beautiful Rose and defend her Adam? You will learn about this by reading Catherine Gaskin's novel.