Stella, a small town girl, marries socialite Stephen Dallas, a man with whom she has nothing in common. The whole thing is a failure; after the birth of their daughter, Laurel, the Dallases separate, and Stephen returns to New York. As Laurel grows into a young woman, Stella realizes that she can?t provide for her properly and sends her to live with Stephen and his new family. Laurel later marries a pleasant upper class boy as Stella stands in the rain, watching the ceremony through a window.