Meg hasn't had a good start in life. Berated by her mum at every opportunity she runs off and marries an ex-boozer, though not long after moving away he starts drinking again which after a short period leaves her a motherless widow. She then loses her daughter and is distraught. Wandering the moors with no thought for herself she is spotted by Toby, also from a poor background but who was the bastard son of a rich man, who left him a tumbling inn on his deathbed. But Toby is determined to win the locals round and make the inn into something. He takes pity on Meg and together they help others and start giving the inn a name. The only thorn in their side is the local horrid mill owner who has no concern for his workers and whose workers often escape and leave via a respite period at the inn.