One of Elizabeth Taylor's most ambitious novels exploring the invisible ties between children and parents. Now that her school days were over, time went slowly for Cressy. She had grown up in a world of women, presided over by her eccentric, artistic grandfather. But the wholesome values of her home life prove too restricting for Cressy and she rebels in search of more ephemeral pleasures. Taking a job at an antiques shop, she meets David, a self-satisfied journalist, also looking to fly the family nest. But as Cressy cannot fend for herself and David is securely tied to his mother's apron strings, this act of escape for both of them proves a powerful form of bondage.