Antagonist Caleb Coffin insists that two motives sway the human race, the love of gold and the love of praise. He attributes the latter primarily to the woman, who, though she sacrifices money, time, and strength, will not sacrifice her vanity, or love of being admired. The vicar’s daughter Philomel, whose profusion of golden locks still falls on her shoulders, is on a quest to keep the village school open. But Caleb challenges her motives and exposes the secret desires that drive her works of charity.