The narrative opens at Warwick Hall garden in May, where Elizabeth Lewis, editor-in-chief of the school magazine, receives a special-delivery letter from her godmother. The letter announces a second house-party at The Locusts in Kentucky, mirroring the one held six years prior, centered around the rose wedding of Eugenia Forbes and Stuart Tremont. Lloyd Sherman, known as the Little Colonel, is chosen as maid of honor, while her friends Betty Lewis, Joyce Ware, and others prepare to act as bridesmaids. Meanwhile, in the Arizona desert, Mary Ware receives her invitation to the house-party, marking a joyful change in fortune for her family.
Mary's eagerness leads her through various comedic misadventures, including a disastrous attempt to improve her sunbrowned complexion with a magical cosmetic and a makeshift linen mask. Upon arriving in Kentucky, Mary is enchanted by the social whirl, old ancestral portraits, and the warm hospitality of the Valley. The arrival of the bridal party brings an influx of wedding gifts and preparations.
A coon hunt is organized for the guests, offering a glimpse of traditional Southern country life, followed by a series of tableaux on the lawn at The Beeches, where the dramatic representation of Elaine from Tennyson's poem nearly stalls due to a missing elocutionist but is saved by Mary's recitation. Throughout these weeks, underlying romances develop, particularly between Lloyd and Phil Tremont, who returns from the West with a turquoise token to prove his personal growth and steadfastness. The story culminates in the beautiful June wedding at The Locusts, complete with traditional cake charms, dream-cake boxes, and a celebration that marks the end of the memorable house-party and leaves the young participants stepping into their futures with renewed maturity.
