Agnes grows up in a farmhouse at the edge of the forest. The community views the forest as dangerous; but Agnes's mother teaches her to be comfortable in the forest, and Agnes comes to love the outdoors. When her mother dies, unloving stepmother Joan treats Agnes as second-tier; and Agnes, remembering her late mother's unconditional love, vows to escape.
After marriage, Agnes lives with her husband in a small home built onto his family's larger house, which also includes her father-in-law's glove-making workshop. The house is dominated by her new in-laws: the smell of spoiled wool hangs in their new house, proof of her cruel father-in-law's corrupt business dealings. Agnes wisely realizes her husband cannot be happy in this home, and engineers a way for him to escape even though it means he will live apart from her.
After her husband attains success in London, he buys a large home for Agnes and their daughters. It is clear he will continue to spend most of his time away from them; but Agnes agrees to move to the new home. She spends most of her time outdoors in the large garden space where she plants trees and grows bees.