An Anglican lay community on an estate attached to a convent of Anglican nuns provides the setting for some quite melodramatic happenings--suicide, a wrecked marriage, an antiquarian cause celebre-- among the small and eccentric band of idealists. A new bell is being installed when suddenly the old bell, a legendary symbol of religion and magic, is rediscovered. And then things begin to change. Meanwhile the wise old Abbess watches and prays and exercises discreet authority. And everyone, or almost everyone, hopes to be saved, whatever that may mean.