Stephen Sorrell was a Captain in the war but like many, he has had difficulty re-establishing himself. Abandoned by his greedy wife and now solely responsible for his 13 year-old son Kit, Sorrell relocates to Staunton in April 1921 only to find that his prospective employer has died that very morning. Desperate for a job, he accepts a lowly position as the porter at the Angel Inn Hotel where the mistress of the establishment seems to take some pleasure in Sorrell's situation. The job has long hours and is hard work but his main concern is ensuring his son Kit gets a proper education.
Having accepted Thomas Roland's offer of a porter's position at a new hotel he is to open, Stephen Sorrell and son Kit relocate to Winstobury in August 1921. The hotel staff prepare for a Christmas opening of the Pelican Hotel and all prove to be dedicated to their jobs and their new employer.
When Stephen visits his son's school for sports day, he's recognized by one of the parents. His lowly position as a porter doesn't sit well with the Headmaster and Kit soon finds himself expelled. Both had hopes for Kit getting a scholarship to Cambridge so on the recommendation of a colleague, Stephen approaches the local pastor, Mr. Porteus, to act as the lad's tutor.
Kit's years at Cambridge go by all too quickly and on obtaining a first, decides to pursue his studies in medicine. His mother makes contact and he is not quite sure what to do. In the end, he decides to visit her for a weekend but it doesn't go well. He has now been studying medicine for two years and all is going well.
It's now 1934 and Kit is growing increasingly frustrated that he won't qualify as a surgeon for another two years. He soon finds however that he is held in high regard and he is promoted quickly. His old friend Maurice asks him to visit for a weekend and he decides subsequently to get in touch with Maurice's sister, Molly Pentreath, who is now a successful author. Kit pursues her relentlessly but she shows no interest in marrying him.
Kit is still vexed by Molly Pentreath's refusal to marry him. Stephen gives him some fatherly advice on women, particularly an independent-minded woman like Molly who has successfully established a career for herself. Disaster strikes however when Kit cuts himself while in the operating theatre and he develops a severe case of septicemia.
