In a small English town, about 1805, young, pretty Phoebe Throssel lives with her older spinster sister, Susan. Both are excited because Valentine Brown, the dashing town physician, is about to pay a visit. Phoebe is in love and Susan is sure that he is about to propose marriage to Phoebe.
But, alas, he has come only to announce that he has enlisted in the Army to help fight Napoleon. This convinces Phoebe that he never loved her, and she vows to join Susan in spinsterhood. On top of that, he has given them financial advice that goes wrong. The sisters are too proud to tell him that they have lost most of their savings.
Ten years pass.
To make ends meet Phoebe and Susan have started a school in their home, and indeed Phoebe now looks very much the spinster. So much so that when Valentine, newly returned from the war, comes to call, he doesn't recognize her at first.
After he leaves, Phoebe angrily dresses up in the wedding dress that Susan gave her so long ago. She lets down her ringlets, looking as young and beautiful as ever. When Valentine unexpectedly returns with invitations to the Victory Ball that evening, he discovers her in this guise, but again doesn't recognize her as Phoebe. Impulsively, she pretends to be her niece, Livvy. Phoebe decides to play on his mistake to get revenge on him for leaving her all those years before. "Livvy" accepts Valentine's invitation, leaving Susan aghast.
At the ball, Phoebe (as Livvy) flirts outrageously, determined to humiliate Valentine. She captures all the men's hearts, but the women, who have never heard of this "niece," are puzzled, angry, jealous and suspicious; the gossip flies. And when Valentine declares Miss Livvy's behavior has made him realize how much he loves Phoebe, new complications occur. Livvy must be got rid of!
Eventually, all ends happily. Valentine soon learns the truth of Phoebe's deception and plays along, cleverly helping to dispose of Miss Livvy and finally propose to Phoebe. Everything is assisted by Patty, the maid, her Recruiting Sergeant beau, the neighbors: Mary, Fanny and Henrietta, and two Army Officers.