In a small English town comes Robert Moore, a hereditary merchant; he wants to restore a trading company that once belonged to his family. However, he manages only to rent a cloth factory with old worn out equipment. The factory, the house where Moore settled, and a small piece of land adjacent to the factory belong to the Keeldar family. Moore is trying to remake the factory to the best of his modest means. Because of the war with Napoleon, unemployment is widely spread in the country, and the introduction of new equipment strengthens it. Moore and his factory are much hated by local workers, and one night they break the machines ordered by Moore.
Together with Robert came his elder sister Hortense, who gives lessons to seventeen-year-old Caroline Helstone, the niece of a local priest and a distant, though not blood-related, relative of the Moors. The girl's parents broke up soon after her birth. As a baby, the girl was taken away from her mother, she lived with her father, who soon died of alcoholism. Carolina was brought up by her uncle, her father's brother, Mr. Helstone.
Caroline worries about Robert and believes that he should achieve the respect of workers with kindness. The relationship between Robert and Caroline is full of mutual sympathy. The girl is in love and is waiting for recognition, but Moore behaves restrained and with respect to her.
Mr. Helstone, who lost his beloved wife early and who never married again, is skeptical about marriage. He believes that all marriages are unhappy, and it is better for a woman to be alone, not knowing that his niece dreams of marrying Robert.
Moore wants to bring to justice those who broke the equipment, but Carolina cautions him: people here are vindictive and can take revenge.
A delegation of factory workers comes to Moore with a demand not to put new machines and not to fire people. Moore refuses: progress is inevitable. He knows that the head of the delegation was among those who attacked the van with equipment, and promotes his arrest. One of the delegates, William Farren, asks to understand the workers, because they are begging and with the introduction of new machines they will be simply on the street. Moore is adamant: if he does not introduce new equipment, he will fall behind his competitors and go bankrupt.
Moore visits a local landowner, Mr. York, a man who is not rich, but influential. Moore asks York to find a suitable job for Farren. After hesitating, York agrees to take Farren as a gardener.
Moore is worried about his financial situation. York offers him to marry a girl with a dowry, but Moore does not want to hear about marriage.
In Europe the war with Bonaparte is expected, and Helstone and Moore have different views on the situation. Guessing about Caroline's feelings, Helstone forbids his niece to visit the Moores, who he considers Jacobins, and the girl only occasionally meets Robert in the church. Caroline guesses that his thoughts and interests are not reachable to her understanding. Seeing that Robert is not looking for meetings with her, Carolina is inclined to think that he does not like her, and she has to remain an old maid.
The girl helps unmarried women living in the district with charity. Helping the needy does not save her from suffering, and she decides to become a governess to leave these places. Uncle does not agree, he persuades his niece to have more fun.
To her estate returns Shirley Kildar, an independent brave girl with a man's character. Together with her comes her governess Mrs. Pryor. Shirley is interested in her tenant Robert Moore. Mr. Helstone responds in an impartial manner about him, Caroline on the contrary considers Moore a noble man.
Despite the difference in character and position in society, between Shirley and Carolina friendship is fastened, both girls have the same views and tastes. In their conversations, they often and favorably mention Moore. Mrs. Pryor also tries to communicate more with Caroline.
Once Caroline sees Shirley walking with Moore. He tells the girl that the court sentenced those who smashed his equipment to penal servitude, and now he is afraid of revenge. Shirley offers him her help and advises to attract Mr. Helstone to his side, promising to help.
More and more suffering from love and jealousy, Caroline again thinks about the work of the governess. Shirley and Mrs. Pryor try to dissuade her. Shirley gets sad from the mere thought of parting with Carolina, and she invites her to go on a trip together.
The conversation of the girls in Shirley's house is interrupted by the arrival of Moore. Robert says Caroline that he is sad ecause she stopped visiting their house. With Shirley, he talks about the tense situation in the district and about protection from new attacks.
In the evening, Moore escorts Caroline home. He misses their meetings and regrets that they no longer see each other. Caroline still believes that his choice is Shirley.
Shirley decides to do charity and allocates a large sum. She organizes a fund for helping the needy, and riots in the factories cease. Now in her house are arranged meetings, which Carolina also visits.
The Foundation made it easier for the needy. Shirley believes that now trade should come alive, but Moore does not share her views. While the factory works in the calculation for the future, and its cloth lies in the warehouse.
At the Feast of the Trinity, Caroline meets Robert and Hortense. She notices that her uncle and Robert shake hands, and hopes that they will reconcile.
William Farren's affairs have gone much better since he started working as a gardener at Mr. York. Farren, not knowing what exactly Moore contributed to this, hates Robert and wants him ruined.
Mr. Helstone after the holiday goes to spend the night with a friend and asks Shirley to spend the night in his house. At night, the girls hear a detachment approaching the house with the intention of killing the priest, but then, having decided not to touch him, it left. The girls decide to warn Moore about the danger. Caroline is eager for Robert, but Shirley stops her: he does not need to interfere now, Caroline's love will not inspire him to do the deeds, his beloved is the factory.
The armed rebels break into the factory. Moore, knowing about the attack, gives a rebuff, and the attackers retreat.
Shirley sends food and medicine to the factory to support the defenders. Mr. Helstone admires Moore's steadfastness and courage during the riot. Mr. York believes that Robert himself is to blame for what happened. He had to behave with the workers from the very beginning more harshly. Shirley warmly defends Moore. To keep her silent, Mr. York asks the girl when her wedding with Moore takes place.
Mrs. Pryor invites Carolina for a walk. Sympathizing with the girl, Mrs. Pryor tries to persuade her to give up the idea of working as a governess, telling her about her bitter experience. Mrs. Pryor understands Caroline's desire to marry a loved one, but warns her that love, even mutual, is very bitter. Mrs. Pryor thinks that Shirley will soon be married. She wants Caroline to move to live with her after that. She is even ready to leave the girl everything she has.
Moore traces the rebel leaders and repairs the factory. Shirley decides to leave with Caroline for the trip, but expectedly her relatives come, the Simpsons family. Caroline does not dare to show up in front of Shirley’s family and more and more is locked in herself, pondering over the lonely life of an old maid.
Unexpectedly Hortense invites Carolina to a cup of tea. Robert is not at home, but Mr. Yorke's wife and children are there. Mrs. York does not miss the opportunity to sarcast young girls who charm friends to get their husbands for their brothers. In the evening, when Carolina is about to leave, Robert appears with his younger brother Louis, who serves as a tutor at the Simpsons.
After a visit to the Moores Caroline falls ill. She is unconsciously calling Robert, but he left on business. Near the girl there is always Mrs. Pryor. Unable to withstand, the woman confesses to Caroline that she is her own mother. Having left her husband, handsome but cruel, she was frightened that her daughter, an exact copy of her father, would be the same. To forget everything connected with the unsuccessful marriage, she took the mother's maiden name, Pryor.
Thanks to the mother's care the girl quickly recovers. Shirley at this time travels with the Simpsons family. Returning, she immediately visits her friend. Both girls are interested in Louis Moore, who once gave lessons to Shirley. Caroline, sympathizing that Louis has to work as a tutor, does not understand why Shirley is cold and irritable. But soon after seeing her friend in Louis's society, Caroline notices how Shirley is sociable with him, cheerful and does not want to leave him.
Mr. Simpson finds Shirley best party, but she will not hear of the marriage, considering the groom vulgar libertine, low and vulgar man. Mr. Simpson proposes new candidates, but again receives a strong refusal.
To the Shirley comes the baron Sir Philip Nunnley, whom she met while traveling. The surrounding people are waiting for the imminent wedding, Mr. York tells Louis that his brother is just a fool - engaged in a factory, missed a profitable lot.
Louis Moore falls ill with a fever, and Shirley, forgetting all the things, comes to him, but the patient asks to leave him along.
After the recovery of Louis Shirley behaves a little strange. She looks worse than usual, and makes strange walks. From his pupil, young Henry Simpson, Louis learns that Shirley made a will. Henry, who adores Shirley, believes that she is mortally sick - she has grown too thin and pale. An excited Louis summons Shirley to a conversation, and the girl confesses that she was bitten by a neighbor mad dog. Without saying anything to anyone, Shirley burned the wound with an iron. The girl asks Louis not to give her out, and the young man promises to help. Shirley and Louis hint at each other's mutual sympathy, which began at the time when Louis was teaching Shirley.
Left alone, Louis confesses that he likes Shirley, but they are shared by her wealth and position in society.
Catching the instigators of the mutiny and betraying them to the court, Robert Moore returns home. Admiring his act, Mr. York says that Shirley will soon be married, indignant that Robert has missed her. Moore admits that he used to believe that Shirley was in love with him. He had the idea to marry her to fix his financial situation, but Shirley scornfully rejected his offer, knowing that he did not love her, and she was not in love with him at all. Now he can not even think about his personal life, because he is in debt.
Sir Philip invites Simpsons and Shirley to dinner. Mr. Simpson expects Sir Philip to offer Shirley his hand and heart, but after some time learns that the estate of Sir Philip is boarded up, and he himself and his family have left. Mr. Simpson asks Shirley for an answer and finds out that the girl refused the baronet. Enraged, Mr. Simpson reproaches the girl: how many grooms she already refused, the whole district gossips about her relationship with the "merchant" Robert Moore. Shirley is adamant: she will marry only the one she loves.
Louis hears the scandal between the uncle and his niece. He tells Shirley that Mr. Simpson wants to leave immediately. He also reports that Robert was shot and his brother is seriously wounded.
Mr. York brings wounded Robert to his house. The attending physician puts a nurse to the patient, who does not allow anyone except Hortensia.
From Martin, the son of Mr. York, Caroline learns that Robert is dying. They agree to meet secretly, so that Caroline could learn about the condition of the patient.
Once, hoping for a gift, Martin stealthily conducts Carolina to Robert. Pleased Robert admits that all this time was waiting for her. Soon he recovered and returned home, immediately sending for Caroline. Robert wants to know from the girl, whether her friend Shirley is in love with someone. After hints that Moore does not understand, Carolina whispers in his ear the mystery of a friend, which causes Robert to be surprised.
Having been detained for several months, Mr. Simpson still decides to leave. Before Louis leaves, Shirley confesses in love, understanding the difference between them, but Shirley rejects all the differences. She loves Louis and wants to live life next to him. Mr. Simpson is furious at the choice of Shirley, but he is ordered to go home.
Shirley decides that Caroline will be her girlfriend at her wedding, but Robert declares his love to Caroline. His issues started to be better and he could marry.
Soon two weddings are played in one church, and after a while a new factory appears on the site of the old one.
