The lives of the March sisters, begun in Little Women, have moved on, The American Civil War has ended and the men have returned from the fighting.

The oldest sister, Meg, is engaged to be married to John Brooke, one-time tutor to the Marches' neighbour, Laurie Lawrence. Laurie, disappointed after being refused by the spirited and single-minded Jo, goes to Europe with his grandfather and meets up again with the youngest March sister, Amy. Meanwhile, Jo pursues a career as a writer in New York. She, too, is looking for happiness, but is drawn back to her home when she learns that her beloved sister, Beth, is dangerously ill.