"Honour and Humility" captures the distinction of early nineteenth-century life among English gentry obsessed with profitable marriages. It is an amusing story of romantic adventures, intrigues and family misfortunes-- with Elizabeth and Jane attempting to cling to happiness in a tightly structured society. Having secured virtuous gentlemen of substantial wealth, they must endure the antics of an appalling and embarrassing mother, a condescending, clumsy, dimwitted cousin, two rude and arrogant sisters-in-law and a sister who has made a very bad marriage to a ruthless, self-serving man of little means. They live in constant fear their two younger unmarried sisters might do something foolish to disgrace the family.
        Although Elizabeth has found happiness, she must deal with her husband's unforgiving, despondent aunt. Elizabeth's constant failure to comprehend her honourable husband's character leads her to desperately seek to know and recognize his true significance, but amidst the shared love and passion, such understanding most always eludes her.
        Jane labours to keep a close watch on her disapproving, snobbish sisters-in-law as she further suffers her own personal loss, feeling lonely and abandoned.
        Their husbands struggle for acceptance from shallow relatives who believe they have both made imprudent choices and seek to destroy their unions.