The young Maria Alexandrowna has just married her neighbor Sergej. However, life in the countryside increasingly bores the vivacious young woman. When Sergej finally gives in to her urging and travels with her to the capital, St. Petersburg, Maria visibly comes alive amidst the numerous balls and receptions. She no longer wants to return to the dreary estate. The turning point in her life comes when she nearly succumbs to the seductive charms of a French nobleman in Baden-Baden and arrives at a renewed appreciation for her marriage.