The beautiful and sweet Adeline, of peasant origins, marries the charming Baron Hulot d'Ervy and moves to Paris, taking with her the less graceful cousin Lisbeth, who since childhood had accumulated grudges and envy towards him. While Adeline lives in a sumptuous mansion, she is happy with her husband and has two children, Hortense and Victorin, Lisbeth lives in a poor neighborhood and is forced to work as an embroiderer.