The appearance of Alexandra, the daughter of the well-known traveler Count Volotsky, in the social life of St. Petersburg is like an eruption of a volcano. She has no equals—not only in beauty and intelligence, but also in her ability to discourage unwanted suitors and keep arrogant social dandies at bay. Only the young Prince Adashev paid no attention to the charming young beauty. The restless Alexandra decides to punish the prince for this—and soon a new governess appears in his house: plain-looking, in an old-fashioned dress and an absurd bonnet. What will this girl become for Kirill Adashev—a real punishment from God, or, on the contrary, a gift from God?