Clarissa Schuhmeister is sent away for a convent education - in accordance with the tradition of the time - by her widowed father. While observing his daughter's progress from afar he is successfully promoted to the rank of general - but is then suspended from duty when his more thoughtful attitude to military matters jars with the tub-thumping jingoism of his time. General Schuhmeister, who has never been able to give expression to his inmost feelings, becomes increasingly withdrawn - while Clarissa, who has learnt discipline and obedience, takes on a job as assistant to the neurologist Dr. Silberstein. Very soon she becomes indispensable to him, and Silberstein involves her increasingly in his research work. At a congress in Lucerne Clarissa meets the French teacher Léonard, and the two of them fall passionately in love.