Herbert Cranshaw, a bitter elderly man, unsettles the village shopkeeper Mrs. Crispin with his daily complaints, masking a deep sadness. His only friend, Jim Clegg, notices Herbert's unusually sour mood on the anniversary of a tragic accident that claimed Herbert's wife and daughter twenty-six years ago. The discovery of an old postcard from his lost family brings Herbert's grief to the surface, revealing the true source of his bitterness. As Jim shares Herbert's story with Mrs. Crispin, the village remains unaware of the profound sorrow Herbert has carried for decades.