At the dawn of the 20th century, following their father's arrest on suspicion of betraying state secrets, the three Waterbury children—Bobbie, Phyllis and Peter—move with their mother to Yorkshire, where they find themselves involved in unexpected dramas along the railway by their new home.

Lawrence Hastings, retired prep school headmaster, has few pleasures in life. One is flying a kite, until that too is spoilt by the intrusions of an irritating small boy