The action takes place in the modern writer of Norway.
From time to time, when some kind of walk or game is started, the children of the owner of the landowner estate, which the people nicknamed the Castle - Victoria and Dietlef - invite the son of the miller's neighbor, Johannes, to keep them company. The boy is drawn to communication with peers, but every time he is hurt, that young gentlemen treat him down, in every possible way emphasizing that he is uneven. Otto, the son of a wealthy chamberlain, who often visits the estate's owners, annoys him especially. Only Victoria is friendly to him, she likes to listen to entertaining stories about trolls and giants, composed by fiction-prone Johannes. A ten-year-old girl who is four years younger than the indefatigable dreamer begs him not to marry the princess - no one will love him like she does.
Johannes leaves for the city to study and returns to his native place when he turns twenty years old. On the pier, he sees the owner of the Castle, his wife and Victoria, who greet the newcomer who arrived home on vacation with the same boat of Dietlef. Victoria does not recognize a friend of children's games. How she grew and prettier!
Not wanting to admit to himself, Johannes is looking for a meeting with Victoria. And so they collide in the forest. Both feel awkward and the conversation does not stick. The young man is discouraged: Victoria seems a stranger and distant, she coldly addresses him to you. She only pretends to be amiable, but she makes fun of him, drops arrogant words, Johannes thinks. But all the verses written by him are devoted to her alone!
Johannes and Dietlef are going to boat to the island. A girl falls into the water from the steamer, and Johannes manages to save the drowning woman, he becomes the hero of the day, everyone praises him and enthusiastically welcomes him. He is happy that Victoria saw how he accomplished this act, this feat. However, he is constantly confused by the girl’s behavior, both of them are proud and proud, and their relationship is difficult.
The young man again leaves for the city and writes, writes ... His poems begin to be published, then a collection comes out, he becomes famous as a poet. And his work is nourished by love, love for Victoria. This feeling fills its existence with meaning and content. He knows that Victoria is also in the city, but does not meet her, because he is not included in the circle where she is. Victoria herself finds him. Johannes was unpleasantly amazed to notice a ring in her hand. Yes, she is engaged, so what? In addition, there were special reasons. But is he not engaged to Camilla Sayer, whom he once pulled out of the water? Victoria saw her, she grew up and became a pretty girl. They say he is in their house. Johannes confirms what happens, only he and his thoughts did not have anything like it. Victoria insists that she should go home (she lives in a chamberlain family), but she is not in a hurry. They walk around the park for a long time, and Johannes finally decides to open his heart to her. His words breathe passion and excitement. Ah, if she said that he was at least a little dear to her, this would give him strength, he would achieve in life a lot, almost unattainable. It turns out that Victoria reciprocates.
Johannes feels that he is happy, he wants to see Victoria again and again, he is looking for meetings, but next to her is constantly her fiance - Lieutenant Otto. Johannes walks around the chamberlain’s house, and finally two days later Victoria goes on a date. What she said is true, the girl confirms, but they are not destined to be together, too many of them share. Father would never have consented to their marriage. And let Johannes stop relentlessly following her. Johannes is bewildered and depressed. Having received an invitation to the evening party to the Sayer couple and learning that Victoria will be there, he sends a note with a polite refusal: no more meetings with her.
He spends all autumn and winter as a recluse, almost never being anywhere, and is working on a large book. Having finished it, he relates his work to the publisher and goes abroad. By fall, his new book, written in a foreign land, is coming out. There comes recognition, fame, his name is on everyone’s lips.
Once Victoria appears in the miller’s house, she wants to find out if there is any news from Johannes. But his parents do not know anything about him, he does not write to them. Two days later, a letter arrives that Johannes will arrive in a month, and the miller is in a hurry with this news to the estate. Victoria takes his message with complete indifference, the miller is discouraged: in vain the wife claimed that she knew what was in the soul of the landowner's daughter.
Johannes is back at home, he goes around the places with which childhood memories are connected. In the forest he meets Victoria, she collects flowers, in the Castle they are waiting for guests and it is necessary to decorate the house. Young people have not seen each other for two years, love attracts them to each other, but both fight with themselves, suppressing this feeling.
Johannes receives an invitation to the owners of the estate for the evening party. For the first time he crosses the threshold of this house, where he meets a rather warm welcome - after all, now he is a famous writer. As a promised surprise, Victoria brings Camilla to her, whom she specially invited to visit, now she is a charming seventeen-year-old girl. Out of kindness of soul, she found herself a substitute, Johannes thinks. It turns out that the reception is organized on the occasion of the announcement of the engagement. From the conversation of the guests, Johannes learns that the owner of the estate is on the verge of ruin, and the groom is a rich, profitable party. Johannes is hurt by Victoria's barbs, her quirks. Only Camille brightens up his stay there. Victoria's behavior looks generally rather strange, which the groom notices. Sensing something was wrong, Otto, as arrogant and arrogant as in childhood, lifts up his arms and, as if by chance, touches Johannes in the face, he immediately leaves the house.
Camilla comes into the mill to see Johannes. They go for a walk in the forest. It seems to Johannes that he knows a way out of the impasse - he makes an offer to Camille. The girl admits that she loves him for a long time.
The next day, Johannes arrives at the marina to visit Camille and learns from her that Otto is dead. It turned out that after the incident, he packed up in an instant and left with his landlord neighbor to hunt woodcock, where he fell under a stray bullet. Johannes wants to express condolences to Victoria, but hears offensive words from her. Later, she apologizes for her trick, explains the situation. Father forced Otto to marry, to prevent the ruin of the family. She was against it, saying that it would be better for her parents to insure her life, and then she would drown herself in the gulf or at the dam, but had to give in, asking for a three-year delay. Tomorrow he and his mother should move to the city, only the father will remain in the estate. She expects to hear words of love and support from Johannes, but he hesitates, and then confusedly confesses that he has a bride.
The next morning, the miller helps deliver Otto's body to the ship and, fulfilling the instructions of Victoria and her mother, returns to the estate. There he witnesses how the landowner carefully and deliberately arranges arson and dies. When the neighbors run away, nothing can be done, the estate burns to the ground.
Johannes is working on another book when Camilla comes to him. She enthusiastically talks about the ball that she happened to be at and about meeting the Englishman Richmond. By the way, parents have a dinner party, Victoria and her mother are invited. The poor thing was so thin. Johannes recalls how much they did not see, somewhere around a year. No, he will not go, he does not want this meeting. Appearing the next time, Camilla reports that Victoria danced all evening, and then she became ill, she was sent home. The constant subject of her conversations is a new acquaintance, Richmond. She cannot understand the confusion, it seems to her that, taking his courtship, she betrays her fiance. Johannes realizes that a great real feeling has awakened in her. He is not going to impede her happiness with another, but his soul becomes empty and cold.
Johannes is informed that Victoria died, she had consumption. He reads her dying letter, full of tenderness and sadness, where she regrets the failed love, the failed life.
