The novel opens with Reverend Henry Maxwell attempting to pen his sermon for the coming Sunday service. Desiring to compose his sermon in peace, he asks his wife to ensure that he is not disturbed. While this occurs his wife leaves the house. He finds himself almost to the end of his composition when the doorbell rings. Rev. Maxwell tears himself from his desk in order to answer the door and is met with what appears to be a homeless man. The stranger asks Rev. Maxwell if he is aware of any local jobs, but Rev. Maxwell turns him away with an apology; immediately Rev. Maxwell returns to his study to complete his sermon.

On Sunday morning the First Church of Raymond fills to the brim with Raymond’s more privileged and affluent community members, eager to hear the polished preaching of Rev. Maxwell and the dulcet tones of local prodigy Rachel Winslow, as the people of Raymond “believed in having the best music money could buy” (10). Coaxed into receptivity by the music, Rev. Maxwell launches into the sermon he recently composed only to be interrupted by the very same man who interrupted him two days previous.