After 10 years at the Presbyterian church, Reverend Curtis Hartman still finds it difficult to speak before his congregation. While Reverend Hartman is well-respected, he’s reserved by nature and privately doubts that he can embolden others with the spirit of God. Every Sunday morning, he climbs to the bell tower of the church to ask God for aid in preaching the Gospel. The bell tower has one window—an image of Christ blessing a child.

One morning, while preparing for the Sunday service, Reverend Hartman sees a woman smoking and reading in bed next door. He’s scandalized by the image of her bare neck and shoulders, provoking him to deliver a passionate sermon. Afterward, he begins to hope that his sermons can become powerful enough to draw the woman next door away from her sinfulness.

The neighboring house is inhabited by Aunt Elizabeth Swift and her daughter, the schoolteacher, Kate Swift, whom the narrator describes as worldly and well-traveled. The reverend himself has little experience with women since he met his wife, Sarah, in college. He has contented himself with the idea that he will never have to think of other women until he sees Kate.

One morning, Reverend Hartman breaks a hole in the corner of the window so that he can see directly to Kate’s bed.