Set in late 19th century Germany, this is the story of Ilse Macket, a headstrong and rather wild young girl. When her father and stepmother find they cannot teach the girl to control her temper, they send her to a boarding school for girls. Ilse is initially slow to settle into the routine of the school and finds it hard to make friends among the other, more genteel, girls. But with the help of the capable head mistress, she eventually learns to keep her temper in check, adjust to life in the school, and make friends with other girls. The film follows Ilse and her friends through their school years, sees them discover love and ends with Ilse's wedding.