Life on the Hungarian plains is changing quickly for Jancsi and his
cousin Kate. Father has given Jancsi permission to be in charge of his
own herd, and Kate has begun to think about going to dances. Jancsi
hardly even recognizes Kate when she appears at Peter and Mari's wedding
wearing nearly as many petticoats as the older girls wear. And Jancsi
himself, astride his prized horse, doesn't seem to Kate to be quite so
boyish anymore. Then, when Hungary must send troops to fight in the
Great War and Jancsi's father is called to battle, the two cousins must
grow up all the sooner in order to take care of the farm and all the
relatives, Russian soldiers, and German war orphans who take refuge
there.