Gascoigne Quilt, a retired public schoolmaster, and Luther Flannery, ex-merchant seaman, meet regularly in a graveyard when the weather permits and the church when it is inclement. The two old men have little in common but are able to complement each other. Luther's sense of adventure leads the normally staid Gascoigne into unusual situations he would never have contemplated before. For his part, Gascoigne educates the almost illiterate Luther who lives with his house proud daughter and is only allowed home in the evening.