Onanoceanvoyage,alibrarianfallsforamarriedman.AfterlibrarianLuluSmithisaccusedbyherpatronsofhavingSpringfever,shespendsherlifesavingsonacruisetoHavana,duringwhichshebeginsaromancewithBobGrover,alawyerwithpoliticalambitions.Aftertheirreturn,Lulubecomesaclericalassistantforanewspaper,wheresheispursuedbybrashreporterAlHolland.Onenight,severalmonthsintotheiraffair,BobcomestoLulu'sapartmentfordinner,bringingtwoHalloweenmaskswithwhichtheyhaveamarveloustimeplaying.TheirmerrimentisinterruptedbyacallfromAl,whoseproposaltoLulupromptsBobtoconfessthathehasaninvalidwifewhomhecannotleave.Luluproteststhatshewishestocontinuetheiraffair,butBobrefusestoletherwasteherlifeonhim.Theysquabble,andLuluthrowshimoutwithouttellinghimsheispregnant.TimepassesandBobbecomesdistrictattorney,whileAlbecomescityeditorofthenewspaper.AfterBobhiresadetective,Marty,tofindLulu,thecouplearereunitedandLuluintroducesBobtohisdaughterRoberta.Later,LuluandRobertaarewaitingtomeetBob,whenAlsuddenlyappears.HeisquestioningheraboutRobertawhenBobarrives,and,inordertoprotectBob'sreputation,LulutellsAlthatthebabyisBob'sadopteddaughterandthatsheishergoverness.Inordertopreservethecharade,BobdoesadoptRoberta,takingherhomethenextdaytopresenttohiswifeHelen,whoisreturningfromaEuropeanrestcure.HelenisdelightedwiththechildbutquestionsLulu'sabilitytocareforher.Lulurunsoutofthehouse,andwhenBobfollowsher,shetriestotellhimsheisthroughwithhimbutcannot.Soonafter,LulugoestoAlforajobandbecomesthe"advicetothelovelorn"columnistforhispaper.AlpumpsherforinformationaboutBobandRobertainordertowriteastorycausingBob'sdownfall,butLulurefusestosayanything.Astheyearspass,Lulustillworksforthepaper,andAl,nowthemanagingeditor,isstillpursuingher.Bobhasbeenbothamayorandacongressman,butonthenighthewinsthenominationforgovernor,hebecomesdisheartened,ashamedofthehypocrisyofhisdoublelife.Lulutriestotalkhimoutofconfessingthetruthandruininghiscareer,butwhenitseemsthatshecannotsucceed,sheasksAltomarryher,hopingthatwillmakeBobforgetabouther.OnthenightofBob'selection,however,Altellsherthatheknowsallabouther,BobandRoberta,andLulukillshimtopreventhimfrompublishingthestory.Ayearlater,Bobisonhisdeathbed,andLulu,whomhehadpardonedafterashortjailterm,comestovisithim.Heshowsherhisnewwill,whichtellsthetruthandleavesherhalfofhisestate,butafterhedies,shetearsituptoprotecthimandRoberta,whoisengagedtoasociallyprominentyoungman.
