The notorious Mrs. Erlynne (Irene Rich), known for romantic scandals, returns to England and visits Lord Windermere (Bert Lytell) to confide that she is the mother of his wife, Lady Windermere (May McAvoy), having abandoned her daughter 20 years earlier. Later, Mrs. Erlynne attends a birthday party for Lady Windermere, and her daughter thinks she's Lord Windermere's mistress. Stung, Lady Windermere allows the romantic advances of Lord Darlington, until her mother comes to the rescue.