Living in a small dwelling at the bottom of the lane, the Wyatts never had cause to associate with the family in the big house—until their cat is attacked by the family's dog. This precipitates an unlikely friendship between the two sets of children; yet the vast gulf between the families is too much for even the youngest to bridge, and the budding relationships end in frustration and ultimately tragedy. "The Gipsy's Baby" is the first in this series of stories in which Rosamond Lehmann explores life in rural England with all its joys, struggles, and heartbreaks.

Rosamond Lehmann (1901–1990) is perhaps best known for her novel, The Echoing Grove. She and her husband, artist Wogan Philipps, were at the heart of Bloomsbury society.