Nels Oleson has had it up to here with his wife's snobbish, meddlesome behavior, particularly toward the Ingalls. Mrs. Oleson doesn't take kindly to her husband's old-school beliefs either. The two get into a huge argument and decide to separate. This sends the Ingalls and the Olesons' other friends to intervene and convince them to settle their differences. After a major disagreement, Nels and Harriet decide to go their separate ways and with Mrs. Oleson intending to take the children back east for good. The situation showed that Nelli and Laura admit their friendship despite all the quarreling and bad manners, as does Caroline and Mrs. Oleson. All the townspeople do their best to reunite the troubled couple.