In which we accompany Amory through his weary descent into a spell of heavy drinking and melancholy, seeking ephemeral solace among the dim lights and clatter of New York’s bars, even as the sharp pangs of a lost affection haunt him relentlessly. As he drifts through conversation, confrontations, and the faint glimmers of literary pursuits, he begins to mend from the tempest of youthful passion, guided by the cool company of acquaintances and quiet reflections.