Dick goes back to his hotel and strolls through the gardens, thinking about some of the good times with Nicole. He then thinks about how Rosemary intruded upon the happiness that he shared with his wife. He tries to attract the attention of a young woman in the hotel garden with him, but she seems uninterested. When he sees the same young woman again the next day, he wonders why he has not slept with more beautiful women in the past. He decides, however, that such casual sex would be cheap and belittling.

When Dick returns to the hotel, there is a telegram from Nicole, which he at first refuses to open. Later he learns that she has just forwarded a message from a colleague of his father, telling him his father has died. Dick feels terrible, for the old man died alone; his only relatives in the States were in Virginia, and they were too poor to travel to see him. Dick loved his father and judged him to be a thoroughly good man. He also knows that he made sacrifices so his son could have an education. Dick decides he must go to New York immediately, to make funeral arrangements.

He takes his father to be buried in Virginia near his relatives. When he says his final good-byes to his parent, Dick feels he is also saying his farewells to America. He thinks he will never be back to this country that he finds both magnificent and sad.

On the ship returning to Europe, Dick encounters the McKiscos and passes the time with them. He learns that Albert McKisco has had some success with his books; as a result, the man feels less inferior and is actually pleasant to be around. Violet McKisco feels grand and important because of AlbertÂ’s success. When the McKiscos depart the boat at Gibraltar, Dick befriends two young American girls and their mother, parting with them awkwardly when he debarks in Italy. He has come to Rome to find Rosemary, who is filming a movie. When he sees her in the hotel, he pretends to be surprised. She greets him warmly and tells him that they must get together. Dick immediately knows that she has changed and matured over the past four years; he wonders if she has had many lovers. In his hotel room, he tries to strengthen himself for Rosemary, doing handstands. He then goes down to the bar for a drink, where he sees Collis Clay, who is still enamored with Rosemary.

When he observes Rosemary on the set, Dick realizes that one of the actors, Nicotera, is obviously attached to Rosemary. He also thinks of the actors and actresses as a large, disturbed family. Although they are amusing to watch, he is relieved to leave the set and have lunch with Rosemary. He drinks enough with his meal to forget his general sense of dissatisfaction. After lunch, he and Rosemary return to her room in the hotel, and Dick gets what he has wanted for so long. He is surprised, however, that he is not satisfied by their lovemaking.

Since Rosemary again has plans for the evening, Dick has a drink with Collis. As he talks with this youthful man, he realizes that he is too old for him and for Rosemary. No longer wanting to waste his time with Collis, he leaves the bar and runs into Baby Warren, who questions what he is doing in Rome. They sit and talk about Nicole and her problems. Baby wants her sister to move to London, so she can get away from the craziness of the clinic and be around sane British people. Dick laughs at the idea, reminding Baby that he must work at the clinic. He even tells Baby that Nicole probably should have married someone else. A little too eagerly and without thinking, Baby says that a different marriage for Nicole could be arranged; she is immediately embarrassed by her words to Dick. As the conversation continues between them, Baby philosophizes about the grand life she leads; Dick responds with nasty comments. As he takes Baby back to her hotel, he tries to smooth things over with her, since the clinic depends on her wealth.

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