Chapter 6 Summary

Tom is in a tranquil and benevolent mood during the voyage, but he remains aloof from his fellow passengers. He has a sudden yen for a cap, and buys one in the ship's store. It is marvelously versatile. With the cap, Tom can transform himself into a country gentleman, a Frenchman, a thug, an Englishman or an American eccentric. Tom amuses himself for hours in front of the mirror, affecting the role of a young man not long out of Princeton, with a private income. He writes a long letter to the Greenleafs, thanking them for the basket. To amuse himself, Tom adds a postscript that he has arrived in Italy. Tom describes the wonderful life of swimming, sailing and cafy society that he is enjoying with Dickie. Tom assures them Dickie is in no way romantically interested in Marge. When Tom is...