Summary

Bateman Hunter is a young man returning to Chicago after a trip to Tahiti. The trip is long: two weeks by ship and another three by train, with Bateman nervously anticipating having to share some unfortunate news with his friend Isabel Longstaffe all the while. Additionally, his conscience is beginning to bother him, and he wonders if he is indeed doing the right thing. He knows that if Isabel suspects that his motives are in any way insincere, there will be no way to change her mind. Despite this, Bateman acknowledges that he loves everything about her.

When the train finally reaches Chicago, Bateman is overcome with a sense of relief at having finally arrived home. To him, Chicago is the most important city in the world, eclipsing even New York and San Francisco in terms of value to America's future...