Mr. Marshall is enjoying his vacation in Sorrento when, at dinner in his hotel, an American couple sits next to him. The man is a businessman who has fought for his success, and his wife exudes a plain elegance. Mr. Marshall finds them similar to the other bustling couples in the dining room, pitying how they busy themselves with itineraries in a place meant for relaxation and self-discovery. Once the couple tensely maneuvers around their waiter’s attempt to sell them honey, Mr. Marshall realizes he recognizes the man from an art gallery in Florence and from the American Express post office. In both instances, the man had been determined to briskly proceed with business instead taking in the atmosphere of Italy.

After dinner, as Mr. Marshall is smoking in the courtyard, the couple joins him, perhaps to find solidarity in their American backgrounds. The two parties exchange formalities, both rather indifferent, and Mr. Marshall learns the couple is—unenthusiastically—taking their first tour of Italy. They were so efficient, they managed to complete their trip a week before scheduled. Now, they must wait ten days for their steamer to pick them up and take them to Naples so they may return to America. Mr. Marshall is astounded by how eager the couple is to busy themselves with tasks and how repulsed they are by idleness. Similarly, the couple does not understand Mr. Marshall’s appreciation of relaxation. At night, Mr. Marshall occupies himself with curiosity of the man, Mr. Porter, and how a lifelong “hustler” will survive in such a calm place as Sorrento.

In the morning, Mr. Marshall sees Mr. Porter pacing the walk outside the hotel and, giving into his curiosity, joins the man. Mr. Porter complains that the lulling environment and ambiance of the hotel refuses to let him sleep well, but Mr. Marshall proposes to him that opening oneself to peace instead of restless activity may allow for a deeper outlook on life. Mr. Porter continues to have difficulty grasping this, then angrily asks what he can do in this place. Though Mr. Marshall mentions many nearby attractions and shows Mr. Porter some of the beautiful views of the hotel, Mr. Porter still opts to depart for the American Express.

Over the next few days, Mr. Marshall sees the Porters driving along the roads that so many others choose to take easy strolls upon. Soon, spring blooms in the city, but the Porters still choose to drive instead of lounge in its beauty. The night spring settles in, Mr. Marshall notices Mrs. Porter has not come to dinner and Mr. Porter looks unwell. He tells Mr. Marshall his wife has come down with a cold and, over the next two nights, eats alone. On the third night, Mr. Marshall approaches Mr. Porter as he is busy thinking about something and asks him to join him at his table for dinner. While their conversation at dinner starts off relatively withdrawn, Mr. Marshall gradually coaxes reception of Italy from Mr. Porter with talk of its important historical figures. After Mr. Porter has left, Mrs. Porter finds Mr. Marshall and voices her concerns of Italy causing her husband to succumb to laziness. Mr. Marshall finds her pathetic, but tells her he will look into it.

The next day, Mr. Marshall leads Mr. Porter on a walk through some of Sorrento’s dazzling sights. This opens Mr. Porter’s mindset to Italy’s beauty, and he asks Mr. Marshall if they can venture around the city again tomorrow. That night, Mrs. Porter approaches Mr. Marshall again to ask about her husband, but when Mr. Marshall tells her of his interest in relaxing, Mrs. Porter is dismayed that he is resting too much. She wants him to return to America at once and attend to business, but Mr. Marshall is disgusted by her need for her husband to use every moment of his life to work and sustain her. On their walk the next day, Mr. Marshall and Mr. Porter explore an old monks’ tower. There, amidst the views of the lush landscape, the two meet a humble priest and are reminded of the luxury in which they live.

Nearing the end of his vacation, Mr. Porter timidly asks Mr. Marshall if he should extend his stay in Italy. Mr. Marshall reluctantly tells Mr. Porter, knowing his views of Italy have changed, that his business is where he belongs. He feels Mr. Porter is obligated to his wife to return home. Mr. Marshall sees Mr. Porter one last time as he is departing and thinks to himself that both of them have learned that the restful Italians and the restless American businessmen are not so bad once one gets to know them.