Mark, a young sailor, plans to propose to his girlfriend Jane at dinner on his first night back in New York. When he arrives, however, Jane seduces him and the two sleep together, so they do not go out to dinner until much later than he had planned. Mark asks his girlfriend to wear her green dress and favorite earrings to dinner, the same thing that she wore the first night they became lovers, but he soon begins to doubt his plan, realizing that Jane never says anything back when he tells her he loves her. Instead of the proposal being romantic as he had imagined, his words come out sounding angry as he asks her to marry him. Jane responds that she does not want to rush into anything, and so Mark gives up his hope of engagement for the near future.

Soon after, Mark goes to Syracuse to visit his father, Mr. Birch, who works as a deacon at a church. As his father begins to talk about the word of God, Mark reflects on his words to Jane. The next morning, Mark remembers an old friend in Syracuse, Rosannah, whom he had coached in golf ten months prior, before going to sea. He had always been interested in Rosannah, and, on the day of their last lesson, he had told her he loved her. Mark then decides to track down Rosannah and see her again.

Mark goes to lunch and golf with Rosannah, and remembers why he found her attractive all those months ago. On their date the two hold hands, but Mark does not want to betray Jane by letting it go any further. They see each other again the next day, and Mark tells Rosannah that he is leaving for New York City after today and will be at sea again soon. Rosannah then admits that she likes him, using just the right words at the spot where he first told her he loved her. She convinces him to stay another three days, and Mark wonders if he should stay faithful to Jane.