Tom and Kenneth are two brothers who visit a woman named Amy's farm every weekend. They have lived together for four years since their parents divorced, and they have settled into a routine and closeness together. They never argue about who will drive to Amy's farm, because their routine is so solidified. This time, it is a fine September day, and it is Tom's turn to drive. They drive to the Merrimack Valley and drive down the driveway of Amy's farm. The brothers came to Amy's farm for the first time four years ago, and ever since then they have regularly visited on the weekends. Amy senses the brothers' bitterness at the divorce of their parents, and how attached they are to each other. Amy would be glad if her daughter Jane were to marry one of the brothers, but she thinks that they are too engrossed in each other. Amy greets the brothers joyfully. She wonders where Jane is, because Jane always greets the brothers. She tells them that Jane has been talking about their visit all week. Kenneth also wonders where Jane is, but he does not miss her. Jane comes galloping on her horse and hugs the brothers. They all have dinner, and then the brothers take turns dancing with Jane. Jane likes Kenneth much more than Tom, and she feels jealous when he talks to Tom and Amy. After dinner, Kenneth suggests that they go to Larssen's which is a bar. Amy goes to bed, and Jane goes with the brothers. Jane feels uncomfortable at the desolateness of the place, and she feels as though she is intruding on something meant for men. She can feel how accustomed the boys are to sitting at the table alone. Jane can tell how indifferent Kenneth is to her when she talks, but how eager he is to listen to Tom. Jane wants to win over Kenneth. When they leave the bar, Kenneth stays in the doorway talking to the owner. Tom sees Jane purposefully fling herself on the ground and call for Kenneth. Kenneth runs over to her, and she says that she hurt her ankle. They go back to the farm. Tom brings the car to the garage, and when he comes back, Jane is talking animatedly to Kenneth in the living room. Tom goes upstairs to go to bed, and Kenneth says that he will be up in a few minutes. Jane begs Kenneth to stay with her for longer, but Tom hears Kenneth come upstairs a few minutes later. Kenneth talks to him about how they should go to Canada together soon, and he reminisces on the last trip they took together. The next morning, Tom wakes up before Kenneth. He takes the canoe out to the river and thinks about Kenneth and Jane and himself. He is disturbed that Kenneth is so indifferent to Jane, and he thinks that maybe their devotion to each other is too strong. Tom purposefully goes far up the river to stay away from the farm so that Kenneth and Jane can be together. When he goes back towards the farm, he sees Kenneth standing on the dock. Jane had watched Tom leave in the canoe, and then Kenneth go to the dock after his brother instead of staying with her. She cries and is angry. That night, they all eat dinner on the porch. An undergraduate from Cambridge named George is there, as his parents are friends with Amy. Jane comes to dinner late and sits down next to George, flirting with him. When dinner is done, she gets up alone and leaves. After dinner, Tom and Kenneth sit down together by the hearth and talk about the new ford motors. Jane comes in and asks Kenneth to dance, but he says that he cannot because he has rubber soles on. He then immediately continues his conversation with Tom. Jane goes outside, furious with jealousy. Kenneth, George, and Tom soon come out to the porch. Jane asks Kenneth if he would like to take a walk with her. Kenneth asks Tom if he would like to go on a walk, and when Tom says no, knowing that Jane only wants to walk with Kenneth, Kenneth says no as well. Jane stands still for a minute, then walks over to George and stands closely to him, asking him to go on a walk. He says yes, and Jane glances over her shoulder with jealous hatred at Tom as she walks away. An hour after it has grown dark, Jane and George still have not returned. Tom guesses that they are in the hayloft, even though he could sense that Jane did not really like George. The brothers say goodbye to Amy and drive back to the city. Tom thinks about the look that Jane gave him, and decides that he and Kenneth's devotion to each other is not good for them. The next night he takes a bus to New York, telling Kenneth that he cannot find work in Boston. He tells Kenneth that he will write when he is settled. Kenneth has realized the real reason Tom is leaving, but he does not argue. The next weekend, Kenneth goes to Amy's farm for the first time by himself. Jane is there, but she shows no interest in him. She is leaving to live with Amy's sister in Chicago. Amy asks why Tom left, and Kenneth tells her it was to find work. He feels miserable and lonely. At dinner, everyone is scared to mention Tom. After dinner, Kenneth goes to the driveway and stares out at the hills. He feels the pain that Tom brought on them both, but he is not angry, and he understands that they had to separate. He walks through the fields clutching involuntarily at the air like something is slipping from his grasp. He swears and looks around at the world that now seems new and strange.