Kenneth, a humanities professor at a university in California, grew up in a small town in Wisconsin. There, his aunt Mary told him stories about her cheating husband. She spent a lot of time at Kenneth's house talking to his mother about Uncle Josie, who Kenneth comes to see as the epitome of sin. Thirty years later, both Aunt Mary and Uncle Josie have passed away, but Kenneth still sees his ghost from time to time, especially around his hometown. He moves from Wisconsin to California to teach at a university. Two students of his, Marjorie and Vic, are married. Kenneth is impressed by their intellect and gets to know them outside of class. He spends a lot of time with them at a coffee shop, along with another student, Audrey, who is one of the best poets at the school. One day, Marjorie finds Kenneth and asks to speak with him. They go to the coffee shop, where Marjorie asks him if he knows how to keep from going insane. Despite all the old books and poetry he has read, Kenneth is unable to answer or help her. Shortly after, Marjorie tells him that she's dropping out of college and moving to San Francisco. She says she might keep in contact with him if she feels up to it. Later, Vic and Audrey get engaged. Swayed by their charisma, Kenneth keeps in touch with them and enjoys their company. After they graduate, they continue to visit him and his wife from time to time. Then in November, Kenneth and his wife go on a trip and run into Marjorie. Kenneth realizes that he has failed her, seeing that she is in the same position as his Aunt Mary. He decides to break off his friendship with Vic and Audrey and help Marjorie instead.