A young man raised abroad recounts a languid life under an indulgent father's care in a provincial coastal town, marked by billiards, whist, smoking, boating, and a sentimental attachment. Comfortable routines and reluctance to pursue a profession give way when an unexpected letter from home obliges him to reconsider his prospects, revealing family pressures, social habits, and the consequences of prolonged idleness as he faces imminent change.