Interwoven first-person narratives trace the romantic entanglements and social mishaps of a circle of young people, beginning with a seaside encounter and continuing through bohemian lodgings and city life. Mistaken identities, practical jokes, and staged ghostly incidents repeatedly complicate courtships and provoke comic misunderstandings. Shifting points of view offer contrasting recollections and ironic commentary on artistic affectation and provincial sensibilities. The episodes conclude with candid revelations, reconciliations, and pragmatic interventions that resolve misunderstandings and return characters to more conventional domestic prospects.