Part 3, Chapter 32 Summary

In the fall Eugene rooms with Bob Sterling, who had been the best student at Altamont High School. Bob is nineteen years old and has a heart condition, but he is well-organized and tries to help Eugene develop more discipline. However, his illness overcomes him, and his mother takes him back home to Altamont, where he soon dies. Eugene can't stand to live in the room with Bob gone so goes to the dormitory to live with two older students.

The doctors in Baltimore give no hope for Gant; they marvel that he's still alive. Helen stays with her father as much as she can, but Hugh has bought a house for her to get her away from the family. She is ill and is drinking.

Eugene is desperately frustrated by his father's illness and his family's behavior, but he has...