The following version of this story was used to create this study guide: Fitzgerald, F. Scott. “The Adjuster.” All the Sad Young Men. Alma Classics, 2013, p. 116 – 138.

The story begins with Luella Hemple and Ede Karr having tea together on a balcony at the Ritz. Luella was lamenting the state of her marriage; she was frustrated with her husband, Charles, and her baby son, Chuck. Furthermore, she was complaining to Ede Karr about her lack of independence and freedom in her household due to the pressures of maintaining the house and her family in good order. Meanwhile, Ede Karr displayed compassion but felt irritated internally. When they were finished with their tea, Luella insisted that she pay the bill, because she was the one who invited Ede to the hotel.

When Luella returned to her apartment, which was furnished with objects from around the world, she watched her husband absently rubbing his face, which was a habit that enraged her. Luella had decided that she would go out no matter what, because she wanted to be free. However, when she met with Charles in the living room, Charles introduced her to Doctor Moon, whom he had invited to spend time with Luella. Luella was furious, but Doctor Moon’s demeanor caused her to open up about her frustrations with her family. Regardless, Luella was adamant that she would not stay at home tonight.

While Luella prepared for dinner, she checked on her baby. When she returned to the living room and spoke with Doctor Moon, Doctor Moon told her that she would not be going out, and at that moment, Charles Hemple had a nervous breakdown. Luella then assumed her familial responsibilities and stayed in to take care of Charles. Doctor Moon praised her for this, but Luella continued to protest that she did not want to assume these responsibilities.

During Charles’s recovery, Luella struggled to find servants to help cook and maintain the apartment, and her frustrations came to a head when she confronted Mrs. Danski, the cook, and sent her home without pay. Left in a state of panic, Luella asked the baby’s nurse to show her how to cook. While she was in the baby’s room, she checked on the baby, who had a fever.

The nurse told Luella that she was feeling ill, but Luella disregarded this until the nurse collapsed on the floor while holding the food. At that moment, a doctor arrived and examined the nurse. He told Luella that the nurse was fine, and that she had just fainted. Luella then decided to check on her baby, which is when she realized that her baby had died.

For some time after Chuck’s funeral, Luella was in denial about his death. Doctor Moon forced her to come to terms with the fact that her baby was dead and that she needed to take care of her husband, who was still sick. Luella decided that since Chuck was dead, she was now free to leave her challenging family. She checked on Charles before packing her bags and heading towards the door. However, Doctor Moon was in the hallway waiting for her, and he convinced Luella to stay.

As the days passed, Doctor Moon supported Luella, and Luella supported Charles. Charles recovered, and their marriage improved. Once Luella was back in a happy life, Doctor Moon announced his departure. One evening, Charles agreed to go to the theater with Luella to meet Ede Kerr and her husband, Alphonse, and Charles and Luella went to their nursery to say goodnight to their two new children before leaving for the theater.