Chapter Three, Ruth Summary

Jack's mind now turns to Ruth, and he knows he can do little to stop his reminisces in his old age. He wishes his mind would settle down; there is no use in dredging through these old memories, especially the unpleasant ones, and for Jack, death is not far off anyway. He has a difficult time focusing on the present; however, in a way, he feels like he has already left the world. For some time, it seems, he has lived his life in the past, and even has an easier time remembering business figures from decades ago than figures that affect his business today. Jack has a brief interchange with Burley Coulter and decides to leave.

As he is walking, he recalls being a young man of twenty-eight. He was in charge of his family's farm and it...