Summary

At the end of the academic term, David and Birgitta take a hitchhiking trip around Europe. They continue their sexual relationship with each other. David reflects upon his relationship with Birgitta and the state of his academics. He realizes that he has essentially ruined his Fulbright scholarship, so he applies to transfer to Stanford University to continue his graduate studies there. He tells Birgitta of his plans and says that it is time to end their relationship. David explains that their sexual relationship has gotten out of control. Birgitta counters by asking, “How can you change your mind about what is your nature?” (49). David goes to Stanford to continue his graduate studies in comparative literature, and towards the end of his time in the program, he meets Helen Baird, a woman about his age. She is from a wealthy family. She dropped out of...