Biography of the writer of the Young Poland period, Władysław Orkan. During his stay in Switzerland, the author admires the richness, order and cleanliness of Alpine towns. The huge gap between what he sees and his hometown Poręba is additionally emphasized by the words of his friend, Stanisław, Amelia's son, staying with him. Even a few successive generations are not enough to come close to a similar prosperity. After the writer returns to his country, the poverty of the Polish countryside is even more painful. Władysław has an idea for a novel and shares it with his fiancée, Marta.