Walter Adams

Alice Adams

Alice and her brother Walter share a close sibling bond, though Walter's illness and dependency create a protective dynamic.

Virgil Adams

Virgil is Walter's father, and their relationship is strained by Walter's illness and Virgil's financial burdens.

Mildred Palmer

Mildred interacts with Walter primarily through her connection to Alice, viewing him with polite indifference.

Mr. Lamb

Mr. Lamb employs Walter at his drugstore, showing paternalistic concern for the younger man's health.

Mrs. Adams

Mrs. Adams is Walter's mother, and she dotes on him while also using his illness to garner sympathy.

Alice Adams

Alice and her brother Walter share a close sibling bond, though Walter's illness and dependency create a protective dynamic.

Virgil Adams

Virgil is Walter's father, and their relationship is strained by Walter's illness and Virgil's financial burdens.

Alice Adams

Alice and her brother Walter share a close sibling bond, though Walter's illness and dependency create a protective dynamic.

Mildred Palmer

Mildred interacts with Walter primarily through her connection to Alice, viewing him with polite indifference.

Virgil Adams

Virgil is Walter's father, and their relationship is strained by Walter's illness and Virgil's financial burdens.

Mr. Lamb

Mr. Lamb employs Walter at his drugstore, showing paternalistic concern for the younger man's health.

Mrs. Adams

Mrs. Adams is Walter's mother, and she dotes on him while also using his illness to garner sympathy.

II

Walter is sallow, secretive, and defensive; he smokes a cigarette, makes cryptic remarks, and shows no ambition, having left high school.

V

Grudgingly agrees to arrange a car for Alice to attend the dance, complaining about the cost.

VI

Drives Alice in a rented flivver, dances masterfully, and refuses to ask Mildred for a dance.

VIII

Found by Arthur Russell shooting dice in the cloakroom; angry with Alice for sending someone to find him.

IX

Walter is mentioned in Alice's recollection of the disastrous dance, where his behavior mortified her.

Chapter X

Walter is mentioned as having been discovered by Russell playing dice with African Americans, which shames Alice. She later defends him by claiming he is 'original' and 'literary,' suggesting he might write about his experiences.

XI

Walter teases Alice at dinner about seeing her with Arthur Russell, and is described by Mrs. Adams as 'deteriorating' due to lack of opportunity.

Chapter XII

Walter teases Alice about her dress and flowers, singing a vulgar song and implying she has a new beau. His jocularity is met with mild reproach from his mother.

Chapter XV

Walter is seen on a veranda with a flashy girl, later confronts his father about leaving his job, refusing to quit Lamb & Company.

Chapter XVI

Mentioned as stubbornly refusing his father, causing Adams frustration.

Chapter XVIII

Mentioned as still working for Lamb; Virgil resents Walter's refusal to join the glue business and his demand for a $350 bonus.

XIX

Walter is absent from his room; his closet is empty, and Alice assumes he took his clothes to be pressed, but his disappearance is suspicious.

Chapter XXIII

Walter is mentioned as having embezzled funds from Lamb and Company and fled; his mother laments his absence and his father denounces him.

Chapter XXIV

Walter's embezzlement is the central issue; Mr. Lamb agrees to drop the case if restitution is made, but Walter must leave the state.