The journey home at the end of each school term is a ritual for Carruthers and Miss Fanshawe, as they share the train ride from Ashleigh Court school to their respective destinations. In this liminal space, their unusual relationship thrives—Carruthers exploits the freedom to express his aggression, while Miss Fanshawe indulges his behavior more than she restrains it. His rebellious acts, filled with smoking, drinking, and sharp-tongued comments, target not only her and the waiter but also the shadowy figures of his mother and headmaster, despite his indirect confrontation.

A Journey in Dialogue

The narrative unfolds primarily through dialogue, gradually unveiling the characters' stories. Alone in the dining car, Carruthers directs his verbal aggression at the waiter, using him as an unwitting audience for his grievances. He recounts a childhood fractured by his parents' divorce, with summers spent alongside his mother in glamorous European resorts. His depiction of his mother's life—"She snaps her fingers and people come to comfort her with lust"—reveals his adolescent scorn and a tendency to dramatize others' lives. However, beneath the bravado lies a deeper truth: Carruthers feels rootless, lacking a true home, whether at school or elsewhere.

Unveiling Aggression

Through his caustic conversation, Carruthers lays bare the roots of his aggression. This time, however, his actions overstep the ritual's bounds, targeting Miss Fanshawe's uneventful existence at the school. He paints her as a passive observer of life, challenging the fairness of his mother's numerous lovers while Miss Fanshawe has none. In his frenzied state, he damages the waiter's uniform, provoking the waiter to declare him "a raving lunatic."

Revelations and Confessions

Back in their compartment, a pivotal shift occurs as Carruthers confides in Miss Fanshawe that this will be their final journey together, due to his expulsion for attempted theft. He offers a rare apology and a glimpse into his vulnerability, revealing that he once saw the school as a sanctuary from his mother—a potential "heaven." He acknowledges her past kindness, yet remains puzzled by his own aggressive tendencies.

Mutual Despair

In an unexpected turn, Miss Fanshawe opens up about her own life, compelled by his need for affection. She shares her hidden despair and yearning for love—"to be desired, to be desired in any way at all." Her tale of a mundane, unfulfilling existence with her dismissive parents resonates with desolation. Desperate for understanding, she envisions creating a real home for Carruthers, a dream he finds terrifying. As he attempts to halt her confession, she insists, forcing him to reject the role she has cast him in, leading her to admit, "beneath the surface . . . out of loneliness and locked up love," she may indeed be mad.

Confronting the Unsaid

The story culminates with Carruthers overwhelmed by her revelations, resentful of her honesty, and weary from his own excesses. As the journey concludes, he steps away onto the railway platform, leaving Miss Fanshawe behind. She watches from a distance as he reunites with his mother, the final act in their complex and revealing journey together.