Eugene returns to school following Ben’s death, and three weeks later the war ends. Eugene feels cheated out of a chance to participate in what will be the greatest adventure of his generation. He drives around the countryside; he is slowly getting over his grief over the loss of his brother, Ben. He feels he has become a great man on campus until he overhears some of the other boys talking about him and saying he stinks because he does not bathe. He is struck by this perception of himself and feels an increasing loneliness and separation from the other students. He develops a sore on the back of his neck; no matter what he does it will not go away. He grows his hair long to cover it. Soon Eugene begins to feel a joy in his separation; he believes it is a sign of his destiny.

Eliza and Gant come for Eugene’s graduation. Gant appears to regain some of his youth as he watches his youngest son graduate, but afterward he sinks back into petulant old age. Eugene sends them off on the train, intending to pack up his things and return home later. He bids good-bye to the school and feels he is leaving the greater part of himself.

On his return to Altamont, Eugene comes to face the approaching death of his father. Helen has persuaded Gant to make a will leaving each child $5,000, with Luke and Hugh (Helen’s husband) as executors. Eliza begins to sell off some of Gant’s property. Dixieland has become a valuable piece of property with the improvements to the streets that Eliza had predicted. She continues to be obsessed with real estate. Steve returns home, and Luke accuses him of coming just in the hope of getting some money. Eugene is seduced by the dentist’s wife, but Eliza runs her off.

Eugene still wants to go to Harvard; he hopes to use his inheritance from Gant to finance his tuition. Eliza finally agrees, and before he leaves for Harvard, Eugene signs a statement that the money comes from the $5,000 to be left him at Gant’s death. This was Luke and Hugh’s idea, but Eliza is upset; she says Gant always planned to pay for Eugene’s education and the tuition should not have come out of Eugene’s legacy. Nevertheless, Eugene leaves Altamont for Harvard.

The evening before he leaves Altamont, Eugene has a vision of himself walking about the town. He finds himself in front of his father’s business, with the carved angels out front. He sees a figure there and discovers it is Ben. Eugene asks Ben if he is a ghost, but Ben insists that he is not. Ben tells Eugene that he thinks he will return after his year at Harvard, but in fact he will never return. Gant’s building will be torn down to make room for a skyscraper. Altamont is changing, as is Eugene. Neither home nor Eugene will be the same.