A holiday journey leads the 22-year-old poet to an idyllic manor near Nowogródek. Tomasz Zan, Adam's friend from the Filomats association, is often here, unhappily in love with Maryla, the owner's daughter. Marilla remains impervious to Zan's advances, but quickly takes notice of the new arrival. Adam reciprocates the interest but tries to hold back for the sake of a friend. The feeling between the young people grows every moment. When Zan is forced to leave, it seems that the obstacles standing in the way of fulfilled love have been overcome, and the happy poet's notebook is filled with more poems.