Anxious to fulfill Mr. Norton’s request for whiskey, the narrator arrives at the Golden Day, a disreputable bar on the outskirts of the college community. Big Halley, the bartender, refuses to let the narrator take a drink outside to Norton. Inside, Norton is propositioned by a prostitute, insulted by a veteran, and overwhelmed by the “inmates”—institutionalized war veterans who fill the bar.
After the narrator and Norton witness the chaotic events at the Golden Day, including the brutal beating of the veteran's attendant, Supercargo, the narrator finally manages to get a distraught Norton—collapsed under the strain of being in a situation where he has no control—back into the car, and the two head back to the college campus.
After dropping Norton off at his rooms, the narrator heads back to the administration building to see Bledsoe. After briefly describing their misadventures and informing Bledsoe that Norton wants to see him, the narrator is shocked and bewildered by Bledsoe’s angry outburst that the narrator should have known better than to take Norton to see Trueblood’s quarters, regardless of his request. Moments later, he is equally shocked as he watches Bledsoe undergo an astounding transformation as he masks his anger and assumes an attitude of conciliation and servility as he prepares to meet with Norton.
On Norton’s recommendation, Bledsoe dismisses the narrator and orders him to attend chapel that evening. Back in his room, the narrator is interrupted by a freshman who tells him that Bledsoe wants to see him. Arriving at Bledsoe’s office, the narrator is surprised to see Norton, who informs him that Bledsoe had to leave. After apologizing to Norton again, the narrator offers to drive him to the station. Disappointed that his offer is refused, the narrator assures Norton that he intends to read the writings of Ralph Waldo Emerson. This seems to please Norton, who comments on the virtues of Emerson’s philosophy of self-reliance, then reminds the narrator about his meeting with Bledsoe. As the narrator leaves, he feels somewhat reassured by Norton, but apprehensive about his impending meeting with Bledsoe and his mandatory attendance at chapel.
