The story of Adam Mickiewicz's youthful love for Maryla Wereszczakówna. A holiday trip leads the 22-year-old poet to an idyllic manor house near Nowogródek. Tomasz Zan, Adam's friend from the Philomath Society, often visits here, unhappily in love with Maryla, the owner's daughter. Maryla remains insensitive to Zan's advances, but quickly draws attention to the newcomer. Adam reciprocates the interest, but tries to hold back, for the sake of his friend. The feeling between the young people grows with 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 fills with more poems.