Pedro, who has been an orphan since childhood, finds himself in Ávila for his education. He is placed in the somber household of Don Mateo Lesmes, who instills in him the belief that to be happy, one must avoid all connections to the world, any emotion or affection.

Only the vitality of youth can enable him to overcome this inculcated pessimism. However, events seem to force him to remember what he was taught...