Irene talks a lot about her husband Brian in this part of the book. She describes him handsome, but not in the traditional way. And then she talks about how he is restless, and she thinks he blames her for this restlessness, because she was the one that made him settle down and live in New York. A line says “Was she never to be free of it, that fear which crouched, always, deep down within her, stealing away the sense of security…” The fact that Irene is constantly fearful that something will happen to her marriage and her life, seems to show that she is not a very happy person. And also she ignores this fear, by reassuring herself that she knows Brian better than he knows himself, and that she could tell if anything was wrong.

As this part of the book progresses, Brian continues to become more and more restless and moody. And then Clare comes, and mesmerizes Irene all over again, and Irene has a party, and doesn’t want Clare to come, and then Clare comes anyway, and then Clare starts coming to visit Irene all the time, and Irene is not sure how she feels about that.

But the thing that caught my eye the most in this part of the book, was near the end. Clare and Irene are talking, and Clare says “Why, to get things i want badly enough, I’d do anything, hurt anybody, throw away anything. Really ‘Rene, I’m not safe.” The fact that Clare blatantly tells Irene that she is ruthless and unsafe, should have been a warning to Irene. But Irene doesn’t listen, because she seems to be mesmerized by Clare, as always.

Why do you think Irene is so mesmerized by Clare, even when she is obnoxious to her? Do you think she is jealous or in awe of Clare’s “passing”? Irene even says “It’s funny about ‘passing’. We disapprove of it and at the same time condone it.” But does Irene actually disapprove?