Lily wakes in Gerty Farish's narrow bed with winter light on a neighbouring wall and last night's dress heaped on a chair like the remains of a feast. Gerty has already telephoned Mrs. Peniston, and the maid has brought Lily's clothes. Lily goes home and tells her aunt she had an attack of faintness on the way back from Carry Fisher's and spent the night at Miss Farish's. Aunt Julia, already taking digitalis with Grace Stepney in the house, accepts the story and sends Lily to lie down. Alone, Lily forces herself to count what she owes Gus Trenor. The total is nine thousand dollars, and not a penny of it is her own.
After luncheon, when Grace's prying eyes are gone, she asks Aunt Julia for help. She confesses card losses and other bills and hides Trenor's name. Mrs. Peniston remembers paying Celeste's bill last October, asks if Lily plays cards on Sunday, and says paying gambling debts would reward disgrace. She will settle another dressmaker account if it is only a thousand. She will not buy back Lily's peace. Jennings is told to admit no one that afternoon but Grace. Lily still clings to the four o'clock visit Selden promised, and to Gerty's words that he will help her.
Four o'clock comes and goes. Simon Rosedale plants himself by the tea-table instead, legs too freely extended, and turns talk of the Welly Brys into a plain business statement. He has the money. He wants the right woman to spend it so that luxury looks easy. He knows more of her trouble than she wished anyone to know. Lily thanks him, says she is flattered, and neither accepts nor refuses. She needs him out of the house before Selden arrives. Rosedale leaves amicably after more than an hour, and the patience behind that promptness frightens her.
The late post brings no note. The next day Selden neither writes nor comes. Lily lunches and dines alone with her aunt, then sits down to write to him. She is about to send the note when the evening paper lists Mr. Lawrence Selden among the passengers sailing that afternoon for Havana and the West Indies on the Windward Liner Antilles. She understands he has gone because he was afraid he might come. She addresses an envelope to Rosedale, writes Dear Mr. Rosedale, and cannot go on. The doorbell at ten is not Selden. A servant brings a telegram. Under Bertha Dorset's name the words are short. Sailing unexpectedly tomorrow. Will she join them on a cruise in the Mediterranean?
Coming Up in Chapter 16
On the Casino steps, Selden finds Monte Carlo ready to match any mood. After hard work, the white square, the tropical gardens, and the mauve mountains look like a holiday built to receive him. The place is eager to please. He has not yet seen who else is in the harbour.
