Treason in the House — Washington Square

Dr. Sloper summons Mrs. Penniman to the library and tells her to mind her p's and q's in Catherine's affair. He says Catherine understands his wishes and that any further aid to Morris would be distinctly treasonable, adding with surgical coldness that high treason is a capital offence. When Lavinia retorts with autocrat and murder, he answers that he wishes to make Catherine live and be happy, and warns he may lose the society of still another family member after already losing two.

Mrs. Penniman retreats to Catherine's room, comforts her after the dreadful night, and is gratified to think the scene removes Catherine's ban on further communion with Morris, though she is annoyed when Catherine rises for breakfast looking fresh instead of haggard. Catherine insists she wishes to be just as usual, because her father would not like her lying in bed to perform grief. In truth her heart is breaking from being turned out of his room and called heartless, yet she still tries to appear good while caring for Morris.

She writes Morris a short note asking him to come tomorrow and explain everything face to face. The chapter shows Dr. Sloper tightening household law, Lavinia reframing trespass as sympathy, and Catherine choosing composure over theatrical pathos while moving toward a decisive meeting.