Summary
Undine Spragg, alongside her parents, relocates from Apex City to New York, where she spends two years yearning for acceptance into high society. Her breakthrough arises when she is invited to a dinner hosted by Laura Fairford, during which Ralph Marvell, Laura's brother, becomes intrigued by her. Despite Ralph's prestigious family background, he lacks wealth and is critical of the pretentiousness that permeates elite circles, particularly those surrounding individuals like Peter Van Degen, the affluent spouse of Ralph's cousin, Clare Dagonet, whom Ralph once loved.
Engagement and Secrets
Within two months of their initial encounter, Undine and Ralph become engaged. However, a night at the theater reveals an unsettling surprise for Undine when she finds herself seated next to Elmer Moffatt, a figure from her past. Moffatt insists on a clandestine meeting in Central Park, where he coaxes Undine into aiding his business dealings once she weds Ralph. Further complicating matters, Moffatt pressures Undine's father, Mr. Spragg, into a business venture, threatening to expose Undine's past if he refuses.
A Union of Convenience
Benefiting from the deal with Moffatt, Mr. Spragg is able to finance a lavish wedding for Undine. Yet, as their married life unfolds, Ralph discerns Undine's indifference towards him and her insatiable appetite for social status and wealth. Her discontent deepens with the revelation of her pregnancy, which only amplifies her resentment.
Social Climbing and Disillusionment
Over the years, Moffatt's prominence in New York's financial landscape grows. Ralph, striving to cater to Undine's extravagant lifestyle, takes on business ventures ill-suited to him. Meanwhile, Undine immerses herself in high society's demands, accepting lavish gifts from Peter Van Degen, who sees her as an object of desire. When Peter departs for Europe, Undine seizes the chance to join him in Paris, spurred by a lucrative but unscrupulous business proposal from Moffatt. There, she meets Comte Raymond de Chelles, contemplating marriage until Peter promises her every material comfort. Her plans halt abruptly upon news of Ralph's critical illness, a call she chooses to ignore.
The Collapse of a Marriage
Ralph survives, and following an amicable divorce, Undine cohabitates with Peter for two months. Once Peter realizes Undine's callousness in neglecting Ralph, he abandons her without securing a divorce from Clare. Ralph, returning to live with his son Paul, recommits to his work, driven by the need to provide for Paul and complete his novel. The situation grows dire when Undine becomes engaged to Raymond de Chelles, necessitating funds for a church annulment of her marriage to Ralph. Desperate, Ralph strikes another deal with Moffatt, who reveals his own marital past with Undine, a revelation that devastates Ralph, leading him to take his own life.
A New Alliance
With her son in tow, Undine weds Raymond de Chelles, finding initial contentment in Paris despite Raymond's restrictions. Their move to the Saint Desert estate marks a shift to a subdued lifestyle, where Undine's restlessness burgeons as she chafes against her husband's family's frugality. Insatiable for luxury, she invites a dealer to appraise their tapestries, reuniting with Moffatt, now a powerful figure in American finance.
Paths Intertwined
Over subsequent weeks, Undine reconnects with Moffatt, culminating in an offer for an affair, which he declines for lack of the permanence of marriage. Undeterred, Undine travels to Reno to secure a divorce from Raymond, marrying Moffatt the same day. Moffatt lavishes Undine with material wealth, yet she finds herself missing aspects of her previous marriages.
A Cycle of Ambition
The Moffatts settle in a grand Parisian mansion, a testament to Undine's social aspirations and Moffatt’s taste for opulence. When she learns of an acquaintance, Jim Driscoll, being appointed ambassador to England, a new ambition surfaces: she wishes to be an ambassador’s wife. Moffatt, however, bluntly states the impossibility due to her divorce history, yet Undine remains convinced that her destiny lies in that role, stubbornly clinging to her dreams of grandeur.
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