Chapters 9-12: Summary
Peter, Len, and Ainsley are taken aback by Marian's sudden sprint and do not react immediately. Although Peter is the first to shout out to Marian, he chooses to go back and get his car instead of pursuing her on foot. Eventually, he catches up to her, but Marian feels threatened by the fact that he is protected inside his car, so she turns into a gateway and runs up the gravel driveway of an old house.
As she nears the house, Marian sees the front door open and swiftly runs into a nearby shrubbery and across the grass. However, her escape is halted by a solid brick wall. When she hears Len's rapid approach from behind, Marian tries to climb over the wall. Though she succeeds in reaching the top, she starts to feel lightheaded and loses her balance, falling off the wall. Luckily, Peter arrives in his car from the back of the house and catches her. Although he is unhappy with her actions, he chooses not to create a scene.
Marian was relieved to hear Peter speaking in his usual tone and willingly got into the car with him. They arrived at Len's place and climbed the stairs together like a proper couple. Once inside, Peter started playing with Len's cameras while Marian felt disappointed and wished she could be alone with Peter to apologize and be forgiven.
Marian sits on Len's bed, drinking cognac, and becomes captivated by the gap between the bed and the wall. She thinks it would be quiet down there and looks around the room. Marian positions herself sideways in the gap but finds it uncomfortable. She decides to push the bed out a little and slides all the way under. Now hidden from view, Marian is relieved not to have to sit in the bright and hot room. However, her contentment is short-lived as she soon feels uncomfortable and hopes the others will hurry up and realize she is gone.
After spending some time hiding under the bed, Marian can't recall why she went there in the first place. She starts feeling bitter towards Peter for leaving her there while he moves around freely. This bitterness triggers her memories of the past four months, during which they had deceived themselves into thinking that they were in a stable state. They had intentionally avoided discussing their future because they believed it was irrelevant to them. However, now she realizes they are involved in each other's lives. This realization caused her to have a breakdown and run away earlier, as she was trying to avoid facing reality. She acknowledges that she must confront reality and decide what she wants to do right at this moment.
In the meantime, Marian is pinned to the floor by someone sitting on the bed, causing her to cry out and attract attention. Peter urges her to come out, but Marian realizes she's stuck. Eventually, the bed is lifted, and Marian rises, covered in dust, to face their inquiries. She explains that she hid under the bed because it was quieter. Although Peter takes her arm and tries to leave with her, Marian insists on going her own way. Once outside, Marian feels relieved and empowered by her decision to break free from Peter. She knows there can be no reconciliation after the embarrassing incident.
Marian heads towards a main road with the intention of taking a bus, but Peter pulls up in front of her. Thinking that she's no longer involved, she doesn't feel the need to hurry. Peter offers to drive her home, and since it's...
(This entire section contains 1747 words.)
Unlock this Study Guide Now
Start your 48-hour free trial and get ahead in class. Boost your grades with access to expert answers and top-tier study guides. Thousands of students are already mastering their assignments—don't miss out. Cancel anytime.
Already a member? Log in here.
about to rain, Marian agrees and gets into the car. Peter is angry and demands to know what the evening's nonsense was all about. Marian believes her actions were justified and doesn't want to talk about it. Both think that the other acted poorly, with Peter accusing Marian of rejecting her femininity and Marian thinking that Peter was simply rude.
As Peter begins to drive away, a downpour of rain begins. He drives too quickly on the already slippery roads, causing him to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a hedge. Thankfully, neither Peter nor Marian sustains any injuries during the crash. However, Marian hits her head against the dashboard and accuses Peter of intentionally putting their lives in danger. Reflecting on her outburst, Marian notes that she must have included Peter in her statement. On the other hand, Peter finds Marian's reaction amusing and the damage caused to the property insignificant. He laughs it off and drives away.
Peter and Marian arrive at Marian's apartment, where Peter suggests waiting for the rain to stop. He notices a piece of dust in her hair and leans in to remove it, causing Marian to become weak. They sit together with their foreheads touching, looking into each other's eyes. Marian admits she doesn't know what she was doing earlier. Peter condescendingly strokes her hair and proposes marriage to her. As lightning illuminates the car, Marian sees her reflection in Peter's eyes but doesn't reveal her answer.
After waking up the following day, Marian experiences a sensation that her brain has been emptied out. When she discovers Ainsley in the kitchen, she inquires if she arrived home safely. Ainsley responds by saying that she used a taxi from Len's residence and clarifies that pretending to be foolish and afraid with Len was crucial for her plan. Marian then declares her engagement to Peter.
Ainsley is unfazed by the news but proposes that she and Peter tie the knot in the United States because it is comparatively effortless to obtain a divorce there. Ainsley thinks that Marian doesn't have a genuine understanding of Peter. However, Marian clarifies that deep down, she may have always desired to wed Peter.
While getting ready for breakfast, Marian observes Ainsley engrossed in studying a calendar and strategizing with Len. Marian feels uneasy about Ainsley's plans but decides not to do anything about it, convincing herself that it won't harm Len. Then, hoping for a more enthusiastic response to her engagement news than the one Ainsley gave her, Marian phones Clara, who is happy for her but doesn't react as excitedly as Marian had hoped.
Peter pays Ainsley an unexpected visit after breakfast and greets her with great enthusiasm. Marian observes that he sounds very happy, like someone who has just purchased a new car. During their conversation, Peter mentions that he didn't plan what occurred the previous night, but he might have wanted it unconsciously. He also shares that their marriage will likely benefit his professional growth.
Marian's perception of Peter changes as she listens to him talk. She sees him as more than just a carefree single man but now views him as someone who can bring order to chaos and provide stability. Marian pictures an unseen force erasing her name from the Seymour Surveys signature. Peter then inquires about when they should get married, to which Marian responds in a tone that surprises her, saying that she would prefer him to make that decision.
Peter departs early, and Marian is left with a sense of idleness. Consequently, she opts to spend her evening at the laundromat. While on the bus, she amuses herself by perusing the advertisements, much like in Chapter 1. However, one advertisement catches her attention, displaying a young lady joyfully prancing around in a girdle, which leaves Marian somewhat shocked. She contemplates who the image of the agile and youthful woman portrayed in the advertisement is meant to attract.
Upon arriving at the laundromat, Marian realizes she has left her soap behind. Fortunately, a nearby young man offers her some of his soap. To Marian's surprise, the man, whom she does not know the name of yet, recognizes her as the person who conducted the beer interview with him. He points out that he did not immediately recognize her without her "official shell." As they converse, the man, Duncan, shares that he frequents the laundromat often because he finds it calming to observe the washers. Additionally, he mentions his affinity for ironing because it gives him something to do with his hands. Marian notices that Duncan seems to be talking more to himself than to her.
Duncan eventually discloses that he and his roommates are all pursuing English Literature at the graduate level. Marian feigns interest, and Duncan asserts that it's like any other field where you become trapped and unable to escape. He goes on to say that there is no justification for pursuing it, and everything has already been accomplished. Marian proposes that Duncan might find more contentment doing something else, but he clarifies that once you've advanced to this level, you are incapable of succeeding in any other occupation. Furthermore, Duncan describes his living situation and elaborates that he can't move out because his roommates look after him.
Marian believes that the act of confessing one's emotions openly, like liquid pouring out, is too risky for her. She considers offering comfort to Duncan but senses a deep sadness in him that she can't alleviate. He playfully warns her that he tends to inspire nurturing instincts in women and that she should be cautious not to act impulsively. Duncan believes that hunger is a more fundamental human need than love and even goes as far as to claim that Florence Nightingale was a cannibal. Marian is confused by his comments and decides to end the conversation by emptying her laundry machine. As they leave the laundromat, they accidentally bump into each other and spontaneously kiss on the sidewalk before going their separate ways.
In the final chapter of Part One, Marian reflects on the long Labour Day weekend events. It's Monday, Labour Day, and Marian now believes that her decisions were more sensible than she initially thought. Although her decision to marry Peter was abrupt, she believes it was a wise choice. She had always assumed that she would get married and have children, as most people do. Additionally, Peter is an attractive, successful, and tidy man, making him an ideal husband, in her opinion. Marian still can't explain the kiss with Duncan from the laundromat, but she decides it is a momentary lapse and dismisses it as irrelevant to her relationship with Peter. In the final paragraph, Marian is lying on her bed, staring up at the ceiling, feeling adrift like she has been for the past four days while contemplating the events of the weekend.
