Irene continues to feel miserable. At first she suffered because she thought her husband, Brian, was having an affair with Clare. Next she endured mental anguish because she tried in vain to convince herself that this might not be true. She had no proof that her husband and Clare were either romantically or sexually involved; she only had suspicions. Because she had roused these suspicions herself, she tries to control her thoughts so she will no longer ponder the possibilities that Brian is being unfaithful. She alone has caused the agitation she has been feeling ever since the tea party. After all, the only thing Brian did was invite Clare, their mutual friend to a party that was being held at a house that belonged to the two of them, and there is nothing wrong in doing that. All these long years Irene and Brian have been married, Brian has never shown signs of being attracted to any other woman. Irene must be fair to both Brian and Clare. She considers the possibility that they are completely innocent. However, Brian has been acting very withdrawn from Irene and their sons. Irene senses that Brian is unhappy, and she has no clue what is causing it or what she might do to change it. If Clare would just disappear from their lives, maybe everything would take care of itself.

Christmas soon arrives and provides Irene with a busy distraction. Clare, presumably busy with the holidays and with her husband’s return from a trip to Canada, has not been seen for quite a while, which makes Irene feel more at ease. Unfortunately though, Clare continues to be present in Irene’s thoughts. Irene cannot get rid of her. She tries another tactic: she wishes for spring. Irene knows that Clare will be traveling to Europe with John in March. This could not happen soon enough for Irene. She wants distance between Clare and her family. She feels extremely tired of Clare.

As Irene continues to contemplate Clare, she finds herself wishing that something would happen that could make Clare and John leave New York earlier than they had planned. Irene wants Clare removed from her life, and she does not care how that might be arranged. She even finds herself thinking about Clare’s daughter becoming ill, so Clare would become completely absorbed in healing Margery. Then she has an even more sinister thought—what if John found out Clare was a Negro?

This thought astonishes Irene. She cannot believe she had the nerve to think that. She could not possibly betray someone of her race. She will not allow race to become an issue. She will not use race as a weapon. Shortly after having this thought, for the first time Irene wishes she had not been born a Negro. The burden is too heavy. It is enough to manage being a woman; she wishes she did not also have to cope with the challenges of being black.

Irene concludes that she could not tell John that his wife is a Negro, but, she wonders, "What would be wrong with John’s finding out Clare had been spending so much time mingling in Harlem society, befriending so many Blacks?" Maybe that would work just as well and end up being the best way to rid Irene of Clare forever.