Chapters 26-28 Summary and Analysis
Summary
Merton had been touring Venice with Kate, Mrs. Lowder, and Susie when Mrs. Lowder tells him to go back to visit Milly at the Palazzo Leporelli. He leaves them without a word, although he feels the awkwardness of being cast out. His feelings for Milly have not changed. He thinks of her in the same way he might a sister, but he does not hold her up like a princess as the others do.
The next visit is for dinner at the palace; all the ladies are present. Merton entertains the party with a description of his deplorable hotel. Milly is so amused that she asks herself to tea someday. Merton is nervous at her proposal, fearful of what it might do to his “game” concerning Kate and himself. However, he does not want to be a brute, either in relation to Kate or to Milly.
The group, minus Milly, visits the piazza of St. Mark’s. While Susie and Mrs. Lowder shop, Kate and Merton talk about their situation. Merton has a feeling that Mrs. Lowder is pushing him toward Milly. He also believes that Susie has a hand in it as well. He does not feel as comfortable at deceiving Susie as he does Mrs. Lowder. He asks Kate why Lord Mark came to Venice for so short a stay. Kate explains that he had been refused by Milly and so had no reason to remain. Merton asks about the possibility of his pursuing Kate, but she says she has already discouraged him.
With a sense of desperation, Merton accuses Kate of not risking anything. When she asks him what he wants her to risk, he tells her that he wants her to risk loving him. Kate feels they have come too far to throw it all away; they have told too many lies. Merton replies that he has told none. He tells her that he will tell any lie she wants if he will come to his room and spend the night; that is the only way he can be sure. Kate says nothing to this proposal.
There are days when Milly does not have the strength even to come down to dinner. Merton feels that he should care about this, but he does not; all of his thoughts center on Kate.
Susie tells Merton that there is to be a party; among the guests will be Sir Luke Strett and his niece, who have recently arrived in Venice. Susie expresses her hope that Merton will stay in Venice more than just a few days. He states that he has things he must do in London. Susie understands, since she has chosen to put on hold her career as a writer in order to be with Milly, whom she calls her “princess.” Merton replies that she is not his princess.
After dinner, when Milly comes down to receive guests, Merton notices her radiance. By contrast he sees that Kate lacks “lustre.” Kate once again calls Milly a dove. Merton thinks of how a dove will spread its wings to offer protection for its young. In the same way, Milly is protecting those she loves from the unpleasantness of her approaching death.
Kate pushes Merton forcefully into the plan that he is to marry Milly in order to inherit her money. Merton can’t understand how Kate can be so complacent about it, if she truly cares for him. He tells her that he’ll do it only if she will spend the night with him. She agrees.
Analysis
Merton is being forced into a marriage with Milly, not just...
(This entire section contains 1086 words.)
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by Kate, but also by Mrs. Lowder and Susie. Although all three have some desire of seeing Milly happy before she dies, Kate is more interested in obtaining her money. Her love of money is greater than her love for Merton. She is willing to sacrifice him to Milly in order to be a part of her inheritance. Having already sold her soul to the devil, metaphorically speaking, she is now trying to persuade Merton to sell his as well. She admits that they have told too many lies to back out now, but Merton claims he has told none. In fact, he has not, although his silence has led to a deception just as manipulative as Kate’s prevarication. He is now willing to lie if Kate will sleep with him. This is an attempt by Merton to reciprocate what Kate is attempting to do to him. She wants him now to sell his body (by marrying Milly) for the love of gold. In order for him to agree, Kate must sell her body to him by sleeping with him. Kate hesitates at Merton’s first suggestion, knowing what a controlling influence she has by withholding herself from a physical relationship with him. By giving in, Merton has what he wants and may be willing to settle for nothing more. By finally agreeing, Kate has reached the point of desperation. She feels that Milly is rapidly dying. If Kate and Merton are to get her money, they will have to move quickly. In order to move a reluctant Merton, Kate accedes to his request.
In relation to Milly, Merton does not see her as a romantic partner, even though he knows that all the others are pushing him in that direction. He is aware of Milly’s feelings for him, he knows that she is dying, and he knows that by marrying her he can give a dying woman a few moments of earthly happiness; yet he feels nothing. At this point, Merton’s idea of love is focused solely on the physical side, something that he just cannot convince himself he wants with Milly. He cannot see her as the others do, that is, as a “princess,” someone around whom he must focus his life. In a way, he is honest with himself and with the others. The battle is between his sense of honor and his physical desires, at least in the case with Milly. He sees her, however, as a protective dove, spreading her wings over her young against the coming storm. He himself is holding out coming under the shelter of those wings. His moral dilemma is whether to rise to the standard of behavior that he inwardly knows is the mark of a gentleman or to sink into the vulgarity of base passions in a relationship with Kate. Like a tragic hero, he chooses the lower road.
