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Back Folly Save as PDF
Chapters (61)
  1. Cover Page
  2. Title Page
  3. I: Mr. Eliot
  4. 2 • A friend advises
  5. 3 • The visitor from New York
  6. 4 • A girl from Boston
  7. 5 • Skating
  8. 6 • Tea
  9. 7 • The rendezvous and its aftermath
  10. 8 • He appears again
  11. 9 • The beautiful hour
  12. 10 • You’re some girl
  13. 11 • He leaves impressions
  14. 12 • Dinner at the Eliots’
  15. 13 • Lime Street
  16. 14 • Concerning the cathedral at Rheims
  17. II: Walter Vail
  18. 16 • Lilian suffers
  19. 17 • Aunt Tizzy in New York
  20. 18 • A tireless suitor
  21. 19 • Some shocking news
  22. 20 • A round of weddings
  23. 21 • On the Island
  24. 22 • An incident involvinga white boat
  25. III: Mrs. Eliot
  26. 24 • Signs of interest
  27. 25 • Lilian broods, Gilbert blushes
  28. 26 • Mrs. Eliot is surprised
  29. 27 • Lilian decides her fate
  30. 28 • A small kiss
  31. 29 • What does he intend to do?
  32. 30 • Abroad
  33. 31 • Looking at the moon
  34. 32 • The drumming of rain
  35. IV: Gilbert Finch
  36. 34 • The household fills up
  37. 35 • Something troubles Gilbert
  38. 36 • A visit from a brother
  39. 37 • After the crash
  40. 38 • A cure in England
  41. 39 • He does his best
  42. 40 • Dolly’s news
  43. 41 • Stretches of clear sky
  44. V: Irene
  45. 43 • A gulf between them
  46. 44 • The luncheon club
  47. 45 • Probably just a raccoon
  48. 46 • Concerning Irene
  49. 47 • The Blue Ruin
  50. 48 • The butterfly
  51. VI: Aunt Tizzy
  52. 50 • The wing
  53. 51 • The black dog
  54. 52 • Mrs. Eliot is missing
  55. 53 • Drinks at the country club
  56. 54 • Meeting again
  57. 55 • At Hawthorne’s grave
  58. 56 • Who always knew
  59. 57 • The hotel
  60. 58 • A new life
  61. A Biography of Susan Minot

But he was interrupted by Marian Wiggin’s bustling up to them and announcing that they had to come into the other room to hear the wonderful Victrola she’d bought Dickie for his birthday. Everyone sat and listened while she played one of the new songs, but no one got up to dance.

25 • Lilian broods, Gilbert blushes

25 • Lilian broods, Gilbert blushes

HOW IS your young man? Mrs. Eliot said, bringing a small vase of daffodils into Lilian’s room.

He’s not my young man, Lilian said.

Mrs. Eliot lifted one eyebrow.

He’s not, Lilian said.

Since Dickie Wiggin’s birthday she’d seen him exactly twice. Once when she’d gone with Marian and Dickie to see their house in Beverly Farms and Gilbert Finch had come along. They motored out on a fine April day and walked through the chilly rooms draped with white sheets. It was warmer outside and they lay on the beach without their coats and shoes and ate sandwiches the cook had made. Gilbert Finch knew all the names of the birds, hardly having to look. He was able to tell a bufflehead from a tiny speck dipping between waves. Lilian discovered that he was the sort of fellow who moves over on a bench to make room for a girl, not thinking that the girl might want to sit close.

You’ve been awfully irritable lately, Mrs. Eliot said. She’d pass Lilian’s door and see her sitting with a book, not reading, staring.

He doesn’t like me that way, Lilian said. Which is fine with me. Gilbert Finch was hardly the sort of fellow she pictured marrying. Still, she was oddly happy in his company and when she didn’t see him would become unaccountably sad, with his face in her mind.

No need to shout, Mrs. Eliot said and closed the door.

The second time she saw him was for lunch downtown. She’d mentioned she needed new ribbon and he took the hint. They didn’t go to a fancy place, but to one where they carried their plates from the bar to a little banquette. Lilian knew he was shy, but couldn’t get rid of the feeling that he did not seem to care if she were there or not. At moments, he seemed to be eating alone.