Chapter 7 Summary

Vinnie takes to bed with a bad cold, weary, depressed and suspicious of it having a psychological rather than viral origin. Vinnie's request for an extension of her grant has been rejected through the efforts of Zimmern. Vinnie has shared her paranoia about Zimmern with Chuck, whom she figures is unlikely to gossip, judge, or pity her. Vinnie recalls agreeing offhandedly to Chuck's story about ruining a man's life by accident, demanding that Zimmern be judged, condemned and punished for costing her time in London. Vinnie imagines him ill in her stead, languishing with pneumonia in a shabby New York hospital.

No one has visited Vinnie during her illness either, largely because she conceals illness, not wanting to tempt the sincerity of people's friendship and hating to be pitied by others. Whenever there is a danger of this happening, Vinnie looks for others...