Chapter 2 Summary

Edith dresses and reluctantly goes downstairs for dinner. As she walks down the hallway, she catches a rosy scent in the air and remarks to herself that it must be coming from the tall, slender woman with the dog; sure enough, the woman emerges immaculately dressed, the dog tucked under her arm.

Upon arriving in the dining room, Edith realizes that she is early. The "bulldog-faced" lady appears and Edith reminds herself to refer to her correctly by her name, Mme. de Bonneuil. Edith leans back in her chair and briefly closes her eyes, allowing herself to experience the dread she feels about this evening, since public meals like this are not to her taste.

She shudders as she recalls the last meal she had before leaving England. Her agent, in an effort to raise her spirits, had taken her out to lunch...