Summary

Stella Ransome writes a letter to Cora welcoming her to their house and says that she will host a dinner party on Saturday to which everyone, including the Ambroses’ and Martha should attend. The narration moves from the letter to Luke and Spencer who are discussing Cora’s letter about the two of them going to meet her. Although Spencer acts nonchalant about going to see Cora, he is, in fact, hoping to see Martha whom he admires and keeps his affection a secret from Luke. Spencer decides he will go on a walk before going to the Red Lion and runs into the crippled man named Taylor. Spencer is embarrassed about his riches and this makes him overly generous and as he and the crippled man begin a conversation, Taylor tells him about the earthquake and Martha shows up behind Spencer...