Part 2 - The Past - Chapters 3 and 4 Summary

Chapter 3 - Narration describes how slowly and heavily the time passes at Mount Iris with Aunt Violet's imminent death weighing on everybody's mind (even though no-one really speaks of it). Karen makes her excuses and leaves early, taking with her numerous admonitions from Uncle Bill to say nothing to the rest of the family about Violet's illness. Narration describes how Karen realizes before she leaves that a letter from Ray was probably on its way and writes to tell him she is leaving early - she had, she writes, wanted to go to Paris but had had a letter from Madame Fisher saying the house was full. She also says she had learned that Naomi (Miss) Fisher was going to be in London and had gotten engaged to a man named...