Book Fourth: Chapters VII - IX Summary

Chapter seven opens with a dinner party at Maud's home, during which time Susan and Milly meet Kate and Lord Mark, who obviously would like to marry Kate. He is much older, however, and Kate appears completely disinterested. Close in age, Kate and Milly strike up a friendship and begin to explore London together. Milly is quite generous with Kate on these outings, enjoying her company and lavishing her with exquisite meals and gifts. Maud, meanwhile, is entertaining Susan throughout chapter eight.

Maud is quite shocked, as chapter nine proceeds, to discover from Susan that Milly would like to locate Merton Densher, and Susan is surprised as well that Maud would know him. In her attempts to maintain some distance between Densher and Kate, Maud asks Susan and Milly not to bring up...