Chapter 40, The Fish Kettle Summary

Thérèse excitedly plans the preparations for Louis' return from the hospital. When Thérèse finds her aunt Madeleine already making up the bed downstairs, she is upset because Madeleine has stolen the role she imagined for herself. Thérèse notices that her aunt has painted her toenails red and that she has on a beautiful new dress and high-heeled sandals. Upon Thérèse's insistence, Madeleine agrees to let her niece make lunch. Thérèse feels like crying as she prepares lunch. She imagines that her fish sauce will be much better than anything that Madeleine could make.

Thérèse has a sudden urge to read the letters that she has hidden, unread, in the buffet. Thér...