Book 1: Chapter 9 Summary

After leaving the Van Osburgh wedding, Lily returns to her aunt's home to find it in a state of upheaval. It's cleaning day, and the disorder only adds to Lily's bad mood. Soon after Lily's return, a visitor is announced. Lily recognizes her as Mrs. Haffen, the cleaning lady from Lawrence Selden's building, whom she saw cleaning the floors the day she went to Mr. Selden's apartment for tea.

Mrs. Haffen has a proposition for Lily. While cleaning Lawrence Selden's apartment one day, she found some letters that were exchanged between Selden and Mrs. Bertha Dorset. She explains to Lily that her family is in a difficult situation now due to her husband being out of work, and offers to sell the letters to Lily. She mistakenly thinks that Lily is the author of the letters, but does not realize that...