Chapters 5-9 Summary

In chapter five, Catherine turns out to be a young actress playing a role about a girl from a rural area who arrives in New York for the first time. Her stage name is Catherine Sedley, and the production depends on her performance in the second act. She is slightly myopic or shortsighted. The director runs her through her song, and is so impressed that he has her sing it again. Afterwards, she suggests that her character marries Charles, a returning soldier, but the director refuses the idea. On her way home, she imagines a boy swing on a rope above the El. This is a memory from long ago.

In chapter six, Harry enjoys arriving late at work in order to travel through a series of industrial lofts. He is often invited to the Harvard Club in the afternoon, but...