Summary

In poetic prose that echoes that of the first chapter, narration describes the pond to which George told Lennie to return, paying particular attention to a heron making a meal out of a water snake. As Lennie arrives, the heron takes off … and a second snake retreats into the reeds at the side of the pond.

As Lennie sits and looks into the pond, he imagines being visited by his Aunt Clara who, speaking in Lennie’s own voice, tells him angrily how good George has been to him. Lennie protests that he tried to do as George wanted him to and promises to go live in the hills where he’ll be no trouble. Aunt Clara tells him he always says that, and Lennie says he knows George will never let him tend the rabbits now. Aunt Clara disappears, and Lennie imagines being visited by...