Chapter 17 Summary and Analysis

Kay is most pained at stories of Phil behaving irrationally, but Dr. Cameron assures her this is part of the disease. Phil is, indeed, sick. Kay agonizes about living a twenty-two-year-long lie. The Restons are staunch allies, advising she fight for the Post and begin preparing Don to inherit the paper by clerking during the summer. Luvie Pearson insists Kay can handle the job until Don is ready. If Cissy Patterson was up to the job, so is Kay. It is in her genes and has only been pushed down over time. Kay tries to dismiss this as sweet but wrong-headed, but others point out how extensively Phil has been controlling and mocking her. Pearson keeps Kay from giving in to Phil's demand to meet and talk about the divorce when he picks up his belongings. Kay keeps to herself at...