Passing, Part Three, Chapters Two and Three Summary

Irene, in her turmoil, tries to think she might be wrong about the affair, since she has no real evidence, but she cannot quite convince herself that it is not true. Clare has returned to her other life, her husband being back home. Brian has completely withdrawn, but Irene tries to assume it is the same old longing that he has always had and does not involve Clare.

It occurs to Irene that she has the means to remove Clare from her life entirely. For the first time, Irene wishes she had not been born a Negro, since people suffer for themselves and for their race. Irene decides she does not need John Bellew to know that Clare is part black, but he needs only to know that she has been...