Part 2, Chapters 16, 17 and 18 Summary

These three chapters focus on the increasingly desperate lengths Lucy goes to in order to avoid dealing with her feelings for George.

Chapter 16 - Lying to George--After the encounter with George in the garden Lucy reacts calmly, determined to fight the feelings of love arising in her and to fulfill her duty to Cecil. She sends for Miss Bartlett, tells her what happened, and accuses her of telling Miss Lavish about the incident on the hillside. Miss Bartlett tries desperately to avoid answering, but eventually is forced to admit that yes, she did, in fact, tell Miss Lavish everything. But her vows that Miss Lavish will no longer be her friend mean nothing to Lucy, who wants to know what to do next. "We've ... made a muddle of it," she says, wanting to know whether George is to...