Part 2, Chapter 1 Summary

The courtship of John Dowell and Florence Hurlbird is chaste and noisy, and takes place during the afternoons. John learns that Florence wants to marry a wealthy, leisured man with and English accent who could get her into the British Royal Court. John informs Florence's aunts that he his going to take her to Europe as his wife, and they ask him to reconsider because he is a "good young man." Late that night, John fetches Florence with a rope ladder. She offers herself to him from her bed, but he rejects her. John hurries out the window so they can meet the minister, but Florence does not follow for nearly two hours. They marry, breakfast with Florence's family, and leave for Europe.

Florence suffers heart trouble during a storm at sea, and doctors tell John that he better not engage...