Chapter 3, Pages 89 - 113 Summary

Nathan notes that Swede naturally incorporated himself into the Wasp world. As Nathan begins to imagine Swede, he sees him with his daughter Merry, who is now eleven, at a seaside cottage. Merry and Swede are very close, and both are "sun-drunk", when Merry stutters a request that her father kiss her the way he kisses her mother. Swede has always been more patient and accepting of Merry's stutter and, out of sympathy, innocence, and love for her, he almost accidentally, does kiss her on the mouth, and immediately afterward, withdraws from her dramatically so that she can feel safe it will never happen again. But this withdrawal may have been the wound that ruined her; Swede realizes now that everything he does, no matter how good, will make a difference, and not necessarily a good one. His healthy...