Summary

This section of the novel begins with a description of Emilie’s funeral. During the funeral Alice found little comfort in the scripture that was read and the prayers that were recited. She believed the eulogy did not impart any likeness to her grandmother at all. It was only when she spotted her father-in-law in the crowd that Alice felt touched. After the funeral Alice thought of the ways her life might have been different if she had not known her grandmother so closely. She doubted she would have come to love reading and also wondered if she would have married Charlie. The two had the similar qualities of mischief and humor that drew Alice to Charlie.

At the reception, Charlie surprised Alice by being in a hurry to leave. Charlie said he had a work meeting that had...