Chapter 7 "An Officer and a Gentleman" Summary and Analysis

Jamison meets Dr. David Laurie, a tall, handsome English psychiatrist, during her first year on the faculty at UCLA. She finds his air of quiet, matter-of-fact caring engaging; and they immediately are drawn to each other. Sharing similar interests in art and literature, as well as in healing the mentally ill, they develop a close friendship over almost daily lunchtime meetings. David wants to push the relationship further, and asks her out to dinner. However she repeatedly declines because, although separated from her husband, she is still married.

After he returns to London, they stay in touch by mail; but Jamison is completely immersed in her own career and personal life, as well as fighting yet another manic episode followed by depression. Jamison and her husband try once more...