Chapter 8 Summary

Saturday is in full swing. Sophie leaves to go to her friend Claire's for lunch. Sophie feels happy for a moment, as if she is going to get away with Francis, Charlie and the cat bite. But she begins to worry that her wealth spoils her and leaves her dependent on bodily pleasures. She stops by a store briefly before getting to Claire's. One of the store clerks notices that her hand is bleeding and Sophie acts as if it is no matter.

Sophie arrives at Claire's apartment, not far from Central Park West. Its appearance smacks of the 1930s. The kitchen inside is filthy and Claire is cooking. The two begin to chatter. Leon, Claire's ex-husband (who occasionally sleeps there) has married one of his MA students, who constantly throws herself at him, but otherwise Leon's new wife is apparently rather dull...