Part 3 Summary

In this section, Carrie recounts the history of Cressida's relationship with Blasius Bouchalka. Her narration fades to the past, where it is winter and one of the first snow storms of the year has just ended; Carrie and Cressida have decided to take a walk in New York's Central Park. Carrie describes it as a glorious afternoon; Cressida apparently shared that sentiment, for when the carriage arrived at five o'clock to take the women home, she ordered the driver to go back without them, saying that she and Carrie would have dinner uptown and return later in the evening.

As the women walk, Carrie realizes that given Cressida's level of fame, walking in the park without one of her many attendants turns their outing into a kind of adventure. Cressida, who comments on the beauty of the new-fallen snow and says that she...