Chapter Four: Cousin Franklin Summary and Analysis

After Eleanor returned from Europe, she ran into Franklin on a train on her way to visit her grandmother. She had not seen Franklin since the Christmas party three years before. He stopped by to chat. Eleanor was wearing a stylish outfit, had a glowing complexion and shining hair and the softest and sympathetic blue eyes he had ever seen. The two young people were fifth cousins, once removed. Franklin was traveling with his mother, Sara, who was widowed three years before. Eleanor visited with Franklin and Sara until they exited the train at the Hyde Park station.

During the winter of Eleanor's coming out, she began running into Franklin quite often. They even saw each other at the White House when her Uncle Ted, who had been elected Vice President, became President when an...