Chapter 7 Summary

Mattie and her mother travel to the Ogilvie's expensive and large home where they are greeted by Mrs. Ogilvie and her two daughters, Colette and Jeannine. The tea is particularly unpleasant for Mattie - her clothing is uncomfortable and fragile, her mother is distracted and unintentionally rude, and Colette and Jeannine are rude and insulting. When Mrs. Cook gently hints that Mattie might perhaps be a suitable wife for Mrs. Ogilvie's youngest son Edward, Jeannine rudely interrupts and scoffs at the idea. The conversation turns to Colette's recent engagement. Instead of being excited, however, Colette appears ill at ease and pale. She spills tea on herself and then begins to pant, finally collapsing with a high fever.

Chapter 7 Analysis

The events described in Chapter 7 occur on the same day as Chapter 6. The Ogilvie family is a somewhat comically self-important society family in Philadelphia...