1665, Pages 150 - 180 Summary

Catharina becomes weary of locking up her jewelry box with Griet in the studio every evening. Griet learns that Catharina plans to move Griet back down to the attic now that the nurse is leaving soon. Griet knows that this request will, inevitably, be like asking Vermeer to choose between the jewelry box, which is a part of his new painting, or her. She knows he will choose the jewelry box and believes that if she cannot work closely with Vermeer, she cannot imagine continuing to work in that household. Vermeer decides not to send Griet back to the attic, but comes up with a compromise - he gives the jewelry box to Catharina each evening after he finishes painting, and Catharina brings it back up to Griet in the studio when she unlocks the door each morning. This arrangement works...