Summary

Rose told Lillie about the subsequent years at the theater company. Vlashkin’s success inspired Mr. Krimberg to hire more actors, and Rose was leading an “interesting” (14) life. However, one day Rose learned that Vlashkin had a wife. Vlashkin tried to dismiss her, stating that he uses Rose’s apartment as a refuge for his “troubled spirit” (14). Rose persisted, and Vlashkin told her that his wife was a wonderful woman, but he now entrusted Rose with his “soul” (15).

Some months later, Rose briefly met Mrs. Vlashkin. Mrs. Vlashkin was elegant and spoke Yiddish perfectly. Rose felt bad because she considered herself “poison” (15) to Mrs. Vlashkin’s life. After this experience, Rose decided to leave Vlashkin, because she did not want to be a homewrecker. In the days following their separation, Rose and Vlashkin merely exchanged pleasantries when they saw each other around the...