Book 1: Chapter 14 Summary

In Chapter 14, the novel takes a nonlinear turn, and we are brought back to the morning, when Lily had woken with such hope and happiness. Gerty Farish has woken with similar feelings to those of Lily. The previous night at the party, she realized that she is in love with Lawrence Selden, and mistakenly believes that her love is returned. She mistakes their shared friendship with Lily for a bond that ties them together and will eventually cement their love.

At the same time, that Gerty is thinking of the bond that she and Selden share with Lily, the object of her desire is in Albany thinking of a very different kind of bond that he shares with Lily. Selden's background and the reason for his independence and lack of interest in materialistic pleasures are revealed. He grew up in a...