Part 2, Chapters 18, 19, 20 and 21 Summary

After Nicholas and Conchis settle into wicker chairs, Conchis begins the story of his life - of his English father's passion for his Greek mother, the discovery of his musical talent at a very young age, the exclusive focus of his education on that talent, and his growing friendship with a beautiful girl named Lily. Conchis talks at length about how his love for Lily grew, how he eventually discovered that his considerable talent was not enough to pursue a career, how his discovery of sexuality coarsened the purity of his feelings for Lily, and how he believed those feelings came from his Greek side. He joined the British army thinking he could exorcise his sexual nature by fighting in WWII. Conchis takes a break to fetch some brandy. While he's gone, Nicholas again hears rapid, light footsteps. He...