Summary

Chapter 7 "First Fruits" - This chapter opens with Mr. Abbott and Barbara Buncle sitting in her rather shabby living room discussing the novel and the reaction it has been getting. Mr. Abbott says that no lawyer has a libel case against the novel and tries to calm her down, privately observing how attractive she is. Barbara says she only chose him as her publisher because he was first alphabetically, and she is really taken aback because she did not expect this sort of reaction from her peers, although in retrospect she admits she probably should have.

Mr. Abbott marvels at the luck and chance behind this successful bestseller. He gives Miss Buncle some money from her earnings, and she reluctantly accepts it, still in awe and disbelief that her book is making a profit. He...