Summary

Chapter 9 "Mrs. Bulmer" - This chapter focuses on Mr. Stephen Bulmer's wife, Margaret Bulmer. The wife of a cold and persnickety husband, Margaret has evolved over their years of marriage into a very submissive and docile woman living in quiet terror of upsetting her husband. She can tell something is wrong when she finds her husband burning a book, "Disturber of the Peace," in the fireplace. Now Margaret notices a change in Stephen. He seems less likely to complain about things or do things that might upset her. Privately Stephen is ashamed and resentful that David Gaymer, the author character in "Disturber of the Peace," might be modeled after him because it is an unflattering portrait, one in which Gaymer's wife leaves him for another man because he is so horrible to her.

The next morning Stephen...