Play 3, Act 1, Scene 2 Summary

This scene is set in the sitting room, where the portraits of Abe Mannon and his wife again loom over the action. Lavinia comes in, imagines the portraits are looking at her accusingly, and tells them to stop. She then realizes that Orin hasn't come in with her and calls for him. He comes in, saying he was looking for Christine in the study, but then he remembers that she is gone forever and almost breaks down. Lavinia bullies him out of it and then changes her tone and talks cheerfully about Peter and Hazel. Orin bitterly says that neither he nor Lavinia has any right to love in their lives and then comments on how much like Christine she has become. Their conversation hints that while they were on the islands, Orin had begun to feel inappropriate attractions...