Summary

After departing from Henrietta’s home in England, Isabel and Staines head off to Paris before the end destination of Italy. At their hotel, Isabel surprises Staines by asking if she would accompany her to dinner. The maid at first is unable to speak and then asks, “But how could I, ma’am? They wouldn’t let me in!” (135). Isabel does her best to calm Staines’ fears, yet the maid is too embarrassed of being a maid and believes that more respectable men and women will laugh at her. The episode is awkward and, initially challenging societal roles of who one can and cannot eat dinner with, Isabel ultimately regrets her decision to ask something so ridiculous of her maid. She then contemplates the importance of names and realizes that she cannot immediately remember Staines’ sister’s name and that, although she knows...