Part 1, Chapter 7 Summary

They Return-- Narration describes the events that followed George kissing Lucy in terms of a game played by everyone on the expedition. Everyone loses track of everyone else until it comes time to climb into their respective carriages for the drive back to Florence. George elects to walk and Mr. Emerson, in a carriage with Miss Lavish and Mr. Beebe, worries about him aloud. Lucy and Miss Bartlett, however, are worried about other things - the approaching thunderstorm, which frightens Lucy when it appears, and what to do in the aftermath of the kiss. She and Miss Bartlett huddle closer together. Lucy, desperate for love, mistakes the comfort offered by Miss Bartlett's proximity for genuine, deep affection.

They discuss in whispers what to do about George and about Phaeton, whom Miss Bartlett says saw everything after showing Lucy where George...