Summary

As Chapter Twenty-One begins, Charlie and Mr. Redmond return to Mrs. Pickwick’s for dinner. As she gives them their rabbit stew, she blushingly receives Mr. Redmond’s compliments. When he mentions that her advertisement referenced the fact that she also reads palms, Charlie immediately asks to have his read. Mrs. Pickwick is, at first, reluctant, but then sits down and has a look, surprising Charlie by referencing the loss he has just suffered. When he asks about the race, all she is able to say is that she sees a pair of white running shoes and a pair of black ones. When Charlie asks whether there is more, Mrs. Pickwick says that sometimes, the spirit world holds its truths back. When Charlie goes to bed, he wonders about those running shoes, and then realizes just how different and how important the race...