The Autumn Garden, Act 2 Summary

Scene 1 - Early on a Sunday morning about a week later, Nick paints Constance's portrait and tells her that while he and Crossman were out drinking, Crossman confessed to being in love with her. Later, after Constance has gone upstairs to change for church, Nick tells Carrie that he saw Frederick in a travel agent's with Payson, who he says has a bad character and reputation. Later, Nina takes Nick to task for interfering with people's lives, but he tells her that if she doesn't like what he's doing she can go away.

Meanwhile, conversation between Sophie and Frederick reveals that their relationship is one of convenience rather than of love - it is, Sophie acknowledges, "the only way". After Sophie goes, Carrie confronts Frederick with her knowledge of his plans to bring Payson along on the...