Summary

In Chapter 16, when Diana returned to Cape Cod after the summer was over, she discovered Michael had left her flowers and made improvements to the cottage. Daisy knew if her relationship with Michael was going to last she had to tell him what had happened to her. That evening when Michael said he wished she would stay year-round, Diana used the lead-in to tell him the story of the rape.

The story returns to the present tense. As Diana runs toward the bonfire, she hopes Poe will kiss her and perhaps ask her to be his boyfriend. Poe hands her an alcoholic drink. Some of the other boys laugh at her when it makes her cough. Poe brings Diana alcoholic punch that she drinks until she is drunk. Diana goes off into the dunes to relieve herself and sits down because the...