Summary

In “Sicilian Vespers,” Ivy and Charles Simpson travel to Sicily together, but Charles is stuck in bed with a toothache. He stays in the room, moaning, thinking about his marriage, and worrying about the secrets he has kept from Ivy. He wants her to enjoy their holiday and feels guilty about his condition.

Ivy returns to the room and prepares for bed. She wishes Charles felt better and feels irritated that his tooth has laid him up. She stands on the balcony and considers her relationship and what her late father Aubrey would think. She constantly thinks about “the humiliations of her childhood” and is glad Aubrey died before meeting Charles (235).

Ivy tells Charles about the American couple, Clark and Imelda Shacklock, she met that evening. She gets in bed and continues thinking about the couple, unable to sleep. Imelda has a nicer...