Summary

Chapter 1

The chapter opens with the main character, Olivia, attending a carnival show with her two friends, Frannie and Kate. The date is October 31st, 1900. Olivia and her friends attended a demonstration at the courthouse earlier in the day, advocating for women’s rights. Olivia was worrying about how her father “Mad Mead” was going to react.

The main headliners of the carnival are the Reverie’s, a hypnotist, Henri, and his sister, Genevieve. Henri chooses Olivia to be his first volunteer, because it’s her birthday. He hypnotizes her, which puts her at ease. He convinces her to go completely rigid, a command that she obeys. He snaps her out of the trance after a few moments, and Olivia finds herself feeling sad that she’s being escorted away from Henri.

Chapter 2

The girls are leaving the performance. Frannie and Kate help...