Part 2 - The Past - Chapters 9 and 10 Summary

Chapter 9 - Narration describes, with intensely poetic language, the gray rainy day of Hythe as Karen and Max arrive, make their way to their hotel, and have dinner. Narration also points out that Karen took off her engagement ring and put on a plain wedding band.

Lying in bed as Max sleeps, lovemaking having apparently been completed, Karen asks herself what she's done and, in language that alternates between first person present and third person past, contemplates her situation. She considers how things have changed but must appear to have stayed the same, and how she made sure she couldn't have a child but has thoughts of who that child might be (at one point first person narration directly addresses Leopold). She realizes she values her relationship with Naomi more than...