Book I, Chapters 17-22 Summary

At the invitation of Taeko's friend Katherina, Taeko, Sachiko and Teinosuke go to dinner at Katherina's home. It is a small place she shares with her brother and mother. When they arrive, Katherina is alone, explaining her mother and brother are out. They sit and talk for some time until the hour gets so late that the Japanese visitors wonder if they may have come on the wrong day, since Katherina makes no mention of eating and there seems to be nobody preparing any food. They carefully ask her if they have made a mistake, and she quickly leads them into the dining room, where there are many plates of food. Her mother arrives, along with her brother and a friend of his. They eat and drink and enjoy their conversation, although the Japanese visitors find the...