Summary

In Chapter 5, “The Butcher’s Wife,” Delphine ordered meat from Eva, inciting a conversation about cooking. Delphine immediately “liked Eva’s direct but polite manners” (69). When Eva showed Delphine her kitchen, Delphine felt “a fabulous expansion of being” (70). She was attracted to Eva’s life and shop, and “dearly wished” for a friend (71).

After her father’s death, Clarisse “stood to inherit the business, Strub’s Funerary” (73). Delphine visited Clarisse, glad to be reunited. Clarisse now knew about the Chavers, too.

After the bodies’ removal, “a traumatized exhaustion” settled between Delphine and Cyprian (76). Delphine asked Cyprian about the “man by the river” with whom she had seen him (76). Cyprian tried explaining. Delphine felt a new kinship with him (79).

Because Delphine was eager to be honest, she had told Eva about the Chavers. She also asked Eva for advice about the stink. Afterwards, Eva...