Summary

In Chapter 6, Willie exposits in narration about her friend Clarissa. They met as undergraduates as Amherst College. Clarissa’s parents were deceased, so she went Willie to stay in Templeton during school breaks, and Clarissa quickly developed a strong rapport with Vivienne. After college, Clarissa became a journalist and moved to San Francisco. Stanford University is very close to San Francisco, and so Willie and Clarissa visited each other often. One day, Clarissa was diagnosed with lupus and was placed on a treatment. Clarissa was also ordered to rest and not work for a year. Willie felt bad for leaving California and returning to Templeton during this year, but Clarissa said that she would be fine with only Sully (Clarissa’s boyfriend) to take care of her for the time being. Willie then exposits upon the circumstances of her affair with Professor Primus Dwyer...