Chapter 9 Summary

Ducane is again with Jessica, who is pleading with him not to leave her. He tells her that he shouldn't have let the relationship start, but she argues that it is the best thing he has done. After drifting around in indecision and confusion, she sees Ducane as the first certainty in her life. He has been the first serious event in her life and she feels that she loves him without reservation.

Ducane and Jessica have never really understood each other. Ducane might have prevented this by treating Jessica as a student and giving her instruction, but Ducane feared this and he avoided influencing her. In fact, doing so would have made Ducane reveal himself to her, making him vulnerable. Therefore, he had withdrawn from her in order to give her space.

She pleads with him to visit her again, thinking that...