Summary

Chapter 27 starts with a letter from May to Violet Keith dated September 22, 1876. May updates Violet on her new life in Paris, tells her she is taking classes with Monsieur Krug, living with Alice, and asks Violet for updates on her life. May is busy preparing a piece for the famous Paris art Salon. May’s friend Alice is there with her and has endless money, but May is still refusing to use any of Louisa’s. One day at a party May meets Mary Cassatt and the two of them go walking. Mary shows her some paintings of ballet dancers in a store window. May says, “These are for sale? They look unfinished” (231). Mary has to go, and gives May her card.

In Chapter 28 spring is near, as is the deadline for the Salon exhibition. May decides to focus on still life, painting...