Summary

In Part I, Chapter 3, after Louis leaves, Isabel does her best to avoid Eva. Eva is loud, restless, and touches everything in the house. Isabel misses her solitude and feels irritated by Eva’s and Neelke’s presences. Isabel has never liked Neelke as she felt betrayed by Neelke’s sister Silke. She and Silke were friends, but Silke developed a crush on Louis and Isabel resented her for it. Years later, Isabel gave Neelke the housekeeping job because she needed help.

One morning, Isabel tells Eva she no longer wants her staying in Mother’s room. Eva insists Louis said she could stay there and refuses to move. After breakfast, Isabel spends the day visiting Rian, “an old friend of her mother’s” (39). When she gets home, she finds Eva in the drawing room. She is annoyed when Eva informs...