Summary

In Chapter 5, Eden takes over the narration. She describes the literary parties she frequents as part of her job as a secretary at Torchon & Lyle, a New York City publishing house. She reminisces about when she was first hired there, by virtue of a letter of introduction from Mr. Hightower, a former senior editor who taught popular literature at the Fort Wayne ladies’ college she graduated from. To Eden’s surprise, he had given her two letters of recommendation, one addressing her as Eden Katz and the other Eden Collins, warning her that some people are “friendlier” than others (36). Despite his suggestion that she present herself as Eden Collins at Torchon & Lyle, Eden uses the letter introducing her as Eden Katz. A woman named Miss Everett hires her to be Mr. Turner’s “new girl” (39).

In Chapter 6, Eden recounts her first day at Torchon...