Chapters VIII & IX Summary

Over the course of a month, in Chapter VIII, Carwin becomes a frequent visitor to the group and inevitably the subject of the voices is discussed. Carwin rationalizes all the events, stating that mimicry is common and that all can be rationally explained. Wieland cannot discount celestial intervention. Pleyel begins to withdraw from the group some, and Clara realizes that his growing feelings for her and her seeming ambiguity towards him, because she is guarding her true feelings, are the cause.

In Chapter IX, Clara anticipates Pleyel's arrival, imagining that the time is close when they will reveal their feelings for each other. When Pleyel does not arrive as arranged, she wonders if he does not love her or perhaps he has been hurt or killed. Unable to sleep that night, it occurs to her to investigate her closet...