Chapter 3

Summary

• The chapter begins with the photographer Carl Trevelyan apologizing for the journalist Mr. Scarrow's behavior and expressing his interest in the Glass Library and magic.
• Gabe (aka William Johnson) recognizes Trevelyan as a war photographer. Gabe and Trevelyan begin discussing a lens that can make an object appear larger and reveal faint letters on a page.
• Trevelyan offers to attempt magnifying the words in his studio and Sylvia Ashe, the assistant librarian, accompanies Gabe and the others.
• At the studio, Trevelyan takes several photographs and agrees to develop them by the next day. He also requests to keep the rare and valuable book a little longer. Sylvia agrees, despite her reservations.
• Back at the library, Gabe invites Professor Nash and Sylvia to dinner. Sylvia is initially uncomfortable at the idea but ultimately accepts the invitation.
• The dinner scene reveals the strained relationship between Gabe and Ivy's family, especially Ivy's mother. Ivy's mother raises concerns regarding the library's fundings and Gabe's domestic staff.
• The dinner also reveals tensions surrounding Gabe and Ivy's upcoming wedding and the return of Gabe's parents.
• While Ivy's mother continues to act high-handed, her father presses Gabe for a wedding date. Willie ends up defending Gabe's decision to wait for his parents' return.
• Ivy displays understanding and affection towards Gabe; Gabe responds similarly after a pause.
• The dinner concludes with brief but pleasant conversation between Sylvia and Ivy's brother Bertie.

• The narrator has a dinner conversation with a man who explains he did not go to war because his work at his father's factory was valuable to the war effort. He shares about his magic abilities and how he feels inferior to his father's and sister's.
• After dinner, the narrator gravitates towards a professor who is later engaged in a conversation about magic by Mr. Hobson. The narrator then observes Gabe, who seems physically present but mentally absent from a conversation with Mrs. Hobson and Ivy.
• The narrator realizes that Gabe, despite being surrounded by people he knows, feels lonely. The narrator believes that Gabe needs company and openly expresses the desire to be on his side.
• The narrator reflects how war alters individuals - making women more confident, parents become fearful, some soldiers returning traumatized, while some become more carefree. It observes that Gabe is having a hard time adjusting, with his life stunted by war before he could mature into the next phase of his life. His potential is suppressed by his sorrowful wartime memories.
• The narrator suggests that it's fortunate Gabe's wedding is not happening soon as he needs to rediscover his identity before becoming a spouse and father.
• Gabe almost approaches the narrator but stops himself and turns back to Ivy and Mrs. Hobson; the perceived connection between them breaks.
• The narrator goes home with Professor Nash in Gabe's vehicle, yet finds it hard to sleep due to continually thinking about Gabe's tormented gaze.