Chapter 23

Summary

• The scene takes place in March 1960 at the Tennyson house during a birthday party.
• The party guests are spread throughout the main level, with a string quartet playing outside on the grass.
• Hazel, after her mum's appointment, spends time preparing for the party and is accompanied by Barnaby, who is affectionate and attentive to her needs.
• They both express their love for each other with a kiss in the midst of the party.
• Tenny, likely the birthday celebrant, joins Hazel and Barnaby, and Hazel wishes him a happy birthday. A young girl attempts to kiss Tenny, but he avoids her.
• Hazel and Barnaby meet Kelty in the parlor. She is wearing a blue dress with white flowers, compliments the party, and embraces them.
• Fergus, described as wild-looking with unruly blonde hair, joins the group and shakes their hands while holding a partially eaten martini olive.
• Kelty expresses a wish to formally greet Tenny for his birthday, and they head to the sunroom to discuss private matters.
• In the sunroom, Hazel and Kelty discuss plans to go to St. Ives, Cornwall, and Kelty confesses that she has sent a telegram to an address found on a receipt without consulting Hazel.
• The telegram contains a message about finding a story and indicates that it is a matter of life and death, and Kelty provides Hazel's address in the communication.
• Hazel forgives Kelty for acting impulsively and accepts that they may need to go to America if there's no response to the telegram.
• Fergus and Barnaby bust into the sunroom, joking about Hazel and Kelty's secret conversation.
• The chapter ends with the couples leaving the sunroom together and Kelty questioning Hazel about the significance of Cornwall. Hazel silently communicates that it has to do with "Harry."