The Bostonians

When they return, Verena finds two notes, one for Olive, and one for herself from Basil. She takes Basil’s letter upstairs before Olive sees it. Later, in “a sufficiently gay and natural tone of voice” (229), she tells Olive that Basil would like to see her at 11 the next morning. Olive tells her it is her “own affair” (229). When Olive remarks snidely that perhaps Verena can invite him on the train, Verena tells Olive she is “bitter” (229). Olive questions the necessity of Verena’s meeting Basil. Verena informs her she is “curious” (230) and that she hopes to convert him. Whereas before, Verena had seen Olive’s “peculiarities” (230) as admirable, she now wonders if they are “inharmonious with the scheme of the universe” (230). She is happy that she did not tell Olive about Basil’s visiting her in Cambridge.

After dining with Mr. Burrage, Olive shows Verena the letter she received that day from Mrs. Burrage. In the letter, Mrs. Burrage asks if Olive will visit her at home the next day so they can discuss something important. Verena remarks that it will be nice for Olive to “have a secret with Mrs.