The House of Mirth Book 1 Chapters 9-10

In the beginning of chapter 9 of The House of Mirth, we are met by the same servant girl that was at Selden's house. I found myself confused, wondering why this same woman was here. I was given an answer in little time, she has come to blackmail Lily. Lily, who usually possesses terrible luck, in this certain situation lucks out. Not only are the letters not from her, but rather they are from Mrs. Dorset, who was seemingly having a romantic encounter with Mr. Selden. I found this surprising, for I thought that Mr. Selden was a man of high integrity, who cared little about finances, and who had a vast knowledge. I was also surprised that Lily payed for the letters when they incriminated a woman that she less than cared about. She showed maturity in buying the letters to save her friend Selden the humiliation. Edith Wharton writes "She was aware only of feeling that Selden would wish the letters rescued" (Wharton, 85). I found myself surprised that Lily cared more for the feelings of someone else, than the revenge that she might enjoy.

In Chapter 10, Lily goes to the opera, with Rosedale and Gus Trenor, two people she doesn't especially enjoy. When Trenor said he wanted for her to visit him alone, I was appalled. When at the Bellomont, Mrs. Trenor had been such good friends with Lily, and to think that he believed Lily would do this to her friend. While they are talking, they are interrupted by George Dorset, who believes his wife is fooling around with another man. This gives credence to the possibility that Selden and Bertha Dorset had an affair.