The House of Mirth Book 2 Chapters 9-10

In chapters 9 and 10 of The House of Mirth, by Edith Wharton, Lily has been brought all the way down to the working class. This is so very different from the Lily from the beginning of the story. In the beginning Lily would have used the letters to regain her social affluence. Wharton writes referring to Lily "She discovered an increasing sense of loneliness--a dread of returning to the solitude of her room, while she could be anywhere else, or in any company but her own" (Wharton 238). I still wonder why Lily is so hesitant to use the letters. While she doesn't want to hurt Selden, and I can understand that it would be the right thing not to turn in the letters, I would say not many would be able to hold back the evidence. I know that if I had gone from hanging out with the richest people of New York all the way down to making hats, I would have used the letters. She would have a whole lot of money, if she would just blackmail the wretched woman who would just be getting what she deserves. Lily is also taking sleeping medication, which can't be good, is Lily destined to become homeless and addicted to drugs now? I hope not, that does not seem like the woman we first met, yet it is entirely possible now. It is quite sad how bad Lily's life has gotten, she doesn't even talk to Gerty any more, for fear of running into Selden. I hope Lily's life picks up, for it's beginning to be a bit of a sob story.