This chapter opens with a conversation between a young man and his cousin. The young man tells his cousin that he is afraid of crowds and that his father is a good man. He tells the young man that his brother is good and that he will take care of his sister. The boy tells the girl that she is the only child of his family and that her parents have given her all their wealth and love. The girl tells the boy that she has been a diligent student and has always been ranked in the top five in school rankings. She tells him that her first 20 years were spent studying abroad for her boyfriend, who betrayed her. She was a laughingstock for a while, but then she gave up and married a man of her own choosing. She says that her family is treating her well and she is envious of her success.