In this chapter, the narrator tries to make sense of the events of the previous chapter. He notes that the narrator's brother, a middle-aged man, has not yet revealed to the audience that he is in love with a young woman. He also notes that his brother is a man of "natural well-behaved personality" and a "passion for common sense" . The narrator wonders why the young man is not romantically involved with another woman, and wonders if he is being cold to her. He then asks the young woman what she thinks of the man's dress, and she tells him that she doesn't like his clothing, but that it is his taste. He asks her what she would do if the man started to like his clothes, and the woman replies that she would promise not to be like that. She then wonders why he would reject her if she was going to like him, and he replies that he would not reject her for that reason. The young woman wonders if there is a chance that they will be able to work things out, but the narrator tells her that she should be careful not to think too much about it.