The Chaperone

On the first Saturday since arriving in New York, Cora wakes up early and gets in the bath; afterward she finds a note from Louise saying that she went across the street to a luncheonette to use the bathroom and have breakfast. When she gets to the luncheonette, Cora finds Louise talking to Floyd Smithers, a young man who works there in the summers while going to Columbia University. Cora met him in a previous chapter when he was trying to flirt with Louise, and when she came in again alone one day, Floyd asked her about Louise. Cora tries to dissuade Floyd from taking an interest in Louise.

As they’re having their breakfast, Cora asks Louise if she wants to go to church the next day. Back in Wichita, Cora’s friend Viola told her that Louise went to Sunday school by herself, even though no one else in her family went to church. When Cora mentions that she knows Louise has made an effort to go to church, Louise becomes defensive about the subject, but then she laughs it off. She’s not interested in going to church.

That night, and Louise go to another show, one in which the performers are black and the