The Girl in His Shadow

Nora finds Daniel packing his things. He says that he must return home because his family has learned of the incident at the club. She places some books on his bed, but he doesn’t want her in his bedroom. Nora thinks it’s ridiculous that he rejects help “merely to follow convention” (156) but says nothing. Three days later, Daniel has not returned or sent word. Nora raises the subject with Croft, who says that Daniel is trying to put things right with “that flibbertigibbet,” his fiancée. Croft thinks that Daniel is better off without Mae, and Nora initially judges Daniel for choosing romance over medicine, but when she imagines herself in his shoes, she relents. She does want love and hopes that Harry might be her chance. She resolves to test Croft’s theory that pig dung was the cause of the patient’s sepsis.

When Harry arrives unexpectedly the next morning, Nora agrees to go with him because she is anxious to get out of the house. Harry says that Daniel will have to give up medicine to win Mae back. Harry feels guilty for failing to prevent Nora from entering the club, telling her, “I actually liked it […]. You aren’t like other women” (163).