Washington Square

Catherine tells Townsend that her father wishes to take her on a six-month trip to Europe but says she will do whatever Townsend thinks best. He encourages her to go, suggesting she might even buy her wedding clothes in Paris. He says it will be hard to wait for her, but he can do it.

Catherine lets Dr. Sloper know she will take the trip with him, and Mrs. Penniman tells Catherine that she leaves Townsend in good hands with her. The trip is extended to a full year while Mrs. Penniman enjoys her control of the Washington Square home. She enjoys inviting Townsend to tea, and he is her most frequent visitor, spending much of his time delighting her in the doctor’s private study.

Dr. Sloper does not speak to Catherine about Townsend during the first six months of the trip. He is unaware that Catherine receives frequent letters from him as they are enclosed within letters from Mrs. Penniman. Catherine reads the letters from Townsend in private and does not share their contents.

On a hike in the Alps, the doctor asks abruptly if Catherine has given Townsend up. When she replies that she has not, he asks if Townsend writes to her. She says that she receives letters from him about twice a month. Dr. Sloper confesses that he is very angry. Catherine asks why this anger has come on so suddenly, but Dr. Sloper replies that he has been seething for the past six months. The two find their way back to their carriage, and they do not speak about Townsend again for the next six months abroad.

On the night they begin their passage back to New York, Dr. Sloper asks her what she intends to do about Townsend. Catherine says they intend to marry. Dr. Sloper asks Catherine to give him three days advance notice before she leaves their home to marry Townsend.

Having returned to New York, Catherine discusses Townsend with Mrs. Penniman. Mrs. Penniman admits that she virtually lived with Townsend during Catherine’s absence and found him to have a wonderful character. Mrs. Penniman describes how Townsend sat in Dr. Sloper’s study during their absence, and Catherine finds this distasteful. Catherine brightens, however, when Mrs. Penniman tells her that Townsend found employment with a merchant just a week before Catherine’s return. She says that he is an equal partner rather than a subordinate.

Mrs. Penniman asks about Dr. Sloper, and Catherine tells her he is as firm as ever in his disapproval of her engagement. Catherine says she expects nothing from her father’s fortune now, to which her aunt replies that she never expected Catherine to give it up. Catherine says she has finished asking her father for support and has come home to be married.

Townsend comes to see Catherine the day after her return from Europe. When she tells him that they should not expect money from her father, he suggests that she should let him try again to bring him around. She tells him her father will not relent. She believes her father is not fond of her because she is unlike her mother, who was brilliant and beautiful. She says that she and Townsend must never ask anything more of Dr. Sloper.

Dr. Sloper tells Mrs. Penniman that he knows Townsend spent time in the house. He asks her opinion on whether Townsend will continue the engagement even though he is resolved to disinherit her if she marries him. Mrs. Penniman says that Townsend will hang on long enough to make the doctor uncomfortable.

Dr. Sloper then discusses the events during his absence with Mrs. Almond, who tells him she believes Townsend spent a good deal of time in the Washington Square house; however, she defends Mrs. Penniman. She naturally wanted company. Dr. Sloper thinks it was in bad taste for Townsend to make himself so comfortable in the house while he was away. Mrs. Almond replies that Townsend plans to get what he can while he can. However, she also tells her brother that, according to Catherine, Townsend is now making a good deal of money. Dr. Sloper contends that Catherine is setting herself up for a fall by staying with Townsend. Mrs. Almond says that if Dr. Sloper is right, they should do what they can to ease it for her.

Mrs. Penniman writes to Townsend that Dr. Sloper came home even more set against his engagement to Catherine. She and Townsend meet clandestinely and discuss the future. Townsend understands that Catherine will not inherit her father’s fortune if she marries him. Thus, he tells Mrs. Penniman that he must give Catherine up. He suggests that Mrs. Penniman prepare Catherine for the blow. Townsend suggests telling Catherine that he is unwilling to be the reason for her disinheritance. He tells Mrs. Penniman he will come to see Catherine again but does not wish to drag out the relationship.