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The Price of Salt, or Carol Chapter 21 Summary

How It All Goes Down

  • Therese receives a long letter from Richard.
  • In it, he says that she fills him with disgust and he's done with her. Ouch.
  • Therese doesn't care, though; she's glad to be rid of him.
  • Therese also has a letter from Carol, telling her to return to New York with the car.
  • She doesn't give a reason, and Therese wonders what happened.
  • Therese gets another letter from Mrs. Robichek, thanking her for the sausage.
  • Therese calls Carol, who tells her to return to New York so they can talk—she can't talk now because she suspects her phone has been wiretapped.
  • After hanging up the phone Therese finds a letter from Carol on her desk that she never noticed.
  • We guess the landlady delivers mail wherever she feels like it.
  • It's a long letter from Carol, who explains that Harge has threatened to take full custody of Rindy, their daughter.
  • Although Carol says she loves Therese, she says that she had to promise her lawyers she'll never see Therese again.
  • Upset, Therese goes to the library to be alone.
  • In a room, she sees a painting that reminds her of Carol.
  • The painting seems to come alive, "the mouth smiled and the eyes regarded her with nothing but mockery" (21.58). A moving painting? Where is this library, Hogwarts?
  • Therese gasps and literally runs out of the library, trying to catch her breath.