Washington Square

When Mrs. Penniman and Townsend meet at the oyster saloon, he asks if Catherine sent a message. But Mrs. Penniman did not tell Catherine of her intention to meet with Townsend. He then asks if Catherine will hold steadfast to her relationship with him despite her father’s wishes. Mrs. Penniman says that Catherine is committed to him.

Mrs. Penniman suggests that her brother will never be convinced by arguments to accept Townsend. The better tactic would be to marry Catherine privately. Dr. Sloper will come around when he sees the accomplished fact of the marriage. She also suggests that Townsend will be able to convince Dr. Sloper that he is not interested in Catherine’s money if he marries her under the threat of her disinheritance. Townsend admits that he enjoys the idea of her money. He asks Mrs. Penniman if she believes Catherine will be cut off if she marries him. Townsend says that he fears being the cause of such an injury to Catherine. Townsend walks Mrs. Penniman back to the Washington Square residence. She points out her bedroom window and says that Catherine’s bedroom windows can be seen around the corner.

Mrs. Penniman tells Catherine she met with Townsend, and Catherine is angry with her. She feels it is not Mrs. Penniman’s place to meet with Townsend when Catherine is not doing so. Still, Catherine asks what Townsend said, and Mrs. Penniman tells her that Townsend said he is ready to marry Catherine any day. Mrs. Penniman says that his only fear is that Catherine will be too afraid of her father, and Catherine admits that she does fear her father.

Catherine asks that Mrs. Penniman not meet Townsend again. Mrs. Penniman says that she, unlike Catherine, made no promise to Dr. Sloper not to see him. Catherine says her father would not like it, though she agrees not to tell him. Mrs. Penniman says she will take no further steps on Catherine’s behalf because Catherine is ungrateful.

In the evening, Catherine approaches her father in his study. She tells him that she has not seen Townsend but would like to. Dr. Sloper asks if she wishes to tell him goodbye. Catherine says that is not her purpose and that she wrote him asking him to wait.

Dr. Sloper calls Catherine a dear and faithful child and asks if she would like to make him happy. She says she would but fears she cannot if it means relinquishing Townsend. He asks if she has faith in his wisdom and desire for her to have a happy future. He then asks her to trust his opinion that Townsend is selfish and idle. He says that she is free to see Townsend again, but he will not forgive her if she does. He tells her that if she marries against his wishes, she will not inherit his money.

Dr. Sloper asks Mrs. Penniman to keep her interactions with Townsend to herself. He says that if Catherine continues to encourage Townsend, it will be against his wishes; therefore, Mrs. Penniman should not have any part in it. Dr. Sloper indicates that for Mrs. Penniman to take any other part would show disloyalty to him, and he intimates that it could have consequences for her.

Mrs. Penniman goes with Catherine to Catherine’s room. Catherine weeps with her head on Mrs. Penniman’s lap far into the night. When Mrs. Penniman sees Catherine preparing to present herself at breakfast the next day, she suggests that Catherine stay in bed for three days instead. However, Catherine says she wants to act just as she normally would. She writes to Townsend and asks him to come see her the following day.

Catherine meets with Townsend at the Washington Square house. Townsend embraces her while she is again struck by his beauty. Townsend says she was cruel to make him wait so long for a decision. Catherine says that her father’s position on the engagement has not changed, but she never thought of giving Townsend up.

Townsend asks if she will marry him tomorrow. He indicates that she cannot please both him and her father and must make a choice between them. Catherine reveals that if she marries him, she will be cut off. Townsend says that makes no difference in his affection, though it would impact their manner of living. He asks if a clever woman in her position might not bring her father around. Catherine agrees to marry Townsend whenever he wants.

In conversation with Mrs. Almond, Dr. Sloper professes that he believes Catherine will continue her romance with Townsend. He believes she will try to drag out the engagement in the hope that he will change his mind. He says that he will not change his mind, though he expresses interest in observing the development of the relationship. Mrs. Almond thinks her brother is rather cold-blooded. However, Dr. Sloper insists he is indebted to Catherine for the suspense attached to her relationship with Townsend. Dr. Sloper decides he will suggest a trip to Europe, during which he believes either Catherine will forget Townsend or Townsend will forget Catherine.

Mrs. Penniman again meets with Townsend. She tells him to be patient rather than rush into marriage, but he accuses her of proffering mercurial advice. She confesses that she is worried about her place in the doctor’s home. He threatened to turn her out if she continued to see Townsend. He reveals, in turn, that Catherine consented to a private marriage. He says that a date is not yet fixed, but it would be awkward to back out now. Mrs. Penniman tells Townsend that Catherine loves him so much that he could do anything, including postponing the wedding, without fear that Catherine would think less of him.