Spring in Marysville was bustling and bursting with green. Doug had Lil join him one day for the delivery to Mrs. Windermere. She had a guest for the first time ever, Mr. Gregory, the producer of the play she had just written about Jane Eyre. He had a huge car, a clear distaste for Mrs. Windermere’s pickiness, and a love for raspberry sherbet. Doug thought he was probably “a good guy” (294). Mrs. Windermere asked if Lil was Doug’s girlfriend, causing him to momentarily freak out, he quickly affirmed that this was the case.

They all sat down and ate sherbet, while Mr. Gregory and Mrs. Windermere discussed the issues with the upcoming production. Mr. Gregory was having a hard time finding the right cast. Though Lil resisted, they all decided Lil would make a great actress and should be in the play. Lil tried to deflect from this discussion by asking if Doug could be in the play, too. Only if he can “shriek like an insane woman” was Mrs. Windermere’s response. Lil assured her that Doug could; she witnessed him making just those sounds many times before. Doug could see that this was going to lead to a quarrel, so he excused himself and Lil from the table and started to head out.