Part 1: Encounter

In the beginning of this section, Irene, the main character and protagonist of the novel, has received a letter from Clare Kendry, a woman Irene grew up with. It is apparent that Irene is not pleased and remembers receiving a similar letter two years prior. She immediately recalls what Clare was like as a child. Clare lived with her nasty father and they had little money; even then, Irene recalls, Clare was 'œselfish, and cold, and hard.' However, Clare, who had an allegiance to no one, was able to transform into a warm, charming person when necessary. Clare's father, Bob Kendry, was killed in a saloon fight when she was a young girl. In the letter, Clare writes that she needs to see Irene again and references the last time they saw each other: two years earlier in Chicago.

In Chapter Two, Irene thinks about the events of this encounter. It is a hot August day and Irene, who is visiting Chicago, goes to the Drayton, a fancy hotel, to have some tea and escape the heat. While having her tea, Irene notices a beautiful woman with dark eyes and ivory skin. After the woman's companion leaves, she notices Irene'staring at her for so long that Irene wonders if the woman has realized she is African American. Eventually the woman comes to Irene and asks if people still call her 'œRene.' Irene searches her mind and eventually places the woman: she is Clare Kendry. Initially, Irene tells Clare about her own marriage and children, but is hesitant to ask Clare about what has happened with her in the twelve years since they have last seen each other, in the years since Clare's father died and she moved away. Clare asks Irene what people said about her, but Irene is too embarrassed to tell her. Clare tells Irene the story of what happened after her father died. Clare went to live with her austere, white great-aunts, who held racist beliefs and wanted to instill a work ethic in their niece, whose father (their nephew) was the product of a white father (their brother) and a black mother. Clare, who could pass for white, eventually met Jack, a wealthy white man. The two eloped and moved away. Irene is fascinated, if a little disturbed, by how Clare has managed to pass as white for all these years. Clare explains that Jack met her white aunts, so it has not been that difficult to account for her background. As the women part ways, Clare tells Irene that she will call her about coming over for tea the following Tuesday. As Irene walks home, she angrily realizes that Clare never told her Jack's last name and that she has no way of reaching her if she wants to. Irene feels like Clare did this on purpose because she does not trust Irene to be discreet. Irene is very angry and decides she is through with Clare.

The following Tuesday, Clare phones Irene all day until Irene agrees to speak with her. Clare convinces Irene to come over for tea, finally giving Irene her last name, which is Bellew. At Clare's house, Irene sees another old friend, Gertrude Martin. Gertrude, a light-skinned African-American woman, has also married a white man; although, her husband, Fred, is aware of her background and does not seem to mind. Clare tells them she has been living in various European cities and insisted she come along on this latest trip with her husband, a international banking agent of some sort, because she wanted to see some familiar faces in Chicago. Gertrude tells the other women about her twin sons. Gertrude and Clare, who has a daughter, talk about how they will not have any more children out of fear they could be dark skinned. Irene, who grows increasingly annoyed during this discussion, tells the group one of her sons is dark, as is her husband. The conversation shifts away from uncomfortable topics, but eventually bores Irene. As Irene is about to leave, Jack Bellew returns and comes in to meet Clare's friends. Jack, believing the other women are white, explains why he calls his wife 'œNig': because when they first married she was very white, but has grown darker since. Jack goes on to make a slew of racist remarks about how there will never be any black people in his family. As Jack continues to insert bigoted comments into the conversation, Irene grows tenser, until she decides to leave. Gertrude leaves with her and they discuss how risky it is for Irene to associate with them. Irene is angry for the rest of the night, realizing she should have never gone to visit Clare in the first place.

The final chapter of this section contains a letter Clare sends to Irene the day after their visit, acknowledging that she should not have insisted Irene come to visit but was very happy to have seen her. Clare remarks in the post script that Irene's way (that is, marrying an African-American man and not passing as white) is wiser and happier than her lifestyle. Irene is not pleased with the letter and tears it up. She begins to think about her husband, Brian, who will be picking her up at the train station that day when she arrives home in New York. She worries that while he she has been away, he might have started thinking about moving away again. Apparently at the beginning of their marriage, and periodically throughout, Brian has wanted to move the family to another country, which worries Irene.