Rules Of Civility
Amor Towles
Contributed by Zonia Jines
Chapter 8-11
Summary

On a random night in May, Katey runs into a woman named Fran Pacelli—an old acquaintance from Mrs. Martingale’s boarding house. Fran speaks brusquely and carries herself in the same manner. Her father is in the trucking business. Fran invites Katey for a drink, and when Katey accepts, the two end up at an Irish bar that has a sign out front indicating that women aren’t welcome. Fran doesn’t seem to care about the sign and drags Katey inside. Katey eventually realizes that Fran is really after a guy named Grubb who works for Pacelli Trucking. Grubb is arguing with a few friends (Hank and Johnny), all of whom look like the rough sort. When Fran sits with Grubb, Katey is left with the arguing friends and realizes they are talking about Cezanne. 

She then discovers the “Hank” she’s conversing with is Tinker’s older brother. Hank detests Cezanne and has notions about art despite being (at least to Katey) a knock-off of Stuart Davis. She also realizes that it is Hank who painted the dockworker scene in Tinker’s bedroom. She spars with Hank over art and beauty and wonders why Tinker ever thought they’d get along. She brings up the fact that she knows Tinker, which shocks Hank. He annoys Katey even further when he uses a derogatory word to describe the woman in Tinker’s life, even though Katey tells him that “the woman” is her friend. Later in the chapter, Fran invites Katey to Belmont to see the runarounds—an event where people can see horses running before they compete in major races for money. Katey wakes up early, and she and Fran go to Belmont before work. When they arrive, Katey realizes why Fran wanted to go to Belmont: Grubb is there with his friend Johnny. Though mildly annoyed, Katey starts to warm up to Grubb who gives her coffee and a pastry. 

In time, Katey understands that the runarounds are a lot more fun than the races. She spies a variety of people in the stands, from former horse caretakers to the self-made and wealthy, and likens the people she sees to those in Dante’s Inferno. She imagines that her father would love the excitement of the runarounds. Later, she spies a man in a box seat and begins talking with Anne, Tinker’s godmother. Anne looks gorgeous and poised, and Katey feels frumpy in her presence. Anne explains that the man in the box seat is Jake de Roscher, a wealthy, self-made man. Anne notes that Katey has good taste and asks about Tinker and Eve. Anne doesn’t disapprove on some moral ground, but she doesn’t see a future for Eve due to Tinker. She then points to one of the women in the box, Jake’s fiancée. While most women would aspire to be the fiancée (Carrie), Anne would rather be in Jake’s shoes.

When Katey leaves work on June 9, a brown Bentley is parked outside waiting for her. It turns out to be Eve, who whisks Katey away to play. Katey notes that Eve looks both gorgeous and experienced, especially as she now shows her scar and seems empowered by it. It’s Eve’s birthday, and she wants to have drinks with Katey at the Explorers Club. She and Tinker will dine at the Rainbow Room later. The brown Bentley is a gift from Wallace, who is letting Eve borrow it to shop around town. The two are seated in a central table at the restaurant. Katey notes how Eve walks like a man with her bad leg, as if she has a club foot, using it to highlight her beauty and composure now. 

The two chat about Eve’s plans, and Katey realizes that Eve is orchestrating her life with Tinker more and more. Eve once wanted to be a movie director, and now it seems she’s doing just that. The two are interrupted by two rowdy men, and one of them knows Eve. Eve puts him in his place, and Katey learns that the man tried to force himself on a serving girl. Eve stopped him. Katey insists on paying the bill. Eve leaves, but not before the two make plans to meet up again on the twenty-fourth. Katey notes that the champagne has gotten to her. When she leaves, however, the brown Bentley is waiting for her. 

The chauffeur, Michael, mentions that Eve wanted to walk home, and that he was instructed to make sure Katey got home safely. He takes her home the long way around, and she notes how great things look in the luxurious Bentley. The next day, Eve tells Katey they’ll have to postpone their previously made plans as Tinker is taking her on a cruise to London. A week after this, Katey meets up with Fran and Grubb, and Fran shows her a newspaper clipping about Vanderbilt Jr.’s annual scavenger hunt event aboard a ship. The article explains how Eve and Tinker won the scavenger hunt, and that their prize is a week-long stay at a fancy hotel and a private tour of the National Gallery.

On June 22, Katey is taking depositions in the room of an opposing firm. The place has no air-conditioning, and when lunch hits, she goes to Central Park for some air. As she’s sitting and reading Charles Dickens, she spots Anne. This marks the third time she’s seen Anne. On a whim, she follows Anne to the Plaza Hotel. She tries to make herself inconspicuous in the lobby, but a page delivers a note from Anne, requesting that Katey visit her in her room. Embarrassed, Katey goes up to see Anne. She meets Anne’s secretary, Bryce, who pronounces her name as Kon-tent and not as it should be: Kon-tent. She and Anne catch up, and Katey realizes that the style of the apartment matches Tinker’s apartment, the so-called invisible hand at work in his décor. As the two have cocktails, Katey notes that Anne isn’t wearing a bra. 

She asks Anne about the room. Anne responds that it’s a convenient office for meetings and such. When Anne asks Katey if she’s still working at the law firm and Katey says yes, Anne seems disappointed. The conversation then turns to Tinker and Eve. Anne jokes about the Riviera being perfect for romance. When Katey asks her if she’s still not sold on Eve and Tinker’s relationship, she admits that she thought Tinker would find someone more intellectually suited for him. Katey tells Anne that Eve may well surprise her. When Anne’s guest arrives, Katey freshens up and takes her leave.

Katey receives a letter from Tinker when she arrives home that night. She pours herself some wine and begins reading the sentimental letter. Tinker talks about a church he visited and a charming fishing village along the coast. Katey eventually balls up the letter and throws it away. She then reminisces about her father who never complained, especially not when Katey’s mother left them. He died when she was 19 years old, but while on his deathbed, he mentioned that if he could appreciate the simple things like his cup of coffee in the morning, then things would turn out fine. Katey thinks on this advice and notes how her cup of coffee is the work of Charles Dickens. Despite this, she tries to read and can only get two pages in before stopping.

On Friday June 24, Katey is preparing to leave work for the evening. She sees Charlotte Sykes—who has been inviting her out repeatedly ever since Katey returned her document she’d left on train—and knows she’s about to be invited out again. This time, however, Katey accepts. But then Katey’s light goes off, indicating that she’s being summoned by Miss Markham. Katey thinks she’ll be reprimanded for tardiness, but to her surprise, she’s offered a promotion. A coworker has gotten pregnant, and Katey will be given a raise and promotion to take the girl’s place. When Katey returns home, she has a telegram waiting from Eve and Tinker, who are in London. It’s the first telegram she’s ever received. Eve wishes her a happy birthday and tells her to have fun for them both; she and Tinker won’t be back until two weeks later.

Katey takes the money she’s stashed and decides to follow Eve’s advice. She gets her hair dyed red, buys a new dress, and dines at a fancy restaurant. Katey believes that dining and good food are the marks of civilization, though she knows her father would disagree. As she eats alone, she notices an older couple looking at her. Though she’s elated to be at the restaurant, she drinks too much and too fast, and becomes sick. The older gentleman who’d been eyeing her earlier with his wife comes to her rescue and finds her shoe for her. She makes it outside, but then throws up in an alley. The older couple help her and drive her home. While nursing her sickness, she remembers a story her Uncle Roscoe told her about him and her father.

They’d just come from Russia, and her father had taken his Russian money and Roscoe’s and burned it up. The next morning, she quits her job at Quiggin & Hale. The narrative then shifts to Tinker’s point of view. It’s June 27, and he’s in London with Eve. Eve had been stuck in a nonfunctioning elevator in their hotel, and the hotel was so apologetic that they put Eve and Tinker in a huge suite. Eve has her days planned out, and when he returns with what he tells Eve is a city guide, she tells him to go ahead without her. She suggests he get a pair of shoes he’s been wanting. He does so, and then stops in St. James Park to read. It turns out that the “city guide” he purchased is actually a copy of Walden.

Analysis

Katey runs into Fran Pacelli, a girl from Mrs. Martingale’s boarding house. The runin is soon to change her life. Through Fran wishes to become better acquainted with a guy who works for her father, Katey meets Tinker’s brother—Hank—in an Irish pub. Hank is older and has a nasty temper, as well as a chip on his shoulder. He’s a painter who imitates the work of Stuart Davis, and he has firm opinions on art and life. He and Katey instantly dislike each other, especially when Katey thinks that he calls Eve a “manipulative cunt.” Oddly, Hank will become an important figure in Katey’s life, underscoring Tinker’s earlier assessment that Hank and Katey would get along. Katey again runs into Anne, Tinker’s godmother (or so she thinks). 

Katey admires Anne and wants to be like her. Anne thinks that girls like Katey and Eve should aspire to make their own fortunes rather than marry a man for money. The horse viewing at Belmont works as another symbol in the narrative. Katey likens the event to Dante’s Inferno, with the damned and pious and self-made all in the same place. Just like Manhattan, Belmont houses those who are pushing their luck and aspiring to greatness, where fortunes can rise or fall due to luck. In these chapters, Katey also notes the change in Eve. Eve is now orchestrating the strings of her life with Tinker. It’s clear that she’s bored with him and their life, but Eve is making the most of it. Indeed, her disfigurement now works to her advantage as she now looks like a wealthy woman with “worldly experience.” 

Later, Katey is invited to Anne’s apartment, where she spies the same décor as in Tinker’s apartment. Though Katey is sharp, she doesn’t think much about the implications. Nor does she consider the fact that every time she meets with Anne, Anne is curious about what Tinker is up to. Katey receives a letter from Tinker and Eve. It goes on about how happy they are and, as if in a nod toward Katey, gushes about the simple life in Europe. Katey balls the letter up, annoyed at the sentimentality. The letter, however, shows that Tinker is thinking about her—and what they’ve discussed before in private—while on his vacation with Eve. This would indicate to some that his heart is still divided, though Katey doesn’t see it that way. Interestingly, the chapter ends with Tinker’s point of view. It turns out that Tinker and Eve are barely spending time together. 

Moreover, Tinker lies to Eve about a book he’s purchased, which turns out to be Walden, one of Katey’s favorite books. This highlights how his heart still beats for Katey. Katey’s life changes again when she receives a raise and a promotion at work. Katey knows that the promotion means that much more will be expected of her. In a fit of defiance against both the job and Tinker, she splurges on a birthday dinner, only for it to go horribly wrong. She quits her job the next day. She wants to change her circumstances, and so she throws herself into the unknown.

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