You can't believe your eyes. It's that girl. Susan Gilbert. Not her. Please not her. You glance quickly over at Austin; yes, her. Susan smiles brightly.

"Emily! I have heard so much about you. I have even seen you about town, but never introduced myself. I'm Susan Gilbert...so glad to finally make your acquaintance." Susan embraces you, and you summon up a mirror countenance.

"Dear Susan. I think I've seen you before, too. You look very familiar to me"-- as familiar as your own hand. You can't quite believe that Austin has stumbled upon this marvel of a creature you've been hoping to meet for longer than you can remember.

The first time you saw Susan, new to Amherst from Utica Female Academy, you began gathering information about her, carefully quilting the pieces of her life together as if to warm your too cold heart. An orphan, Susan had lived with her aunt in Geneva before attending the girls' school in Utica, and moved to Amherst a few years ago with her sister and brother-in-law. Like you, she loves literature and gardening. People say she is quite bright and can write poetry. Her family calls her Dolly.

If you beat a hasty retreat to your bedroom to continue fretting over Ben, turn to page 8.

If you steal Susan away from Austin for black cake, tea, and intimacy, turn to page 9.