While waiting for Tom to arrive home, Bob tells Maggie that he’s worried about Tom, who seems always melancholy and hardly ever socializes. Maggie goes to see Tom, who is lodging at Bob Jakin’s house. Lucy determines that she will find a way for Maggie and Philip to marry. The subject of Philip comes up and Maggie, swearing Lucy to secrecy, tells her what had happened between them - and that Tom will still forbid any contact. Lucy comes to Maggie’s bedroom as she gets ready for bed and asks her what she thought of Stephen. Pullet promises to give the girl some of her old dresses.

The Pullets visit the Deane house and lament Maggie's lack of proper evening wear. He reflects that he finds Maggie’s character quirks quite interesting even though he usually doesn’t like anything eccentric in a woman. After talking for a while, Stephen takes the cousins on a boat ride. Lucy, worried only that they wouldn’t get along and relieved to see that they do, doesn’t suspect anything. Stephen and Maggie are immediately struck by each other. Maggie tells her that she always liked Philip, but before she has a chance to explain that even so, she can’t see him, Stephen arrives, interrupting them. She asks if Maggie feels as negatively toward Philip as Tom does because he is Stephen’s good friend and Lucy wants to invite him to sing with them. Lucy tells Maggie about her feelings for Stephen. They are in the stage of courtship where each is certain of the other’s regard, although no declarations have yet been made. Stephen isn’t pleased, thinking this means he won’t get any time alone with Lucy any more. Tulliver’s death and coming to stay at Lucy’s. Lucy tells Stephen Guest that her cousin Maggie is leaving the school where she has been teaching since Mr. Tulliver - who had come to take care of her sister in her illness - is now living at the Deanes’. Buy Study Guide Chapter I - A Duet in Paradise

Back From the Brink by Paul McGrath