Book 1 Chapters 7-9

This forum is for the discussion of The House of Mirth, Book 1, Chapters 7-9.

Lily asks Mr. Trenor to invest some of her money. He does, but has alterior motives. She prospers from the investments. She doesn't have to have suitors pay for her debts.

She is also getting a taste of reality. She realized that Bertha Dorset is coniving and setting up Percy with another girl. She wants revenge so she finds the opportunity and buys some old love letters that Bertha was involved in.

Lily is starting to find out more rules of the society that she wants to be part of.

We shall see how she uses them.

I agree that the book doesn't have much to sink your teeth into. It paints a picture of wealth/influence, the haves and have nots, etc. that we have become really familiar with.
In this section, Lily realizes she screwed up with regard to Grce and that he will marry someone who doesn't even need his money which is ironic to Lilly. she realizes to what extent Bertha would go to to de rail her plans and thus when compromising letters fall into Lillies hands, she keeps them for possible use against her, in the future.