The House of Mirth: Book 1 XIII-XIV

In the following section of Edith Wharton's The House of Mirth, Lily's carelessness is causing many scandals.  This effects the plot deeply.  She becomes more and more careless and does not care about the scandals she is causing.  People think she is having affairs with just about everyone she talks to.  She also does not care very much that she is starting scandals because they mainly effect her friends.  What she does not know is that it will very soon effect her because Seldon is now starting to believe the affairs.

"Gerty's first movement was one of revulsion.  She shrank back as though Lily's presence flashed a too sudden light upon her misery.  Then she heard her name in a cry, had a glimpse of her friend's face, and felt herself caught and clung to," (Wharton, 132).

This passage shows how much Lily's carelessness affected others.  Gertrude Farish felt revulsion because she was under the impression that Seldon and Lily were having an affair.  But then Gertrude realized that she needed to help Lily, because it would make Seldon happy.  Maybe Lily can reconcile with her friends.