The House of Mirth: Book 2 XI-XII

In the next chapters of The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton Lily is fired from her millinery job.  She now has no idea what to do with herself or her life.  She threw the blackmail letters in Seldon's fire while he watched.  She then said goodbye to him and said that they would not see each other for a long time.  Lily and Seldon contrast greatly.  Lily believes in money as a way of happiness and believes that personal freedom comes through money.  Seldon believes that the key to true happiness is personal freedom from everything.

" 'Once--twice--you gave me the chance to escape from my life, and I refused it because I was a coward,' " (Wharton, 250).

Lily finally admits that she was a coward and should have taken Seldon's offer.  What she doesn't realize is that Seldon is still offering an escape from her life.  He wants to help her so badly and she is still a coward.  Seldon doesn't care about the gossip and Lily is engrossed in it.