Plum Bun: A Novel Without a Moral

As Angela leaves her sister, Virginia painfully keeps up the ruse that Angela is the white Miss Mory. Later, Angela unexpectedly runs into Anthony. She is startled to find that he resides in Harlem, but she quickly recovers and invites him to have lunch with her. He refuses, saying “I don’t want to lunch with you in public” (176). Even though Angela is flustered, she asks if Anthony would be willing to come to her place for tea and cookies sometime soon; he writes down his address, but acknowledges that he doesn’t expect to hear from her.

Once Angela returns home, she is able to return to her thoughts: the fateful meeting with Roger has taken place, and it did not at all proceed according to Angela’s plans. Instead of asking her to marry him, Roger has proposed that they have a sexual relationship: He will provide a love-nest where they can meet in secret. Roger’s father wants him to make a socially acceptable marriage match, so Angela’s humble origins mean his father would never approve of them marrying.

Shocked and insulted, Angela initially refuses Roger’s proposal. However, she does agree to see him again. His suggestion that secrecy would make their relationship all the sweeter resonates with Angela: “stolen waters were the sweetest, she of all people knew that” (189).