The Bostonians

Miss Birdseye is “a little old lady” (22) whose “long practice of philanthropy” (22) has resulted in her features being hard to read. She gives her money away to “negro[es]” and “refugees” (23) and almost would prefer that slaves be “back in bondage” (23) so she could save them. Basil finds her “ascetic” (17) home bland and wonders how Olive can like it. Olive also detests the house.

Miss Farrinder is a lecturer on “temperance and the rights of women” (25). As people gather to hear her speak, Basil has the impression that “they were mediums, communists, vegetarians” (26). Dr. and Mrs. Tarrant enter with their daughter Verena. Dr. Tarrant is “a mesmeric healer” (27), and his wife is the daughter of an abolitionist.

Mrs. Farrinder would like Olive to bring wealthy women from her affluent neighborhood into the cause. However, Olive does not want to talk to other wealthy women; rather, she wishes to know “some very poor girl” (29). She did, once, attempt to befriend two “pale shop-maidens” (29), but they were “afraid” of Olive. Olive tells Mrs. Farrinder that she prefers to “enter into the lives of women who are lonely, who are piteous” (30).