The House Behind the Cedars

At his family’s estate, George Tryon is wracked by his conflicting feelings about Rena. He is moody and withdrawn but refuses to answer questions about what is bothering him. Blanche Leary patiently waits for George to show that he reciprocates her feelings but is disappointed. She leaves for a week to see if George will miss her, but he gives no indication that he does. He tries to dismiss Rena from his thoughts but cannot.

Rena turns her heart towards humanity as a whole. Once, she had seen herself as better than darker-skinned black people, but she now identifies fully with them. She wants an opportunity to help newly freed black people but has no opportunity until her mother hears of Jeff Wain from her cousin.

Wain, a prosperous colored man, is reportedly looking for someone to teach at a school for former slaves in his area of Sampson County. After seeing Wain for herself, Molly hatches a plan to have Rena go back with him to teach at school nearby to him and hopefully marry him. Wain is taken by Rena’s beauty and apparent whiteness. After an ostensible interview, Wain tells Rena she is perfect for the teacher position.