A Room with a View

Lucy, Cecil, and Mrs. Honeychurch host "a little garden-party in the neighborhood" (103). Cecil is bored and, after they leave the "perfectly appalling" (104) event, they talk about the other guests. Lucy loudly declares her dislike for Mr. Eager, explaining how he baselessly accused Mr. Emerson of murder. However, she withholds Emerson's real name.

As they drive through Summer Street, they notice the way in which two garish houses disrupt the calm beauty of the parish. The ugly homes are owned by Sir Harry Otway, who has named them Albert and Cissie. They spot Sir Harry as they pass. He greets them, mentioning that the house named Cissie is currently empty. He asks whether they know any suitable tenants, as he is concerned about renting to the "wrong type of people" (110). Cecil mocks Sir Harry, much to Lucy's annoyance. She interjects to suggest that Catherine and Theresa Alan may be looking for a house. Mrs. Honeychurch and Cecil both dismiss this idea, though for different reasons.

Cecil walks Lucy home through the nearby forest, which he refers to as "the real country" (113). They approach a pond that Lucy's family jokingly refers to as the Sacred Lake. Cecil asks Lucy meandering questions about her imagination, wondering whether—when she pictures him in his mind—she sees him indoors or outdoors. When he pictures her, he explains, he always does so with "a certain type of view" (113). Lucy says that she imagines him indoors, to Cecil's displeasure.

The conversation dies as they pass by the Sacred Lake. As children, Lucy and her brother played in the Sacred Lake. Now that they are alone together in a secluded place, Cecil asks if he may kiss Lucy. The question is awkward, but Lucy agrees. The kiss is also awkward and lacking in passion, so they leave "in silence" (115). Afterward, Lucy admits to Cecil that she lied about Emerson. She shares his real name and thinks privately how this is "the most intimate conversation" (116) they have ever had.

At Windy Corner, Lucy plays a game with Mr. Beebe's niece, Minnie. Mrs. Honeychurch and Freddy watch, while Cecil lingers inside the house. He does not like the youthful games. The narrator explains that the Honeychurch family was originally from London but rose in society when they moved to the countryside.

Lucy enjoys life in Summer Street, but she is happy that she was able to broaden her cultural experiences in Florence and Rome. These experiences have shown her the limitations of her neighbors and also taught her to value people from all social classes. Cecil has had a very different reaction. He dislikes people from lower social classes, especially the lower-middle-class residents of Lucy's town.

When Beebe announces that the Miss Alans have made arrangements to move into the empty Cissie house, Freddy corrects him. He has heard that the Miss Alans will not be moving in. In fact, the new tenants are named the Emersons. Lucy, hoping that Emerson is a "common enough name" (121), is annoyed. She spent a long time inviting the Miss Alans to move into the house. She is cross about this change in plans, so she confronts Cecil. He reveals that he met the "absolute strangers" (124) in a London art gallery and told them about the house as a way to spite Sir Harry. Lucy is angry at her fiancé. She is concerned that the Emersons are the very same people she met in Florence and that she may have to see George again.

Lucy visits Mrs. Vyse, Cecil's mother. During this time, the Emersons arrive in Summer Street and take up residence in the Cissie house. Charlotte writes to Lucy; since returning from Italy, there has been a "coolness" (127) between the two cousins. Charlotte's letter reveals that Miss Lavish has also visited Summer Street and that she has seen George. In Charlotte's opinion, Lucy should be frank and honest about what happened in Italy. She should tell her family that George kissed her. Lucy responds, reminding her cousin of the promise she made that she would never discuss the matter. Despite her stern attitude toward her cousin, Lucy privately begins to have doubts. When she tries to tell Cecil about what happened between her and George, she cannot bring herself to do so.

Mrs. Vyse hosts a dinner party. She invites the "grandchildren of famous people" (129). On meeting these famous scions, Lucy notes how different they seem from her usual social circle. The prospect of moving to London and socializing with such people worries her. She fears that she may become a different person and become estranged from her friends and loved ones.

Sitting down at the piano, she plays somber songs, despite Cecil's suggestion that she play something upbeat. By the end of the party, Cecil’s mother tells him to make Lucy "one of us" (131). Cecil assures her that he is working on purging her Honeychurch traits from her character.