Tender Is the Night

Dick and Rosemary stop by at an old house where a group of upper-crust socialites is gathered in their fashionable cliques. Dick is there to do a quick bit of business for a friend, and while waiting for him Rosemary observes with disdain the way these snobbish and peculiar people socialize with each other. When she overhears a few of them gossiping about the Divers, Rosemary becomes indignant. Finally, Dick returns, and the two leave.

In the taxi together, Dick suddenly becomes emotional and apologizes to Rosemary as he is about to confess something to her. Rosemary is astonished, then the two embrace. They are affectionate and intimate for a few moments before Dick says plainly to Rosemary that he is in love with her. They cling to each other passionately in the taxi.

Before arriving at the hotel, Dick regains control and repeats to Rosemary what he said the previous night about it not working out between them (mainly because of his marriage). Dick restates to Rosemary that he does truly love Nicole with “active love” (75), which he elevates in importance and complexity, adding it to be the cause of the duel from earlier. Rosemary is shocked, but Dick explains he heard it from