In Gerty Farish's bed, Lily awakens, shaky, and still slightly frightened from the social trauma she endured the night before. The new conflict in the novel, and the only way Lily can rectify her situation with Trenor, is for Lily to repay the nine thousand dollars she accumulated from Trenor. Therefore, Lily seeks financial aid from Mrs. Peniston, explaining that she has immense gambling debts when she says, "The fact is, I've played cards a good deal . . . and of course such debts can't be paid off gradually" (Wharton 140). However, Lily instigates some unfortunate situational irony with this fib as Peniston, remembering the tales told by Grace Stepney, refuses to help Lily because her debts stem from gambling. Consequently, Lily becomes morose, seeing no other solution to her plight, and yearns to speak with Selden. Wharton emphasizes both Lily's depression and her longing for Selden's comfort when she writes, "confiding in him became as seductive as the river's flow to the suicide" (Wharton 141). As such, Lily waits for Selden's anticipated arrival at 4, but is faced instead with a visit from Mr. Rosedale, a man promising her everything she's ever wanted: wealth, power, social standing, and, most pertinent to Lily's current situation, a panacea to the situation with Trenor. Rosedale's visit tests Lily's morality, but even though she may be pretentious and conceited at times, Lily maintains her morals and turns down Rosedales offer. She also declined Rosedale's proposal in anticipation of Selden's arrival, but dramatic irony encompasses Lily's anticipation, as Wharton has already revealed by Selden's witnessing Lily depart from Trenor's home that he will not be visiting Miss Bart anytime soon. Section XV and book one take a climactic conclusion with Lily learning of Selden's departure for the West Indies and receiving an invitation from Bertha Dorset to sail in the Mediterranean. Lily's choice will mark a turning point in the novel; will she pursue Selden, or abandon all thoughts of their ever being together and continue her insignificant existence by setting sail with the Dorsets? Whichever path Lily may choose, book two of The House of Mirth, with promises of a change of setting for Miss Lily Bart, will surely be exciting.
The song "I Need You Now" by Lady Antebellum seemed to embody Lily's sentiments toward Selden in section XV perfectly. She didn't care about anything else but seeing him, because his unique sense of comfort and love would be enough to console her sorrow. She truly needed Selden.
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