With Grace's cold response at the end of part IV in The House of Mirth, we realize that it was her intention all along to earn Mrs. Peniston's favor over Lily. With her social life in trouble and her financial situation just as dire after being snubbed by Grace, Lily is in as much of a difficult situation as ever. Mrs. Fisher's kindness to Lily in helping her get her social life back shows that not all of her friends were influenced by Bertha Dorset's cold "sacrifice" of Lily. Mrs. Fisher intends to help rebuild Lily's social life as Wharton writes, "'To keep you out of their sight till they realise how much they miss you (191).'"
Fisher's interest in Lily leads to planting of the seed in Lily's mind about marrying Dorset or Rosedale. For some reason, Lily favors Rosedale. I do not understand this at all. I thought she liked Dorset's personality and he has money too, doesn't he? Plus, Dorset is crazy about Lily (well from what what I've read, it appears every man is crazy about Lily). Besides, Rosedale just comes off as repulsive. It appears Lily is adamant on marrying Rosedale despite every reason not to. I just hope I am not reading a 268 page book to find out that this woman chose money over love because that's just sad.
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