An American Tragedy

Fellow bellhop, Ratterer, takes Clyde home with him. The Ratterer home is as permissive as the Griffithses’ home is repressive. Clyde meets Hortense Briggs and some other girls there. At first, he thinks that she is coarse and unrefined, but she becomes beautiful to him when she flirts. Clyde is flattered by the attention and thinks that his looks are what attract Hortense. Hortense is interested in him only as long as other girls vie for his attention. When the teenagers end up at a party later that night, Clyde is jealous when she flirts with other boys. Ratterer tells him that Hortense is promiscuous. Hortense only agrees to go on a date with Clyde after he promises to pay her way.

The night of the date comes. Hortense intentionally arrives late and claims to have been on another date earlier. She spends most of the date talking about herself and other boys whom she could date. She is unimpressed by the restaurant where they eat (the same one that the bellhops frequent). The restaurant has walls covered in mirrors; Hortense primps in them and orders food and drinks with no thought to cost. To Clyde, she is beautiful and bewitching.