A Fall of Marigolds

Clara shares Andrew’s story with her friend and roommate, Dolly MacLeod. However, Dolly does not see this in the same way as Clara but instead “seemed appalled more by Andrew’s marrying Lily than by Lily’s deceit” (61). This upsets Clara, who cannot help but see Dolly’s condemnation of Andrew’s foolishness in marrying a woman whom he did not know as a similar condemnation of Clara’s grief for Edward. This leads to Clara confessing the truth about why she has been so upset about the fire. Dolly is very sympathetic and comforts Clara, though it is clear that she does not believe “you can love someone you’ve only just met” (61).

Dolly makes it clear that she thinks Clara is stuck and points out that she never leaves Ellis Island, even on her days off. She encourages Clara to find out more about Edward: “Maybe if you did know him, you’d be able to come to terms with this. Get off this island. Get on with your life” (65). Dolly believes that Clara should tell Andrew about Lily because he does not “[deserve] to mourn all his days a wife who did not love him” (65).