# Years of Grace — Chapters explained

> Chapter companions for Years of Grace by Margaret Ayer Barnes.

- [Dedication](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/dedication.md): A brief dedication to C. B., acknowledging their role as a listener to the story.
- [Years of Grace](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/years-of-grace.md): The chapter explores the passage of time and the quiet, often painful, reflections of Jane as she navigates middle age, observing the lives of her children and the changing dynamics within her family and social circle.
- [Part I: André](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/part-i-andr.md): The chapter introduces Jane Ward and her family, including her sister Isabel and their interactions with André Duroy, a Frenchman who becomes a significant figure in their lives. Themes of love, marriage, and social clas
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): The chapter introduces Jane Ward, a young woman in her late twenties, who reflects on her life and the societal expectations placed upon her. She contrasts her own ambitions and desires with the conventional path of marr
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): Jane Ward, a fourteen-year-old girl, navigates the complexities of adolescence, friendship, and family expectations in early 20th-century Chicago. She tries to escape her friends Flora and Muriel to meet André, a French 
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): The chapter explores the lives of the Ward sisters, particularly focusing on Jane's reflections on her marriage to Stephen Carver and her observations of her sister Cicily's relationship with Albert Lancaster. Themes of 
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): Jane, at sixteen, resists family pressure to attend Farmington and instead longs to go to Bryn Mawr with her friend Agnes to study and postpone the debutante social circuit. The chapter contrasts her ambitions with the m
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): Jane wakes up excited because André is back and she will see him at Muriel's party. The party is upgraded when Mr. Furness offers his tally-ho for the trip to the World's Fair. Jane dresses carefully and rides with André
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iii.md): Jane Ward reflects on her family's history and the social dynamics of her youth, particularly the marriage of her sister Isabel to Robin Bridges and the subsequent impact on their family. She also contemplates her own am
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): Jane Ward visits her friend Agnes Johnson to study Virgil and prepare for a Thomas concert. Despite her mother's disapproval, Jane's father allows her to go. Agnes, André Duroy, and Jane cook dinner together, and André r
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): Jane and André go on a tandem bicycle picnic with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Duroy. During the outing, André sings a serenade to Jane, and later they walk alone on the beach, where he confesses his love for her. Jane real
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iii.md): Jane and André's secret engagement is discovered by their parents, who forbid any promises or letters until they are older. After a painful goodbye, Jane is left heartbroken but determined to wait.
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iv.md): Jane Ward reflects on her life and the changes that have occurred as she enters middle age. She observes her daughter Cicily's engagement to Albert Lancaster and feels a mix of pride and melancholy. The chapter explores 
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): Jane and her father arrive at Bryn Mawr College on a bright October day. Jane is immediately captivated by the beauty of the campus and the lively, independent atmosphere. She meets her friend Agnes, who has already sett
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): Jane and Agnes discuss college life after midyear exams. Jane reflects on her lack of seriousness compared to Agnes and Marion Park, and contrasts President M. Carey Thomas's inspiring vision of women's duty with her own
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iii.md): Jane and Agnes discuss their academic plans under a cherry tree, then Jane receives letters announcing Isabel's engagement to Robin Bridges and her mother's plea for her to come home. Agnes urges Jane to stay at college 
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iv.md): Jane returns to Bryn Mawr after Isabel's wedding, feeling guilty about leaving her parents. Her mother initially opposes her return to college, but relents after learning that Flora and Muriel are not coming out this win
- [V](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/v.md): Agnes receives a letter from Scribner's accepting her story for publication, a moment of triumph celebrated by Jane and Marion. Jane reflects on her own love of literature and poetry, contrasting her approach to learning
- [Commencement](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/vi.md): Jane participates in Bryn Mawr's commencement procession and ceremony, reflecting on her impending departure from college. She is a sophomore marshal, helping to organize the seniors. The day is hot and sultry, with thun
- [Part II: Stephen](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/part-ii-stephen.md): This section introduces Stephen, exploring his character and his relationships, particularly with Jane. It delves into themes of love, marriage, and personal ambition as Stephen navigates his own path.
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): The chapter introduces the Ward family, focusing on the three daughters: Isabel, Jane, and Cicily. It explores their distinct personalities and ambitions, with Isabel engaged to Robin Bridges, Jane pursuing education at 
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): Jane's mother discusses Jane's need for new evening dresses for the upcoming social season, while Isabel arrives with her baby. The conversation shifts to gossip about Muriel Lester and Bert Lancaster, and Jane's mother'
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): Jane returns home after Bryn Mawr and prepares for her debutante season. She attends a party at Muriel's house, where she pours tea and observes the social dynamics, including Muriel's flirtation with Mr. Bert Lancaster 
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iii.md): The chapter describes a lively cotillion at Flora's house, focusing on Jane's interactions with Stephen Carver, the dance figures led by Bert Lancaster, and the social dynamics among the young people and dowagers.
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iv.md): On Christmas morning, the Ward family celebrates with a tree, gifts, and the baby John Ward. Muriel Lester arrives with Mr. Bert Lancaster to announce their engagement, shocking Jane and her family. Later, Stephen Carver
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): The chapter introduces the Ward family's social circle and the budding romance between Jane and André Duroy, set against the backdrop of family dynamics and societal expectations.
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): The chapter opens at Muriel Lester's wedding, where Jane Ward serves as a bridesmaid. The ceremony is marked by tension over whether Mrs. Furness will attend, and Jane reflects on the solemnity and irrevocability of marr
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): Jane wakes the morning after Muriel's wedding to learn that Lily Furness has committed suicide by gas. She goes to comfort Flora, who is in shock. Mrs. Lester arrives with a black dress and roses, and Mrs. Ward brings a 
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iii.md): Jane Ward reflects on her marriage to Stephen Carver, the birth of their children, and the passage of time. She observes her daughter Cicily's engagement to Albert Lancaster and feels a mix of pride and melancholy. The c
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): Jane helps Flora sort through Mrs. Furness's belongings after her death. Flora gives Jane a turquoise pin. Stephen Carver visits for tea, and in the drawing-room, he confesses his love for Jane. Jane gently but firmly re
- [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): Jane Ward's mother and friends pressure her about Stephen Carver's romantic interest, but Jane resists, feeling she does not love him and reflecting on the complexities of marriage beyond home and children.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iii.md): Jane has tea with her Bryn Mawr roommate Agnes, who urges her to pursue a meaningful career rather than settle into domestic life. Agnes warns Jane against marrying a 'cotillion partner' and asks about André. Stephen Car
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iv.md): Jane and Stephen go ice skating on a December night, sharing a romantic and intimate evening. Afterward, they return to Jane's home for crackers and cheese, where Stephen confesses his deepening feelings and proposes tha
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iv.md): Jane Ward reflects on her marriage to Stephen Carver, the birth of her children, and the passage of time. She observes her daughter Cicily's engagement to Albert Lancaster and feels a mix of pride and melancholy, recogni
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): The Ward family discusses the sinking of the USS Maine and the impending war with Spain during dinner. Jane listens as her parents debate the morality and consequences of war, while her own thoughts drift to more immedia
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): On a spring evening in mid-April 1898, the Ward family and their neighbors gather on the front steps of Pine Street, discussing the imminent Spanish-American War and Theodore Roosevelt's Rough Riders. Jane Ward feels tra
- [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iii.md): Jane receives a long-awaited letter from André, who has won the Prix de Rome and postpones their reunion for three years. Feeling betrayed and disillusioned, she writes a letter breaking off their relationship and announ
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iv.md): On her wedding day, Jane Ward stands before her mirror in bridal finery, surrounded by her crying mother, Isabel, and Minnie. She reflects on the past two weeks since her engagement to Stephen Carver, who has enlisted to
- [V](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/v.md): Jane receives André's second letter, in which he expresses shock at her engagement, declares he cannot meet her husband, and says he will not come to Chicago. Jane reflects on her feelings, puts the letter away, and cont
- [Part III: Jimmy](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/part-iii-jimmy.md): The chapter focuses on Jimmy Trent, a young man who visits the family and becomes a source of gossip and romantic tension, particularly with Jane. Muriel spreads rumors about Jane and Jimmy, leading to social complicatio
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): The chapter introduces Jane Ward, a young woman navigating her identity and ambitions in early 20th-century America. It explores her relationships with family and friends, her intellectual aspirations, and the societal e
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): Jane Carver, visiting her in-laws at Gull Rocks in Seaconsit, escapes the living room to avoid snapping at her mother-in-law, Mrs. Carver, who fusses over Stephen's preferences. Alone on the verandah, Jane knits a sweate
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): Jane reflects on middle age and the nature of boredom as she observes her husband Stephen and the Carver family during a summer evening at Gull Rocks. She contemplates the sacrifices men make for their careers and famili
- [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iii.md): Jane, now thirty-six, reflects on middle age while brushing her hair. She thinks about her marriage to Stephen, her lost romance with André Duroy (now a famous sculptor married to a young Frenchwoman), and the passage of
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iv.md): Jane decides to go to New York to visit her old Bryn Mawr classmate Agnes, despite family obligations. Silly encourages her to seize the opportunity, reflecting on her own unfulfilled desires. The chapter explores themes
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): The chapter introduces the Ward family's domestic life, focusing on the interactions between Jane, her mother, and her siblings. It explores themes of love, marriage, and social expectations through conversations and obs
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): Jane Ward Carver departs from Boston's South Station on the Bay State Limited, leaving her husband Stephen and their children behind for a week in New York. She experiences a mix of sadness and anticipation, thinking of 
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): Jane arrives in New York and visits her old friend Agnes Johnson in Greenwich Village. She meets Agnes's husband Jimmy Trent, a charming but impractical violinist, and observes their unconventional life. The chapter expl
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iii.md): Jane dines with Agnes, Jimmy, and their daughter at Tony's restaurant, observing the lively atmosphere and reflecting on marriage, ambition, and the sacrifices of adulthood. She feels a mix of nostalgia and relief about 
- [V](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/v.md): Jane and Agnes share a farewell lunch in New York before Jane returns to Chicago. Agnes asks Jane to look after Jimmy when he arrives in Lakewood. Jane admires Agnes's gallant, adventurous spirit and feels a slight envy 
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/vi.md): On the Twentieth Century Limited train, Jane escapes a cribbage game with Flora and Mr. Furness to find Jimmy Trent, who has impulsively joined the journey. They retreat to the back platform where Jimmy shares his unconv
- [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/vii.md): Jane returns to Chicago by train, met by Stephen at the station. Jimmy Trent accompanies her, and Jane feels self-conscious about her reunion with Stephen under Jimmy's ironic gaze. After brief introductions, Jimmy decli
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iii.md): Jane reflects on her marriage to Stephen Carver, the birth of their children, and the passage of time. She observes the changing dynamics within her family, particularly the growing independence of her daughters Cicily a
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): Jane Ward hosts her mother and sister Isabel for tea, where they discuss Bert Lancaster's sudden seizure and the ensuing gossip about Muriel Lester's indiscretions. The conversation reveals generational divides in attitu
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): Jimmy Trent visits the Carver home, charming Jane and the children with his violin and playful banter. Jane confesses her weariness with domestic routine, and Jimmy playfully proposes they run away together. The chapter 
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iii.md): Jane and Jimmy Trent take a walk on Thanksgiving afternoon, during which Jimmy kisses Jane unexpectedly. Jane is humiliated and sends him away, then returns to her family, trying to conceal her distress.
- [Mrs. Lester's Seventy-Fifth Birthday](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iv.md): Jane attends Mrs. Lester's seventy-fifth birthday party with her family. She encounters Jimmy Trent for the first time since their conflict under the apple tree. Jimmy apologizes, and Jane tentatively forgives him. The c
- [V](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/v.md): After a party, Jane rides home with Stephen and their sleeping children, reflecting on her handling of Jimmy's kiss. She feels relieved that she did not tell Stephen, believing she has made her boundaries clear to Jimmy 
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iv.md): Jane reflects on her marriage to Stephen Carver, feeling trapped in a life of domesticity and regret. She contrasts her own sacrifices with the ambitions of her daughter Cicily, who is preparing for her wedding to Albert
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): On an April afternoon, Jane Carver sews a lace collar while Miss Parrot gives final instructions about little Steve's health. Jimmy Trent arrives early to play his new violin concerto, which he dedicates to Jane. The cha
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): Jane faces family scrutiny after being seen lunching with Jimmy Trent, leading to a confrontation with Isabel and a warning from her father about avoiding the appearance of evil.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iii.md): Jane drives to pick up Jimmy Trent for a weekend in Lakewood, reflecting on their winter friendship and the gossip it has sparked, particularly from Muriel and Isabel. She reassures herself that their bond is innocent an
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iv.md): Jane plays parcheesi with Jimmy and the children while Stephen reads. After the game, Stephen goes to bed early, and Jimmy tries to persuade Jane to stay and talk. Jane, sensing impropriety and thinking of her father's a
- [V](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/v.md): In a moonlit garden, Jimmy Trent confesses his love for Jane and urges her to leave her husband Stephen and their children to run away with him. Jane, torn between her love for Jimmy and her sense of duty to her family, 
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/vi.md): Jane awakens after a night in the garden with Jimmy Trent, overwhelmed by guilt and conflicting emotions. She resolves to forswear her feelings and end the affair, leading to a painful confrontation where she sends Jimmy
- [Chapter VII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/vii.md): Jane and Jimmy have an intense emotional confrontation where Jane refuses to leave her husband Stephen and children, choosing instead to live with her secret feelings. Jimmy decides to travel West and to the Orient, but 
- [V](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/v.md): Jane Ward reflects on her marriage to Stephen Carver and the sacrifices she made for her family, particularly her daughter Cicily. She observes Cicily's relationship with Albert Lancaster and confronts her own regrets ab
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): Jane Ward Carver, preoccupied with thoughts of her lost love Jimmy, receives a letter revealing he joined the German army and was killed on the Marne. The news shatters her detachment from World War I, and she immediatel
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): Jane visits Agnes, who has just received news of her husband Jimmy's death in World War I. Agnes shares a letter from a German officer detailing Jimmy's death and burial. They reflect on Jimmy's adventurous spirit, his t
- [Part IV: Cicily, Jenny, and Steve](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/part-iv-cicily-jenny-and-steve.md): The chapter focuses on Cicily, Jenny, and Steve, exploring their relationships and personal developments within the family dynamics.
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): The chapter introduces the Ward family and their social circle, focusing on the dynamics between the sisters Jane, Isabel, and Cicily, as well as their interactions with neighbors and friends like André Duroy and Agnes J
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): Jane Ward, while volunteering at a Red Cross circle in a Chicago skyscraper during World War I, reflects on the death of Jimmy Trent, her former lover, and the impact of the war on her family and friends. She observes Is
- [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): Cicily and Jack Bridges announce their plan to marry before Jack ships off to France for World War I, also revealing that Belle and Albert Lancaster plan a double wedding. Jane and Stephen are taken aback by the news, bu
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iii.md): Jane, Stephen, Isabel, Muriel, and Robin debate the impending marriages of Cicily to Jack and Belle to Albert, both young men about to depart for war. The mothers argue for letting the young people have happiness before 
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iv.md): Jane visits her father, Mr. Ward, in the Pine Street library, where they discuss parenting, past decisions, and the challenges of guiding children's marriages. Jane reflects on her own youthful engagement to André and he
- [V](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/v.md): Jane, Cicily, Flora, Muriel, Isabel, and Jenny gather in Flora's hat shop to discuss bridesmaid hats for the upcoming wedding. Flora suggests a quaint poke bonnet and hooped skirt for Jenny. The conversation touches on F
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/vi.md): The double wedding of Cicily to Jack Ward and Belle to Albert Lancaster takes place in the rose garden. Jane reflects on the ceremony, her past love for Jimmy Trent, and her doubts about God's presence and blessing. She 
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): The chapter introduces the Ward family's domestic life, focusing on the children's interactions and the household dynamics. Jane Ward reflects on her marriage to Stephen Carver and the challenges of balancing motherhood 
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): Isabel and Jane discuss Mrs. Lester's death and funeral arrangements, touching on family obligations, mourning customs, and the differing attitudes of the younger generation. Isabel expresses frustration with her daughte
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): Jane learns that her father has double pneumonia, likely contracted after attending Mrs. Lester's funeral in inclement weather. The family gathers at the Ward home, with Jane, Isabel, and Mrs. Ward struggling to cope. Dr
- [Chapter III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iii.md): Jane Ward sits vigil at her dying father's bedside, reflecting on the emotional distance between parents and children, the secrets of Victorian marriages, and her own regrets about her past love for Jimmy. Her father die
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iv.md): Jane visits Cicily in the hospital after she gives birth to twins, John Ward and Jane Ward Bridges. Jane reflects on the swift passage of time, her father's recent death, and Cicily's courage and modern sensibility durin
- [V](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/v.md): Jane reflects on her family life as she navigates the bustling household of her adult children and grandchildren. She contrasts her own contentment with Flora's regret over lost opportunities, while managing Cicily's cas
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/vi.md): The Ward family gathers at Jane's Lakewood terrace for a Sunday luncheon, where they debate Jack Bridges's future—whether he should pursue engineering at Boston Tech or take a job at Stephen's bank. Cicily, Jack's wife, 
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iii.md): The chapter explores the complex dynamics of family and marriage through the lens of Jane's observations and interactions, particularly focusing on Cicily's engagement and the differing perspectives on love, duty, and sa
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): On her fiftieth birthday, Jane Ward reflects on aging, the changing moral landscape between generations, and the durable satisfactions of her life. She contrasts her own values with those of her daughter Cicily, who view
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): Cicily confides in her mother Jane about her dissatisfaction with suburban married life, feeling trapped by routine and longing for excitement. Jane reflects on the nature of marriage and the inevitable loss of youthful 
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iii.md): At a family gathering following Muriel's wedding to Ed Brown, Jane observes her family dynamics, particularly Cicily's confident interactions with Albert Lancaster. The chapter explores themes of family reunion, generati
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iv.md): Jane Ward reflects on her marriage to Stephen Carver and the complexities of her relationships with her children, particularly Cicily. She observes Cicily's engagement to Albert Lancaster and feels a mix of pride and con
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): Jane drives through Chicago, reflecting on a difficult summer at Gull Rocks with the Carvers and her family, and her relief at being home. She muses on the changes in the city, her past with André Duroy, and her current 
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): Isabel confides in Jane about her daughter Cicily's apparent affair with Albert Lancaster, which has deeply hurt Belle. Jane is shocked and skeptical, but Isabel insists it is serious. The sisters debate parental interve
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iii.md): At the first Assembly ball of the season, Jane Ward observes the modern dances and social mores from the balcony, worrying about her daughter Cicily's late arrival and her own children's behavior. She reflects on the cha
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iv.md): Jane Ward observes her grandchildren's dancing class at the Woman's Club in Lakewood, reminiscing about her own childhood dancing lessons. She witnesses Cicily and Albert Lancaster arrive together, sharing an intimate mo
- [V](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/v.md): Jane visits Cicily's home to confront her about her relationship with Albert Lancaster, but Cicily reveals she is considering divorce from Jack Bridges to marry Albert, discussing financial complications and the impossib
- [Chapter VI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/vi.md): Jane returns home to find Stephen deeply shaken by the news of his father Alden Carver's sudden death from heart failure at the bank.
- [V](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/v.md): Jane Ward reflects on her marriage to Stephen Carver, the birth of their children, and the passage of time. She observes her daughter Cicily's engagement to Albert Lancaster and feels a mix of pride and melancholy as she
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): After the funeral of Mr. Carver, the family gathers in the front parlour for the reading of his will. Jane reflects on the room's eclectic furnishings and the family dynamics. The will leaves millions to Alden and Stephe
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): After Mr. Carver's death, Jane's son Steve announces his plan to move to Boston, work at the Bay State Trust Company, and embrace a traditional New England life, causing a mix of pride and disappointment in his parents.
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iii.md): On the Twentieth Century train, Jenny announces her plan to use her inheritance to start a dog kennel business with Barbara Belmont, living independently in Westchester and New York. Jane and Stephen react with alarm, bu
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iv.md): Jane learns from Stephen that Cicily plans to divorce Jack and marry Albert Lancaster, a revelation that shocks the family. Isabel arrives in distress, having witnessed the fallout at Belle's home, including their mother
- [V](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/v.md): Jane confronts Cicily about her affair with Albert and her impending divorce from Jack. Cicily defends her actions with modern, unsentimental logic, comparing divorce to a necessary operation. Jane reveals a past secret 
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/vi.md): The chapter explores the complexities of family dynamics and personal ambition as characters navigate their relationships and societal expectations.
- [I](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/i.md): Jane Ward, now a middle-aged woman, stands in her hotel room at the Plaza in New York, looking out over Central Park as she prepares to sail to Paris with her husband Stephen. Their journey is not a holiday but a 'monstr
- [II](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ii.md): Jane visits Agnes at her Beekman Place home, where they discuss their children, careers, and the passage of time. Agnes reflects on her success as a playwright and her daughter's ambitions, while Jane thinks about Jimmy 
- [III](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iii.md): Jane and Stephen attend a modern penthouse party hosted by Jenny and Barbara, where they observe the younger generation's behavior—drinking, jazz, and modern art—feeling disconnected and worried about Cicily, though the 
- [IV](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/iv.md): Jane and Stephen travel to Paris for Cicily's impending marriage to Albert, following her divorce from Jack. The family gathers at the train station, where Cicily's cheerful chatter masks the underlying tension of the co
- [V](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/v.md): Jane reunites with Flora Furness in her Paris hotel room. They discuss Cicily's marriage, Muriel's happiness with Ed Brown, and André Duroy's absence from Paris. Flora reveals she wrote to André about Cicily's wedding, s
- [VI](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/vi.md): Jane, Stephen, Cicily, and Albert visit the Luxembourg Museum in Paris. Jane reflects on her youth and her past relationship with André Duroy while gazing at his sculpture of Eve. Cicily's casual remarks about the statue
- [VII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/vii.md): Jane receives a letter from Isabel detailing family news: Belle's engagement to Billy Winter, the aging and decline of their mother, and the complications of modern divorce and remarriage. Meanwhile, Cicily's divorce is 
- [VIII](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/viii.md): Three days after the civil ceremony, Cicily and Albert's church wedding takes place in Flora's Paris drawing-room. Jane arrives with Stephen and is shocked to see André Duroy, who looks exactly like his father Mr. Duroy,
- [IX](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/ix.md): Jane reflects on the disillusion of life and the choices she has made, while reuniting with André Duroy in his Paris studio after thirty-four years. She contemplates her children's happiness and the sacrifices of her own
- [Chapter X](https://www.betterreads.online/discover/years_of_grace_se/chapters/x.md): Jane visits Stephen and the grandchildren in Paris, where Stephen reads King Arthur stories to the twins and Robin Redbreast. Jane reflects on the passage of time, her children growing up, and her recent preoccupations w

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