Book Link: Lolita
Forward
- Explains how the manuscript came into the possession of the publisher
- Informs us that HH died of heart attack before his trail
- Strongly emphasizes that HH was an horrible and capricious person
Part One
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Chapter 1
- HH talks about his love for Dolores
- HH explains he is writing this to to explain his POV to reads/jury
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Chapter 2
- HH mentions father was a easy going person
- Mother died when he was young. Aunt Sybil took over mothers role
- HH talks about his childhood and not having any sexual feelings till 13
- Explains he was a normal boy with no perverse taught when young
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Chapter 3
- HH talks about Annabel (daughter of aunt’s friend) his first love
- Cannot remember her appearance anymore (replaced by Dolores)
- Explains how madly and deeply in love they were
- End of relation - Annabel dies of typhus
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Chapter 4
- HH believes that Annabel is the reason he was not able to love anyone
- Tries to find a link between his love for Annabel and obsession for Dolores
- Explains vividly (smells, sights, feelings) the secret hookup with Annabel
- Trying to represent his love for Dolores as innocent
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Chapter 5
- HH mentions that he has normal interactions with women his age
- For sexual gratification he would turns to prostitutes (not dating)
- Informs in his early life he was busy with this constantly changing work
- Brings up the idea of “nymphets” - demonic children (9-14)
- Mentions these children have special qualities that make them irresistible
- Gives examples of people in relation with nymphets to justify his behavior
- HH says he behaves appropriately with young girls
- But likes to visit parks and orphanages to be in company of nymphets
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Chapter 6
- Wonders what happens to nymphets he never touched
- Talks about this sexual experience with Monique (underage prostitute)
- Mentions how he gets bored by the 3rd time (becomes women like)
- Does not consider the girl arranged by the madam to be a nymphlet
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Chapter 7
- Decides to marry to try and calm his sexual desires
- Marries a Polish girl (Valeria) who is an artist
- Describes his looks and explain how he could attract any adult women
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Chapter 8
- HH describes his life with Valeria. HH gets bored eventually
- HH is attracted to the neighbors young daughter
- HH’s uncle dies and leaves a fixed salary if he comes to US
- Valeria tells HH that she is in a relation with a Russian
- Valeria leaves HH for the Russian. Later they die because of a experiment
- HH finds article in prison that mentions - Clare Quilty & The Little Nymph
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Chapter 9
- HH makes it to US and works as perfume ad agent. Later at university
- Had bouts of mental breakdown. Admitted to a sanatorium
- Goes on a scientific expedition were he makes up results
- Once again admitted to sanatorium toys with psychotherapist by lying
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Chapter 10
- HH decides to move to England. Family friend suggest a his relatives house
- HH likes this idea only because the household had a young girl
- On arrival HH finds the relatives house has burned
- HH attributes it to his passion for the girl
- Is offered boarding at an neighbors house (Mrs. Haze)
- At first HH is not interested in the house as to him its tasteless
- In the garden meets Dolores sunbathing and is immediately in love
- HH believes Dolores is the reincarnation of Annabel
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Chapter 11
- HH talks about the diary that he kept that described his stay at the Haze’s
- This chapter covers 2 weeks of the stay
- HH tires to come up with scenarios to be along with Dolores
- It always fails as Mrs. Haze is around (Mrs. Haze has feelings for HH)
- In the diary HH describes Dolores in excruciating detail (feel, smell, shape)
- HH tires to imagine the Dolores is inviting his sexual interest
- HH has a intimate moments with Dolores (licking her eyes, Dolores sitting in his lap)
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Chapter 12
- By the end of the diary HH is frustrated that he cannot get close to Dolores
- HH imagines his desires as a devil
- The devil tempts him and then takes away the opportunity when its close
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Chapter 13
- Picnic to beach is cancelled as Dolores friend is sick
- Dolores refuses to go to church out of anger
- Dolores and HH have a play fight over a apple and magazine
- Dolores stretches her legs over HH’s lap
- HH takes advantage of this and masturbates secretly
- HH sings one of Dolores favorite songs to distract her
- HH touch’s Dolores inner thigh and she gets up and leaves the room
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Chapter 14
- HH is happy that he was able to “enjoy” Dolores without her knowing
- He believes the Dolores that he imagined is different than the real one
- Mrs. Haze tries to flirt with HH (candlelight dinner) but he is not interested
- Mrs. Haze informs HH that Dolores is going to a Summer camp
- HH is upset and fakes a toothache to go to this room
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Chapter 15
- Dolores is unwillingly sent to Summer Camp
- HH thinks of pretending to be a girl and camping outside Camp Q
- Before leaving Dolores comes running and kisses HH
- HH is unreliable narrator did she actually kiss or was it just a hug
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Chapter 16
- Once Dolores leaves HH goes to her room to look through her cloths
- HH finds a ad pinned over the bed of a actor with HH written beside it
- Louise (maid) shows up and hands HH an love letter from Mrs. Haze
- Haze instructs HH to leave the house if he does not love her
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Chapter 17
- HH is disgusted by the letter but thinks of all the opportunities it brings
- By marrying Mrs. Haze he can always be with Dolores (stepdaughter)
- He things of ways he can molest Dolores (sleeping pills)
- Gets drunks and starts lawing the yard (acting like a husband)
- Neighbor’s gardener is surprised to see HH being so active
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Chapter 18
- HH and Haze are married in a quite ceremony
- They are interviewed for a column in the newspaper
- HH makes up a fake backstory about already knowing Haze
- Haze spends time decorating the house and visiting the neighbors
- HH notices that the more refined neighbors don’t talk much with Haze
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Chapter 19
- Haze makes HH confess about all his previous loves and curse them
- Haze was jealous of them and talks about her life in a melancholic manner
- HH is upset at Haze for hating her daughter who he sees as his own
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Chapter 20
- Haze and HH go to the Hourglass lake for swimming
- Haze tells HH that she plans to send Dolores to a boarding school
- HH is upset and goes into the woods saying he need to go to the car
- Thinks of ways to prevent this without revealing his love for Dolores
- He seems two young girls coming from the bathroom (reminds of Dolores)
- He comes back and joins Haze in the lake. Thinks of killing her
- Almost goes through with the plan but decides against it
- Jean Farlow shows up and says she show them while painting in the woods
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Chapter 21
- HH is upset at the fact the Haze is going to send Dolores to boarding school
- HH tries the silent treatment and emotional manipulation nothing works
- HH tries to find a way to asset himself in the household
- Finally gets a opportunity and asserts dominance (England trip)
- HH starts spending time in his studio. Haze tries to win back his affection
- Haze talks about going to a quaint hotel named Enchanted Huntress
- Haze asks HH why one of the drawers is locked. HH says has love letters
- HH is not worried Haze will find the keys to the drawer
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Chapter 22
- HH goes to the doctor for medicines saying he has insomnia
- HH wants to use the sleeping meds on Dolly when she returns
- When HH returns he finds Haze in a disgusted. Calls him a monster
- HH realizes Haze has read his diary. Tells Haze that she is hallucinating
- Tries to convince Haze that everything written was part of his novel
- HH goes to kitchen to make then a drink
- On the way to living room, phone rings. Leslie says Haze is dead
- HH comes to the living room and does not find Haze
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Chapter 23
- Haze was hit by a car that was trying to avoid a dog while turning
- HH is handed the 3 letters that Haze was going to post
- HH destroys the letters by shredding them in his pocket
- The letters were for Dolores, a boarding school and HH
- The Farlow’s stay with HH to console him. HH makes up a secret affair
- Convinces them that Dolores is actually his daughter
- Informs them Dolores is on a hike and cannot be reached for 5-days
- Beale (car driver) visits HH to prove that he is innocent
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Chapter 24
- The Farlow’s help him load his car to go and fetch Dolores
- HH is cornered by Jean Farlow who tries to kiss him unsuccessfully
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Chapter 25
- HH goes to Camp Q to pickup Dolly but is worried
- HH thinks someone will figure out that he is not Dolores legal guardian
- Mrs. Holes (camp coordinator) informs about hike that ends tomorrow
- HH wonders if his imagination is turning his wishes into reality
- HH spends the entire day shopping for items he things Dolly would life
- Makes a reservation at the Enchanted Huntress
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Chapter 26
- Back in the prison HH is worried about his health
- He is not sure if the dates of the events are correct (unreliable narrator)
- His health is the reason to try and complete the book in a hurry
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Chapter 27
- HH picks up Dolly from Camp Q and heads to Enchanted Hunters
- HH tells Dolly that her mother is sick and is being taken to a hospital
- During the trip Dolly takes on a teasing, childishly flirtatious attitude
- Dolly does hint that she has done something sexual at the camp
- Once at the hotel HH shows Dolly the suitcase and is overjoyed. They kiss
- After dinner HH gives Dolores the sleeping pills and locks her in the room
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Chapter 28
- HH leave the room and walks around waiting for Dolores to fall asleep
- He speaks to the Jury and tries to justify his actions and motivations
- He mentions that Dolores was not as innocent as she pretends
- A figure in the shadow enquires about Dolores. HH heads back to the room
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Chapter 29
- When HH returns to the room he is shocked to find Dolores awake
- HH comes to the conclusion that the pills would have been fake
- While sleeping HH tries to get as close to Dolly as possible (touch, feel)
- Dolores wakes up the next morning and to HHs surprise initiates sex
- HH does not stop Dolores (even if this is what really happened)
- HH concludes that Dolores was already corrupted by American culture
- HH informs the reader he is not interested in the sex
- He is merely interested in the perilous magic of nymphet’s
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Chapter 30
- HH envisions repainting the murals of the hotel to suit his erotic fantasies
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Chapter 31
- HH ones again tries to justify his actions by talking about Roman laws
- How in certain states in the US marriage was still allowed at the age of 12
- Finally, HH says that he was not even Dolly’s first lover
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Chapter 32
- During breakfast Dolores tells HH about her first sexual encounter
- Barbara would have intercourse with Charlie (Holmes son) at camp Q
- Dolores eventually grew curious and also had intercourse with Charlie
- On the way Dolores jokingly (or not jokingly) accuses HH of rape
- Dolores calls HH many names and says she wants to call her mother
- Eventually HH tells Dooly that her mother is dead
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Chapter 33
- Dolores is shocked at this. HH buys her many things to calm her down
- In the motel HH books separate rooms to stay
- In the night Dolores comes to HH for comfort
- HH notes that Dolores has nowhere else to go
- Dolores has comes a outsider like HH (no school, no friends, no family)
Part Two
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Chapter 1
- Over the next year Dolores and HH travel all over the States
- Along the journey they become experts in hotels/motels
- HH threats Dolores saying that he would send her to a boarding school
- HH says if Dolores reveals their relationship she would become an orphan
- In the end they reach a town called Beardsley
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Chapter 2
- HH describes in detail the places they visited during their travels
- HH mentions that this was to keep Dolores happy (ignoring Dolores feelings)
- Makes Dolores perform sexual acts constantly with him
- Sends Dolores to tennis lessons to experience normal life
- Not possible as HH does not want Dolores to interact with anyone
- Dolores is not able to form relationships with people, friends, teachers
- HH deprives Dolores of a normal childhood. Dolores starts to get angry at HH
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Chapter 3
- HH continues to explain the journey across the States
- HH tries to recreate the Annabel beach romance with Dolores but is repulsed
- HH explains the close encountered- In forest, movie theater and by cops
- HH starts researching on legal guardianship
- Decides not to continue with the process as to not tempt fate
- All the travels financially strains HH so decides to settle down
- With friends help (Gaston Godin) finds job as French professor at Beardsley
- Decides to enroll Dolores in Beardsley Women’s College
- Revels that Dolores cries herself to sleep everyday when HH acts asleep
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Chapter 4
- Speaking with Ms. Pratt, HH is shocked to learn about the modern curriculum
- The education includes practical skills, dating, marriage and house making
- HH being a scholar is against this idea but reluctantly enrolls Dolores
- HH is worried about “dating”. HH is jealousy and want Dolores to himself
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Chapter 5
- HH is anxious about neighbors and cannot have normal interactions
- HH is worried that they will find out about HH and Dolores’s relation
- He is especially worried about a spinster who asks too much questions
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Chapter 6
- HH’s only really friend is Godin who got him the job
- Godin might also be a pedophile (always surrounded by young boys)
- HH hates him since even though they are similar the town likes Godin
- HH considers Godin to be a fake scholar and has lowly views of him
- Godin is self-centered and mistakes Lolita has having sisters
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Chapter 7
- Dolores comes up with ways to earn more money from HH (pocket money)
- The money is give in return for performing sexual and affectionate favors
- HH has turned Dolores into a unwilling prostitute
- HH finds Dolores’s money hiding space and takes them all away
- HH is worried that Dolores will earn enough money and runaway from him
- Dolores grows clever and starts hiding them in places HH cannot find
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Chapter 8
- HH is worried about Dolores socializing with her schoolmates
- HH is shocked to read what is considered normal for teenagers in America
- HH is jealously terrified of Dolly going on dates
- He is relieved to find out that Dolores is not interested in the boys around her
- HH reflects on his constant anxiety of someone noticing his fraud
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Chapter 9
- Dolly becomes friend with girls at her school
- HH is pleased when they come home. HH considered one of them a nymphet
- Dolly’s closest friend (Mona) is smart and claims to have affair with a marine
- HH is worried that Dolores had reviled their relation to Mona
- HH does Mona to try to get an idea of Dolly’s school life
- HH does not want Dolly to have anything else important in her life than him
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Chapter 10
- HH tells us that Dolores has developed contempt and distain for him
- Tells us that Dolly views HH’s approach towards her to always want sex
- HH is trying to win our sympathy by making Dolly look like the cruel mistress
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Chapter 11
- HH is called to Mrs. Pratts office. Dolly was getting bad grades
- Mrs. Pratt is worried about Dolly’s behavior at school
- She is worried that Dolores is sexually and socially repressed
- Says this is because HH is old-fashioned and should loosen his restrictions
- Mrs. Pratt insists HH to allow Dolly to participate in a play
- The play has the same name as the hotel were HH raped Dolly
- HH worried that Mrs. Pratt is onto him reluctantly agrees
- HH visits Dolores in her class and for a few-cents asks for a hand-job
- HH himself is shocked at his boldness
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Chapter 12
- Dolores becomes ill with fever and on recovering has a party with boys
- Every 10-20 mins HH comes down to check on what the kids are doing
- The party is a failure as one girl does not show up and no one can dance
- Dolores says that boys disgust her. HH is happy with this and buys her gifts
- Dolly is antisocial because of all the abuse she had experienced
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Chapter 13
- Dolores begins practicing for the play
- HH things of the coincidence of the name of the play and hotel
- HH thinks the name is related to some local folklore that he does not know
- HH is pleased when Dolores brings up the same connection
- There is a special rehearsal for the play but Dolly does not want HH
- Dolores says she wants HH to see it only on the opening night
- Dolly’s behavior is unexpected considering her hatred for HH
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Chapter 14
- HH comes to know that Dolores has been missing her piano classes
- HH becomes anxious and almost looses a chess match with Gaton
- When confronted Dolly says that she was practicing for a plan with Mona
- HH does not believe it, accuses Dolly of lying and telling Mona about them
- HH and Dolores getting in a screaming match
- Dolores accuses HH of being a rapist. The phone rings and Dolly runs out
- HH goes out on foot to find Dolores. He finds she at a payphone speaking
- Dolores tells HH that she wants to leave Beardsley and wants to go on trip
- Dolores says that this time she gets to decide the destinations
- On reaching home Dolores ask HH to carry her as she is feeling romantic
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Chapter 15
- HH tells the school at he has been called for work by Hollywood
- On the way they meet the drama coach. She says its a shame Dolly left play
- Coach says that the play author was highly praising Dolores
- This hints that Dolly has become a good actress
- Dolores brushes away the HHs enquiry of the author by sayings its a women
- HH tells Dolores he is happy she has given up on the play but wonders why
- HH thinks the change in Dolores is just a sudden change in mind
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Chapter 16
- They head west and pass through a town close to Dolly’s hometown
- At gas station Dolores goes away to use the restrooms
- HH tells us in hindsight he thinks that she was using the telephone
- They rest at a motel were HH goes to buys groceries
- On returning finds Dolores to have a certain “glow”
- Thinks that she had sex with someone and strips her to smell her
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Chapter 17
- HH grows suspicious of Dolores road trip plan
- HH decides to stay in the motel for one more day
- HH gets the feeling that fate is somehow closing in on him
- HH checks his gun that belonged to Mr. Haze
- Informs us he is a bad shooter but as some practice shooting with Farlow
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Chapter 18
- HH and Dolores head west on their trip. They are followed by a red car
- HH thinking that they are being followed by a detective
- HH starts having hallucinations - confusing between reality and dream
- At gas station HH finds Dolores talking to a old man (red car driver)
- HH starts to suspect they are being followed by someone Dolly knows
- HH is shocked by Dolly’s good mood and teasing attitude
- They stop at a town to watch a play by Clare Quilty & Vivian Darkbloom
- HH finds Dolores beaming at the play authors on the stage
- Enquires about Quilty (poster in bedroom) but is deflected by Dolly
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Chapter 19
- They reach Wace were HH has setup PO Box. Dolly receives letter from Mona
- HH suspicious that Dolores is talking with other behind his back
- Reads the letters, finds out Mona is moving to Europe. Dolly vanishes
- Dolores returns after sometime. HH questions her. Dolly says she met friend
- HH does not beleive her. HH searches for paper with the followers plate
- Shocked to see that it has been modified. Signs of erasure
- HH starts seeing the follower in all the vehicles on the highway
- Stops because of flat tire. Follower stops as well. HH leave to confront driver
- Dolores starts their car acting like trying to escape. HH stops the car
- Follower vanishes into the traffic on the highway
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Chapter 20
- HH regrets having allowed Dolores to learn acting
- Reminisces over Dolores and her tennis skills
- Thinks she would have become a champion if not for his interference (rape)
- Dolly and HH play tennis at the Champion Hotel. 2 by-standers as to join
- HH is summoned by a long-distance call. Turns out to be fake
- HH goes back to the court to find a man bantering with Dolly
- HH returns to the court in tears and asks for explanation but receives none
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Chapter 21
- Each passing day HH becomes more and more anxious
- HH is worried that Dolores will leave him and run away any day
- At a motel pool, HH notices a man staring at Dolores
- He feels like he knows this man from previous encounter’s
- This could be hallucination’s or Quilty
- HH is shocked to find that Dolores is aware of the gaze and is happy
- HH suddenly fells ill and vomits. Kinds Dolly looking with calculating eyes
- Dolores and Quilty might have poisoned HH’s drink
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Chapter 22
- Dolores falls ill and is admitted at the hospital
- HH spends sleepless nights at the motel. Alone for first time in 2 years
- Receives call saying Dolores is recovering quickly. Visits Dolly 8 times
- HH feels like the staff at the hospital is conspiring against him
- HH also falls ill. Receives call to pickup Dolores. Informs will come tomorrow
- Next day receives a call saying Dolly was picked up by her uncle
- HH gets angry goes to the hospital and makes a scene
- Calms down realizing he can get arrests and swears to track and kill stranger
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Chapter 23
- HH spends a long time trying to find the stranger
- HH searches the registers of numerous motel only to find mocking entries
- HH realizes that the stranger had anticipated his investigation
- HH understands that Dolores meet the person at Beardsley
- He knows about their relationship and was aware of the road trip
- Understands that Dolores planned the kidnapping with the stranger
- HH realizes the person is similar to him in personality and understanding
- In the end HH returns back to Beardsley
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Chapter 24
- HH things he has narrowed down the suspect to a art teacher
- By at the last moment realizes its a mistake and its someone else
- Hires a private detective who looks for 2 years but does not find anything
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Chapter 25
- Without HH has fallen into despair
- Over the next years HH donates all of Dolores’s belongings
- HH writes a song urging Dolly to reveal herself
- After the loss of Dolly, HHs pleasure for young girls have dimmed
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Chapter 26
- HH meets a women called Rita who is a kind not smart alcoholic women
- They spend 2 years together travelling and settling in a college town
- The college offered him housing in recognizing of an paper he had published
- Rita stays in a roadside inn. HH is ashamed of her (just placeholder)
- Returns to Briceland (Enchanted Huntress) to look for a photo
- The photo should have contained HH but he is missing
- HH starts to wonder if his memories with Dolly are real (missing in photo)
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Chapter 27
- HH receives two letters at his apartment
- One is from John Farlow who is widowed and remarried to a Spanish girl
- He is moving to South American. Hands over the house to someone else
- Ask to produce Dolly soon to claim the house (aware Dolly is missing)
- Second letter is from Dolly who is married and is expecting a child
- She is married to an engineer and is asking HH for money to move to Alaska
- HH thinks Dolly’s husband is the kidnapper and sets out to kill him
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Chapter 28
- HH leaves for Coalmont where Dolly and her husband is living
- HH stats at a motel for the night. Next day dress well to kill husband
- Finally makes his way to the cottage were Dolly lives
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Chapter 29
- Dolores welcomes HH into the house. Shows him her husband
- HH decides not to kill him as he understands that not the person he wants
- HH asks Dolly to tell him about the person that kidnapped her
- Dolores reluctantly tells him about Clare Quilty
- Dolores tells him, she knows him from his childhood (Mothers friend)
- Informs that he had met them at the Enchanted Huntress motel
- Mentions that she had met him during the special rehearsal for the play
- Quilty took her to a Ranch and wanted her to participate in porno movie
- When she refused she was thrown out. Dolly worked for years at restaurants
- Eventually meeting Dick. Dick does not know anything about Dolly’s past
- Dolores asks for the money. HH asks Dolores to come and live with him
- Dolores thinks HH will only give her the money in return for sexual favor
- HH is greatly saddened to hear his. HH gives Dolores four thousand dollars
- Dolores says she truly only loved Quilty. HH was only father and molester
- HH starts crying and asks Dolly ones more to come with him
- She refuses and tries to kiss him but HH moves away from her
- HH drives away crying bitterly
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Chapter 30
- On the way from Coalmont HH practices using the gun
- His vehicle gets struck in mud and had to be pulled out
- To rests for the night near a small down (still crying)
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Chapter 31
- HH thinks of a talk about religion he had with priest. Finds no comfort
- HH begins to realize the seriousness of what he did to Dolores
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Chapter 32
- HH realizes how he has ruined Dolores life
- He thinks of her face when she sees a happiness of a normal family
- The hopeless expression on her face when HH was not looking
- Her fear when HHs physical affection would turn into lust
- He realizes that what he offered was just a parody of a normal family
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Chapter 33
- HH returns to Ramsdale and wonders Mrs. Haze properly like a ghost
- A little girl notices him. HH says allow but girl runs away. HH looks haggard
- Visits the local restaurant runs into Mrs. Chatterfield
- Indirectly accesses him of kidnapping Dolores. Mentions about marriage
- Mentions about Charlie Holmes and his sex with the girls at Camp Q
- Visits Windmuller, the lawyer taking care of the Haze property
- HH arranges for the property to be transferred over to Dolores
- Visits Ivor Quilty to find the details about of his nephew
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Chapter 34
- HH goes to Pavor Manor (Quilty’s house)
- Finds many cars parked out the house. Satisfied Clare is home
- Leaves the place to return in the morning to confront Clare
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Chapter 35
- HH heads to Pavor Manor to kill. Knocks at the door but no one answers
- Door is unlocked heads inside. Tries to find Quilty.
- Quilty walks by HH in a robe not recognizing him
- Heads to parkour were HH confronts Quilty and asks about Dolores
- Quilty pretends he does not know her. Sees the gun but not scared
- HH tries to shoot Quilty’s foot misses. They have a brawl for the gun
- HH accuses Quilty of kidnap. Quilty says he saved her from a beastly pervert
- HH makes Quilty read a poem on why he need to die. Quilty mock reads it
- Quilty runs to a different runs and warns HH to not play with life and death
- HH shoots and this time hits Quilty. Quilty runs and climbs up the stairs
- HH shoots him multiple time. Quilty makes exaggerated sounds (like a play)
- Quilty tumbles into his bed. HH leaves the murder weapon in the house
- HH is disturbed by Quilty’s lack of fear and refusal to die
- Heads down finds guests and informs them he killed Quilty
- They thinks its a joke and does not take HH seriously. HH leaves.
- Quilty crawls out and dies on the floor landing (dramatically like in a play)
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Chapter 36
- HH leaves the manor. No longer caring drives on the wrong side of the road
- His road is blocked by police cars. Drives up a pasture with cows
- HH remembers of a moment after loosing Dolores listening to kids play
- HH realizes that Dolores lost her childhood and that is the real tragedy
- HH instructs that the book should only be published once they are dead
- HH wishes for Dolores to have a long and happy life