The House of Mirth: Book 2 Chapter 12

Almost to the end of The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton, Lily decides to apologize to Selden. This is absolutely so sad. Lily and Selden love eachother but Lily's choices made it impossible for Selden to respond. She chose to do something with her life that he told her not to. She was scared to lose the luxury and money to be with someone who could not give her such a thing. Even though she tried to live this life, it failed miserably and she was worse off than if she would have married him in the first place. Lily has grown skinny and alone. Lily has decided to leave everything behind and start as a new Lily. Even though she says this, she knows that Selden will always be a part of her and will never be able to leave what they had behind. Lily will probably never see Selden again. In what I think is their final scene, Lily "went up to him and laid her hands on his shoulders. ""Goodbye,"" she said, and as he bent over her she touche his forehead with her lips" (Wharton, 252).