The Last September

Content Warning: This section of the guide discusses war and revolution, including themes of violence, colonialism, and cultural displacement.

The Naylors (Sir Richard, Lady Naylor, and Lois, their niece) greet their guests, Mr. And Mrs. Montmorency, as they arrive at the Naylors’ home in Ireland by motorcar. Lois is fascinated by Mr. Montmorency based on an interaction they had when she was just 10 years old, but he only notes that he would not have recognized her now that she is a young woman. Sir Richard and Lady Naylor take the Montmorencys inside for tea, but Lois feels aimless and remains outdoors. She only goes inside when her cousin Laurence, an aspiring intellectual, calls from an upstairs room for her to come inside and tell him about the visitors. He teases Lois for his own amusement, but Lois feels comfortable around him; she feels able to be silly and confident despite his judgments, whereas sincere people make her feel self-conscious. Laurence asks how many “subalterns” she writes to, by which he means British army men below the rank of captain. She exchanges letters with two subalterns and one captain. She rushes off to clear up the letters around her room before the maid, Bridget, goes into the room.