Breakfast at Tiffany's Section 5

Summary

The protagonist begins working a nine to five job and, as a result, sees less of Holly Golightly. One day, he sees Holly walking into a library. He observes her without her knowledge, and then he examines the books on her table after she leaves. He discovers that she is reading up on Brazil.

The narration shifts to a party on Christmas Eve in Holly's apartment. Holly gives the narrator an expensive, antique bird cage for Christmas; he gives Holly a St. Christopher's medal from Tiffany's.

In February, Holly, Rusty, Mag, and José take a trip to the tropics. In Key West, Mag becomes severely sunburned, and Rusty is injured in a fight with some sailors. Both are hospitalized, so José and Holly travel to Havana. Mag becomes suspicious that José and Holly are sleeping together, so Holly tells Mag that she is a lesbian. Holly recounts these events as the protagonist gives her a back massage. They become engaged in an argument, the protagonist is tempted to hit Holly, and Holly throws the narrator out of her apartment: "It should take you about four seconds to walk from here to the door. I'll give you two."

Notes

• hither to this place (seldom used except in poetry and legal papers).
• yonning distant but in sight. From yon.
• overhaul a major repair or revision.
• baubles Christmas ornaments that are decorations (usually made of glass, metal, wood or ceramics) that are used to festoon a Christmas tree.
• St. Christopher's medal a small medallion depicting the patron saint against lightning; against pestilence; archers; automobile drivers; automobilists; bachelors, etc.

---

Section four | Breakfast at Tiffany's | Section six