Summary: Chapter 16
Still reeling from Lolita’s kiss, Humbert is handed a
note by the maid, Louise. Charlotte Haze has written him a letter,
confessing her love for him and asking that he leave—unless he reciprocates
the feeling and marries her. Humbert goes into Lolita’s room and
looks at the clippings on the wall. One of the men in the pictures
resembles Humbert, and Lolita has written “H. H.” on it.
Summary: Chapter 17
Humbert considers marrying Charlotte so he can stay close
to Lolita. He even toys with the idea of giving both mother and
daughter sleeping pills in order to fondle Lolita. He would stop
short, he thinks, of having sex with the girl. Humbert decides to
marry Charlotte and calls the summer camp to tell her. However,
Charlotte has already left, and he reaches Lolita instead. He informs
her that he plans to marry her mother. Lolita seems distracted and
not particularly interested—she has already forgotten about Humbert
at camp. However, Humbert believes he will win her back after the
wedding. He makes himself a drink and waits for Charlotte to return.
Summary: Chapter 18
Charlotte and Humbert become lovers and start planning
the wedding. Charlotte quizzes him on whether he’s a good Christian
and says she will commit suicide if he isn’t. Charlotte enjoys the
prestige of being engaged to Humbert and waits on him hand and foot. Humbert
states that he actually enjoys some aspects of the affair and that
it seems to improve Charlotte’s looks. Humbert tells himself that
this helps him get as close as possible to Lolita. Charlotte responds
to the engagement by becoming highly social and redecorating the
house. Charlotte doesn’t have very many close friends besides John
and Jean Farlow, whose niece, Rosaline, goes to school with Lolita.
Summary: Chapter 19
Humbert describes Charlotte further and mentions that
she is about to suffer a bad accident. Humbert finds Charlotte extremely
jealous, as she asks him to confess all his previous relationships
and mistresses. Humbert makes up some stories to satisfy her romantic notions.
He grows used to Charlotte, but her constant criticism of Lolita
still secretly upsets him.
Summary: Chapter 20
Charlotte and Humbert go to the nearby lake in the last
week of summer. Charlotte confesses that she wants to get a real
maid and send Lolita off to boarding school. Humbert seethes quietly
but, afraid of repeating his experience with Valeria, doesn’t want
to intimidate her. He considers killing her there at the lake but
cannot bring himself to do so. Jean and John Farlow join them, and
Jean tells of seeing two young people embracing by the water. She
starts to tell a story of Ivor Quilty’s nephew but gets interrupted.
Summary: Chapter 21
Humbert tries the silent treatment on Charlotte, to no
effect. However, when she decides they will go to England in the
fall, Humbert argues against it, and she immediately becomes contrite
for making plans without him. Regaining some control in the relationship pleases
Humbert. Charlotte tries to be near him as much as possible and
mentions going to stay at a hotel called the Enchanted Hunters. She
wonders why he locks the small table in his study. Humbert teases
her by saying it contains love letters. Later, Humbert worries whether
the table’s key remains secure in its hiding place.
