The Adventures of Augie March Chapter 18 Summary

  • Against her wishes, Thea goes to the villa party with Augie.
  • She wants to leave almost immediately, but Augie sees Stella signaling to him and he goes over to her, handing Thea off to Moulton.
  • You can bet the farm Thea's not happy with this. Not. At. All.
  • Stella tells him she needs his help and pulls him into the woods.
  • Augie, his mind far from entertaining consequences to his behavior, goes along.
  • According to Stella's story, Oliver is being pursued by a government official for some reason having to do with the arrest of the owner of the magazine he edits.
  • Augie suggests that Oliver make a deal, but Stella says he plans to flee south to South America.
  • At Augie's questioning, she admits that she doesn't love Oliver enough to follow him. Apparently the party they're attending is just a front. Oliver has gone to get the car and then Stella and he will flee before the cops arrest them.
  • She asks if Augie will take her to Mexico City.
  • Augie says he can take her a good way out of town.
  • He goes to look for Thea. She's gone. Moulton says she was nervous and shaking and said she'd be pulling out in the morning.
  • As Augie and Stella are driving away, they're blocked by a crowd. Thea is there.
  • They argue about why Augie has to be the one to help Stella.
  • Thea offers to bring Stella back to their house. Augie suggests Thea ride along with them instead.
  • Neither gives in to the other. Augie and Stella drive off.
  • He takes wrong turn in the hills and, trying to turn around, kills the engine and battery.
  • Looks like he won't be getting back to Thea in a few hours.
  • In the dark, with invisible drops, it's too dangerous to try walking to civilization.
  • In the cold, one things turns to another and soon they're having sex.
  • Augie knows Thea predicted this.
  • In the morning, they get the car going.
  • Augie drops Stella off at Cuernavaca and gives her money for a car to take her to Mexico City.
  • She gives him the name of her agent so he'll know how to find her.
  • They say goodbye. Stella tells him not to let Thea be too rough on him.
  • When he gets home, Thea is still there, full of regret and jealousy.
  • Augie explains that car got stuck in the mountains.
  • She doesn't believe that nothing else happened, but she doesn't want to hear more.
  • Augie says she cheated on her husband with a navy man, so why would he be so bad to have slept with Stella.
  • Thea wants to know the truth but doesn't want Augie to say it.
  • She accuses him of being too obliging—too eager to please.
  • They argue over the genuineness of their own relationship and the sensibility of Thea's interests.
  • What little remains of their relationship shatters. Thea leaves immediately. Augie breaks things around the house.
  • They're done.
  • Augie grabs his valise and leaves the house.
  • He walks past Mouton.
  • He meets Iggy and his daughter in the marketplace.
  • Iggy talks about his troubles, then notices Augie's valise.
  • Augie bursts into tears.