After a while, they send for Anthony Aitkens in the hopes that he can persuade Andrea. This is the first time that anyone in the household has taken Andrea’s threats seriously. Anthony rushes to her room and tries every possible method to persuade her to eat.
“All the people are waiting for you,” he says, trying to make her feel guilty, “The food is getting colder by the minute, and they’re all hungry.”
“I have said that I don’t want to eat,” Andrea says, “Why do I have to have dinner if I don’t want to?”
“Please eat something. You haven’t eaten anything all day,” Anthony continues, knocking on the door as he speaks, “What if your refusal to eat makes you ill? Andrea, please eat something.”
“I haven’t lived at home for several years,” she says dryly, “And you all managed to enjoy your
