Gus Trenor and Lily Bart

It seemed through reading various parts of this book that Gus was using the fact that he was providing Miss Bart with monetary substinence to make advances toward her from the beginnning of their close association. In one scene, "[Lily] let her eyes shine into his with a look that made up for the handclasp he would have claimed if they had not been alone..." (96). Although holding hands may seem innocent, it is awkward for a married man to do this to a attractive, young woman without romantic thoughts in mind. Repeatedlty Gus makes remarks about how his wife is demanding and unreasonable and does not understandthe value of money, so it is understandable that after becoming disillusioned with his wife, that Gus would try and find a new women to be the object of his affections.