Holden takes a train to Trenton after missing the last taxi. On the train, he talks to a woman who recognizes his suitcase from Pencey Prep. She is Ernest Morrow's mother. Ernest was a bully who Holden disliked. Holden lies to her, claiming his name is Rudolf Schmidt and that he has to leave school early for a brain tumor operation. He keeps up the lie even as she expresses concern. They stop talking when Holden reads a timetable. She invites him to visit but he has no intention of seeing Ernest.