Part Two Chapter One Summary

A span of two years has passed between the first and second parts of this novel. Niel meets Ivy Peters as they ride the train to Sweet Water. Niel learns that Ivy in addition to being a lawyer, Ivy is renting some land from the Forresters on which he farms. He tells Niel how he has drained the marsh. Ivy talks about how the influential friends of the Forresters don't help them much and the couple has come down in the world. He says the captain doesn't seem to be all there most of the time but that Mrs. Forrester took good care of him. He also notes she drinks too much. Niel feels Ivy's actions are done out of spite for the Forresters. After Ivy leaves, Niel thinks to himself that it is men like Ivy...