Part 3 - Wisconsin, Winter into Spring, 1908 - Chapters 17 and 18 Summary

Chapter 17: Narration describes one of Truitt's bedtime rituals, drinking water left for him by Mrs. Larsen from a carved Italian glass taken from the Italian house, and how he sees Mrs. Larsen's actions in filling it as an act of tenderness of the sort he rarely, if ever, experienced anywhere else (particularly from his mother). Narration then describes his feelings at seeing Catherine step down from the train, alone, on her return from St. Louis and his feelings of despair when she tells him that Antonio rejects both the idea that he is Truitt's son and the invitation to come home. During a quiet dinner, Truitt's despair deepens. He suggests that he and Catherine move into the Italian house and wait for Antonio, and that he and...