Chapter 4 Summary

Mrs. Metcalf devotes herself to music, which she writes and plays on the piano. Annie knows not to interrupt her mother when she is working or playing. This leaves Annie with much time on her hands and, being an only child, Annie learns to play alone or spend time at her grandparents' home across the street. Annie is also shut out of her mother's world by her mother's two groups of friends. One group is from the academy where Mrs. Metcalf had attended school. This group of women is concerned with voting rights for women, as well as many other political and social issues. Mrs. Metcalf's other group of friends includes young people introduced to Mrs. Metcalf by her brother Paul. This group is livelier, and includes young men who enjoy laughing, singing, and smoking cigars on the front porch. Since the war...