Summary

Chinky leaves in March, before the snow has melted. She offers to wait for Lillian in Vancouver, but Lillian has her own plans. Chinky promises to think of her as she hands Lillian her jumper; her pillow, and a buckle she took from Mrs. Mortimer. Lillian is lonely without Chinky. Both she and Mrs. Mortimer miss her, as good company is scarce.

Chinky sits next to a Mormon boy in the dark. Her sister became sick and Chinky takes her place on the bench. She holds Xiu-mei’s bible in her lap and as dawn breaks, the boy dozes with his head on her shoulder and she studies his features. His hand rests on her knee and she feigns sleep so she isn’t obligated to pretend to be afraid of his touch like a decent Christian girl.

Chinky knows...