Summary

When Book Two begins, the Booths have taken up residence in Baltimore. Rosalie feels isolated from the younger children because she is the only one who really remembers life on the farm. Father’s star has dimmed as he has grown older and madder. Edwin has grown more angsty and reserved; he has been replaced by John as the favorite child.

Edwin has been taking lessons in stage fencing from June without his parents’ knowledge. One day, while walking home with his father’s foils (he has taken them without permission), Edwin is beat up by a couple of boys, who break the foils in half. He is rescued by John’s gang, the Baltimore Bully Boys, but when he gets home he hears John telling Asia how ashamed he is that Edwin does not know how to fight back.

That night, Father...