Chapters 17 - 18 Summary

Christy and Fairlight learn from each other; Christy believes Fairlight has taught her more about life than she had ever known before. Fairlight teaches Christy how to live for today. If the first day of spring warrants it, Fairlight will leave her housework to explore the bounteous beauty outside. The natural shyness of the mountain people is due to the lack of sophistication that city folks have of hiding their feelings. When a mountain person offers friendship, they are opening themselves up to hurt and pain because they have no built in defenses. Mountain friendships are deep, intense, and extend into the family. This helps to explain the bitter hatred involved in their feuding. To violate a friendship as deep and intense as what they have is considered to be the ultimate betrayal.

The understanding that highlanders are lazy and shiftless...