Part 2: Chapter 17 Summary and Analysis

One Sunday evening as Anne, her father, and Emma are getting ready for bed they hear screams coming from next door. As they run next door to Janie's house, they see Wilbert, Janie's husband, trying to get in the house with a shotgun in his hands. Emma runs inside and helps Janie and the children try to bar the door shut. Wilbert steps back from the door, aims the shotgun, and shoots. A moment later Emma is heard moaning and Daddy rushes inside to help her. Daddy emerges with a blood-covered Emma and loads her in a truck to take to the hospital. The incident seems to shake the life back into Wilbert, who quickly jumps in the car with Janie to follow Daddy to the hospital.

The next morning Emma's brother Clift arrives to take Anne to the...