Part 2, Chapter 2 Summary

When Portia finally comes downstairs, Daphne doesn't greet her with words but instead turns off the radio she's been listening to and shakes her hand. Mrs. Heccomb is painting a lamp shade and she tells Daphne that she could probably leave her music on. Daphne starts it back up, then kicks back and haves a cigarette. She's a person who enjoys having a lot of noise around her home, which Portia eventually learns is because she works all day in a deathly quiet library. Portia doesn't seem to mind any of this, but Mrs. Heccomb does worry that Portia might pick up some of Daphne's bad habits and take them back to Anna's with her. She might have learned to deal with Daphne's brashness, but she'd hate Anna to have to witness it.

Portia sits on the couch and opens up...