Chapters 4 and 5 Summary

The impact of Eleanor's mother's death will haunt Eleanor her entire life because she was never able to secure her mother's approval. Eleanor's hope to regain a life with her father, Elliott, is short lived as he resumes his alcohol abuse and his wife's family continues to withhold the children from his custody. Eleanor's relationship with her beloved father consists of brief visits and lyrical letters in which he encourages her education and declares his undying love. Unfortunately, Elliott resumes his alcoholic lifestyle and soon dies from complications of the illness.

Eleanor and her brothers, Elliott Jr. and Gracie Hall live in New York City with their maternal grandmother and their mother's sisters. Ironically, Eleanor finds this arrangement more like home than she ever felt living with her own parents. Eleanor's father's alcohol abuse and her mother's frail sensibilities and dependence...