Summary

Chapter 4 begins with our main character outlining the routine she has begun to settle into at the Kinsella house. She describes the chores she helps Mrs. Kinsella with and how Mr. Kinsella “goes out to the yard” (37) every day to work the fields. There are occasional shifts in the routine, especially at night, when other people come to the house where the main character can hear them “playing cards and talking” (38), or people going door-to-door selling raffle tickets for charity will stop by, only to be invited inside by Mr. Kinsella (sometimes alongside their donkey).

Chapter 5 starts with Mr. Kinsella suggesting that Mrs. Kinsella take the main character to Gorey in order to get her “‘togged out’” (41) – or dressed up – for Mass the following Sunday. Mrs. Kinsella finishes her chores, then goes to the bathroom and begins to cry for reasons that are...