Chapter 9 Summary

The sheriff visits, dispatched by complaints that Sylvie has been spotted with Ruth riding into town on a boxcar at dawn. Neighbor ladies begin to visit with casseroles and knitted scarves, gloves, and hats. They are shocked by the chaos inside the house, with fallen leaves all over the floor and bottles, cans, and newspapers piled high on every flat surface. When they begin to voice their objections to Sylvie's care of Ruth, she can offer no effective defense. Sylvie begins to realize that the town means to take Ruth away from her custody. She begins a manic campaign of clearing out the house, urging Ruth to go to back to school even in clothing that no longer fits, with a mind that is no longer capable of concentration. Ruth expects Sylvie to give up and she is touched at how hard she...