Chapter 21, The Loophole of Retreat Summary and Analysis

Linda's new hiding place is in a small garret above the shed attached to her grandmother's home. The floor space is only nine feet by seven feet. The ceiling is only three feet high at its highest point, but it slopes down quickly from there, and Linda barely has enough room to sit up. Her "den" as she calls it, admits no light or air, offers no insulation or other protection from heat, cold, or even heavy rain, and is infested with mice, rats, and other vermin. Linda will live in these conditions for many years.

One day, Linda discovers a gimlet that Uncle Phillip had accidentally left behind. With it she is able to bore a small hole through which she can peer out and occasionally catch glimpses of her children. The...