Summary

In Chapter 4, Valora forces herself to keep hope alive and sets out down Scotland Road, taking notice of various features as she walks. There are six walls with signs reading “boiler casings” that are warm. She sees families settling into their rooms and feels everything has a place and purpose, except her. She reaches the top deck at the rear, noting it is called the “poop deck.” Valora thinks about April's comment and again feels “a woman's opinion would've been helpful, as one cannot help but think of the toilet every time one refers to” (29) the poop deck. She notices the crewman assigned to steer, should the ship need to go backwards. This had been a selling point for Mrs. Sloane, who decided a ship that could steer backwards must be safe. She also notices that Southampton is disappearing in the distance. She...