Chapters 32, 33, 34, and 35 Summary

Carol's brush with exile comes only as close as the house next door, when Mrs. Bogart, who runs a boardinghouse, evicts Fern Mullins, the new schoolteacher, accusing Fern of inappropriate behavior involving alcohol and her teen-aged son, Cy. Mrs. Bogart is quick to tell the neighbors and the school board about Fern's indiscretions.

Carol is the only person in town who will listen to Fern's side of the story, which is radically different from Cy's version of lies. Fern is asked to resign her new teaching job, and Carol accompanies the girl to the train station in support.

A month passes, and Carol does not see Erik, until he arrives at her home one evening. Erik knows that Kennicott is with a patient in the country and asks Carol to go for a walk in the country. Carol teeters on her...