Section 5 Summary

Almeda is relieved when Jarvis finally leaves so that she can go to the privy where she realizes that part of her ill feeling has been brought about by menstruation. Almeda posts a note for Jarvis on the front door to tell him that she is not well and will stay at home to rest today. Almeda puts a few drops of the nerve medicine into the pot of tea she has brewed and sits in the dark house and listens to the carriages taking people to church. Almeda can even hear Jarvis' step on her porch and hears him retrieve the note and retreat down the sidewalk without disturbing her.

All day Almeda sits in the house drinking tea with nerve medicine and realizes that she has never in her life spent a full day in her nightclothes until today. Almeda tries...