Chapter Nineteen Summary

At first, Angel is hesitant to have the Altman family stay with them, and doesn't know how to act around them. She slowly becomes more comfortable, however, thanks to the persistent efforts made by Miriam to get to know her and to become friends, and because of little Ruthie's unquestioning attachment to her. The two families spend a lot of time getting to know each other, spending the evenings reading and singing and the days working and playing. Angel grows especially fascinated by the interaction between Elizabeth and Miriam, who are two women unlike any Angel had met before. Elizabeth offers to sew Angel's new clothes, and Angel gratefully accepts, but is embarrassed by the condition of her undergarments. Miriam puts her at ease with a joke about her own threadbare clothing, but a few days later, Elizabeth surprises Angel with...