Summary

In Chapter 5, the men of High Prairie aren't romantically interested in Selina because she's too small and pale compared to most of the women they are accustomed to seeing. Despite that lack of romantic interest, everyone talks about her. People know that she thinks cabbage fields are beautiful and that she sometimes read to Roelf in the evenings while he worked. Selina accompanies the Pools to church where she first meets Widow Paarlenberg, who Maartje says is very rich. She also sees Pervus DeJong for the first time. Selina notes that he's handsome and Maartje says the Widow Paarlenberg is intersted in Pervus. Selina is happy to see that Pervus doesn't seem to return the Widow Paarlenberg's interest and finds herself wondering what he looks like when he smiles.

Pervus has been a widower for 2 years. He owns 25 acres of poor land with...