Chapter 19 Summary

The second year at Gilman's school was, from the beginning, very frustrating for Helen. She was forced to face her old nemesis, mathematics, without the tools she needed. Many of her books were not ready at the beginning of school. The classes were larger and none of the Cambridge teachers could give her special instruction. Anne Sullivan had to read all the books to her. Helen had to wait to buy a Braillewriter to do her algebra, geometry and physics. She could not just look up at the blackboard to see geometrical drawings: she had to represent them on "a cushion with strings and curved wires." Helen says that she is ashamed to remember how she showed her feelings sometimes, and that her behavior was later "used against Miss Sullivan."

As Helen's books and supplies began to arrive, though, it got a little...