Chapters 43 through 49 Summary

In Chapter 43, Lark takes stock of what she has learned to date. In Kindergarten, she learns to negotiate for desirable things and listen when others speak of things that do not interest her. In First Grade, she learns to read and go through her first confession. Second Grade brings addition and subtraction and Third Grade will eventually bring longhand writing. Lark writes Hilly a letter and vice versa. They both feel quite important receiving mail addressed to them. They correspond weekly. Lark and Mama go visit the Browning grandparents to check on Aunt Betty, who is suspected of having an affair with a married man named Mr. Miller. Grandma is ashamed of Betty's behavior. She says, "Fouling her own nest, that's what she's doing," (p. 261). Arlene does not know what this means.

Mama and Aunt Betty go to a dance in...