Something shifted in Josephine then, a gathering of disparate desires that before had been scattered. She could not name them all, there were so many, but most were simple things: to eat at mean when hunger struck her, to smile without thinking, to wear a dress that fit her well, to place upon the wall a picture she had made, to love a person of her choosing.”
-- Narrator (Chapter 1, Josephine,” of “Part One: Josephine, Lina” paragraph 3)

Importance: Mister Robert had just struck Josephine and she decided that she was going to run away. She has always been a slave and has no role models, no black person who has told her she could be free, but she has learned enough to know that it should be possible.

In the far corner were piled Josephine's pictures. She painted scenes from the farm.”
-- Narrator (Chapter 3, “Josephine,” of “Part One: Josephine, Lina” paragraph 17)

Importance: This line gives the reader positive proof that Porter Scales' theory about the Bell collection of paintings is correct...