Chapters Four though Six Summary

In chapter four, Sandy says that Edith and Lyman simply had no opportunities to escape the life Roy Goodnough had set for them. Edith continues all her duties - cooking, cleaning, gardening and bringing in wood - and now is responsible for the milking. Lyman continues working on the farm, and Sandy says there's nothing unusual in that because all farm families work hard. What's different in Lyman's case is that Roy dictates Lyman's every move, eliminating any opportunity Lyman might have to make a decision on his own. Roy also constantly berates Lyman.

Things go along that way for several years. One summer, as John Roscoe is working with Edith and Lyman on the farm, Edith and John begin seeing each other. They sometimes go out in the evening and Roy, for whatever reason, allows it...