Summary

Chapter 8 opens with Thea receiving another letter from her father. The letter says that Thea has not written home in almost a month. Thea’s father says he hopes this means Thea is busy, but he also asks her to “take pity” on and “be merciful” to her parents and send a letter. Thea acknowledges to the reader that she has not written since she found out she would not be returning to Florida at the end of the summer. Thea describes “training” herself so she will not desire her family.

It is now Thanksgiving and every girl except Mary Abbott has gone home to celebrate the holiday. At dinner, Decca finds Thea and invites her to sit with the Holmes family and the teachers at the head table. Thea sees other girls file in and makes eye contact with Leona. There have been...