Chapter 5, Turning a New Leaf Summary

With Miss Marchmont's death, Lucy is again left with nowhere to live. While she is not completely destitute, she does not have the means to keep herself for long, and she will need to leave the house soon. Miss Marchmont's nephew pays her last wages, but since he is not generous and since Miss Marchmont had not yet made arrangements for Lucy, this is all Lucy has. Lucy speaks of having fraying nerves and worn health. She is not well, and yet she is not doing badly either. She visits her old nurse, who has become the housekeeper at a large hall nearby. Mrs. Barrett has little advice to offer her, but as Lucy walks home that night, the shimmering Aurora Borealis seems to speak to her. She decides that she should go to London...