Chapter 2 Summary

Things seem to be going better at the new house. Lydia is very happy—although she always puts on a happy face no matter what the situation. Molly and her mother are a lot alike. When they seem excited about something, it usually turns out not to be anything extraordinary. Meg's father is making a lot of progress on his book. He writes the entire time Molly and Meg are gone to school and rarely takes a break. Meg takes comfort in the sounds that come from the room—his typing, the crumpling up of sheets of paper and his frequent mumbling to himself.

Lydia decides to make a patchwork quilt from scraps of the material from dresses Meg and Molly had worn as little kids. It recalls to Meg her younger days. Meg notices the look on her mother's face...