Who is Marguerite? What nationality is she? How did she come to be in the American colonies? Why is she with the Sargents? What is a bound-out girl? Is Marguerite happy to be with the Sargents in the beginning of the novel? How about at the end of the novel? Who does Marguerite meet on Sunday Island? What does this person teach Marguerite? What does this person give to Marguerite at the end of the novel?

Who is Dolly Sargent? How does she treat Marguerite? Why? How does Dolly feel about moving to the farm? How does Dolly treat her children? Why does she do this? Why does Dolly refuse to burn the fingers of her youngest child? Why should she do this? What happens when she does not? What does this say about Dolly as a mother?

Why does Joel Sargent bring his...