Chapter 9 Summary

As the days, weeks and months pass, Mary becomes more and more fearfully obsessed with Moses' presence in the house. She stops paying attention to her chickens, which die off from lack of food and water. She even stops obsessively locking the storage cupboard, afraid of antagonizing Moses by making him think she suspects him of stealing. One day, Moses tells her of his plan to leave at the end of the month. Mary, dreading a confrontation with Dick, pleads with Moses to stay, after a moment starting to cry. As she gives in to her embarrassed, confused anger and frustration, she is surprised when Moses brings her a glass of water, gently commands her to drink, and then gently propels her into her bedroom (see "Quotes, p 175). There she lies down and sleeps.

The next morning Mary forces herself to behave normally...