Book II, pgs. 219-318 Summary

When Lucy is a school girl, she is given an assignment on the Civil War and choses Lady Marsden as her subject. She has to interview the woman.

Lady Marsden had lived in a seventy room mansion, The Lilacs, that was destroyed by Sherman. The house was full of clocks and she was known to be a master at fixing clocks. After her son went to war, she spent her time playing Catacombs with the slaves. Before the war, she was known for her Lilac Time Gala, a large party which was a tradition in the area.

There is no party in April 1865. Richmond was burning. Sherman had captured Raleigh and was expected at the Lilacs. Lady Marsden is playing the piano as news comes of other plantations burning. The slaves are salvaging various items from the...