Summary

All of the librarians are surprised to see Pactor McIntosh show up to the library one day, and are immediately unhappy with his presence. He explains that he is there to convince Alice to go back to the Van Cleves because she is “subject to a higher authority,” or more specifically, God’s authority (217). Alice tells him off, asking if it is godly for a man to beat his wife. Unable to answer, he leaves embarrassed by the encounter. At the mines, some of Mr. Van Cleve’s workers tell him they think he is losing control because he is spending too much time worrying about the library. He does not seem worried, and insists that the library is “on its last legs anyway” (221). Van Cleve tells Bennett they are going to bring Alice back home, even if they have to force her...