Chapter 7 Summary

Jonathan and Katy Eltwing move into a house about three miles from Aunt Cordelia's, and there is speculation in town if Jonathan hopes that living in a small town will minimize the scrutiny of his volatile wife. Julie secretly thinks that Jonathan is still a little bit in love with Aunt Cordelia.

Living in the country does not have the peaceful influence on Katy that Jonathan had hoped, and she is unnerved when visitors arrive unannounced and is even found wandering alone down country roads and in nearby fields and woods. For some reason Katy is unable to play the piano anymore and many times Jonathan must leave work to return home to console his hysterical wife. On many evenings, Jonathan would seek out the comfort of Aunt Cordelia's big house as a retreat from the stress of his own life.

One night...