Summary

Lila is glad that the Reverend forgets he is talking to an ignorant woman in his letter to her since she would hate him for remembering, but she decides against writing him back for fear she will shame herself, though he never seems to mind when she does. While working, Lila decides that she will ask Reverend Ames to baptize her, and when he joins her on a walk through town, he agrees because he wishes to repay her for tending his family’s graves. Lila suggests he should marry her, and he agrees before they separate.

Embarrassed, Lila skips church the next day, planning to leave Gilead, but the Reverend visits her, bringing his mother’s necklace. They discuss the possibility of marriage, but Lila decides she does not want to be a preacher’s wife; however, she still wants him...