Quicksand, Chapters Two and Three Summary

Helga is staying in her room. A fellow teacher, Margaret Creighton, comes to check on Helga and is concerned that Helga's cutting her ties with the school might hurt her career. Helga feels the school should be shut down and is even more determined to get on a train and leave this very day; she is "in love with the piquancy of leaving."

In Chapter Three, Helga makes her way across campus for a twenty-minute meeting with the new principal, Dr. Anderson. She gathers her poise and waits, unconcerned, as she observes the colorless clothing the employees are forced to wear. Helga prefers vibrant color.

Helga explains to Dr. Anderson that she hates hypocrisy, cruelty to students and teachers, backbiting and spying, and general pettiness that looms like a venomous disease here. He asks if...