Lyddie

Though it hurts Lyddie to withdraw money from the bank, she takes enough cash out to pay Mrs. Bedlow for Rachel’s keep and to buy Rachel clothes. Then, when Brigid works more slowly than ever, Lyddie learns that Brigid’s mother is deathly ill, and the family can’t afford a doctor. Lyddie huffily gives Brigid her change, saying only to “mind the machine.” By May, both Brigid and Rachel seem to cheer up. Brigid starts tending the machines with fervent gratitude, while Rachel cracks a smile whenever Lyddie tries to teach her to read or make up silly poems.

One day, Lyddie is working at her machine when she realizes she feels strangely hot. Mr. Marsden asks to talk to her after work, and because Lyddie feels ill, she cannot figure out how to get out of the conversation. When Mr. Marsden starts to wrap his arms around her, Lyddie stomps—hard—on his foot and runs away.

The days pass in a haze; all Lyddie knows is that at different times, Diana, Rachel, and Mrs. Bedlow all tend to her. Finally, Lyddie starts feeling better. When Lyddie comes to, Rachel is joyfully standing by her bedside, elated that her sister has made it through. Weakly, Lyddie jokes to Rachel that “we can still hop.”