Playing Beatie Bow: Chapter 12 Summary & Analysis

A few days after Abigail’s return, Kathy brings Weyland home for dinner. He greets his daughter as “Lynnie” and embraces her. Abigail embraces him right back, and as she does, remembers being wrapped in Judah’s arms. Abigail stops herself from crying, though, telling herself that she is about to embark on a whole new life, and soon the world of Beatie Bow will be a distant memory. Abigail apologizes for being such a “dope” to her father, and Kathy leaves the two of them alone to catch up.

Weyland tells Abigail all about Norway, and she admits that she is excited for a new adventure. He tries to explain about his mistress, but Abigail cuts him off, telling him that she understands. Together, over dinner, the family decides that Abigail will complete one more term of school while Kathy ties up her loose ends at the shop, and the two prepare themselves for a long Norwegian winter.

Abigail’s long years of keeping her feelings to herself prove useful during this time—she knows that neither her mother nor her father has any clue as to what is really going on inside of her. Abigail feels that the empty place inside of her has grown desolate.

Abigail still takes Natalie and Vincent to the playground sometimes, but the children have given up playing Beatie Bow, and now play something else. Natalie wistfully tells Abigail that she never sees the “little furry girl” anymore. Abigail tells Natalie that the little girl is probably home, brushing her hair and hoping it will grow in time for her brother’s wedding. Natalie laughs, delighted by the story she believes Abigail is making up. She asks Abigail to continue it, but Abigail refuses, having made herself sad with thoughts of the Bows—she realizes that she is homesick not just for Judah, but for all of them.

Abigail is determined to find out what became of all the Bows, and she wants to do so before she leaves Australia, so that she can think of them when she is in Norway. Though she knows looking up the Bows is like rubbing salt in an old wound, she heads to the Public Library’s newspaper rooms and asks for files dating back to 1873 and 1874. Uncertain of what she is looking for, she flips through the papers, hoping for any sign. As she flips blithely through the ads and small announcements, she is taken aback by an article describing the sinking of a ship called The Brothers on the fourth of February, 1874. She realizes with a horrible feeling that The Brothers was the name of Judah’s ship.

Abigail walks home in a daze, feeling as if her body is moving without her mind’s control or consent. She reaches into her dresser drawer and pulls out the crochet. She speaks aloud to Granny, begging her to warn Judah. The crochet is very damaged, though, and as she tries to call to Granny, she fears she will have no success—until the room begins to ripple, and she realizes she has been suspended somewhere between Mitchell and the Rocks, as if in a dream. She sees Beatie, Granny, and Samuel walking through the street in their best clothes, with Judah and Dovey close behind—they have clearly just been married. She calls to the Bows, but they cannot hear her. Judah looks in Abigail’s direction, but seems to see right through her.

The scene begins to lose its color and fade. Abigail sees Granny look around searchingly for a moment, as if she has heard something, but it is too late—Abigail is back in her own time, and the crochet is threads in her hands. Abigail attempts to comfort herself by telling herself that perhaps Judah did not ship out on The Brothers on its fateful, final voyage, but cannot convince herself of this fully. Once again, in her head, she bids Judah good-bye.