Playing Beatie Bow: Chapter 9 Summary & Analysis

Abigail enters Granny’s room, where Granny is sitting in a chair. Granny puts aside her knitting and tells Abigail that she has been expecting her. As Abigail sits at Granny’s feet and puts her head in the old woman’s lap, Granny rightly tells Abigail that something frail and precious “like a china cup” has been chipped or cracked. Abigail says that she doesn’t feel like anything has been spoiled, though she didn’t want Beatie to know her secret. Abigail humbly says that perhaps she’s too young to know anything about love after all, but Granny tells Abigail that she herself was just fifteen when she was wed. Granny tells Abigail to look into her eyes.

Abigail looks into Granny’s eyes and hears Granny’s voice, far away—when she looks down at herself, she is in the body of someone else. Granny’s voice explains that she is showing Abigail herself at eighteen, newly widowed. Abigail-as-Granny is poised on the edge of a cliff, longing to throw herself off but knowing that she can’t—she must live on in spite of the pain, for her children and her parents. Abigail tells Granny that she can’t bear to see any more, and is instantly thrown back into the parlor.

Granny tells Abigail that she must know now, through the vision, that the young can experience true love—and true sorrow. Abigail confesses to Granny that she shook Beatie violently, wishing that it were actually Dovey she was harming. She is afraid, she says, to be nasty to Dovey out of jealousy, though she does not want to be. Granny assures Abigail that she will be all right, and sends her from the room, telling her to ask Beatie to come in.

Abigail sits at the kitchen table washing potatoes. When Beatie comes out of the parlor after speaking with Granny, she is sniveling, and tells Abigail that Granny has charged her with being kind to Abigail—but she says any kindness she shows Abigail from now on is false. Beatie laments that Granny also told her to keep Abigail’s secret from Dovey. Abigail asks why Beatie is so upset, and whether Granny told her something else. Beatie reveals that Granny told her that by Sunday, Judah would decide whom he really loves—and Beatie is afraid that he will choose Abigail. Abigail knows that on Sunday, Judah has promised to take Beatie and Abigail hunting for cockles (a kind of edible mollusk) at the shore. Beatie asks Abigail to promise that she won’t hurt Dovey, but Abigail says she can’t promise such a thing.

On Sunday, Dovey prepares a picnic basket for Judah, Beatie, and Abigail, but as they prepare for the outing, Abigail feels only anxiety. As the three head out through the shop door, Abigail bids Mr. Bow goodbye, but he does not respond. Judah confesses that he is worried about his father, as his spells are more frequent.

Beatie runs ahead of Judah and Abigail through the empty streets down to the shore. Judah tells Beatie to slow down, as in the cockling boat, she will have to be still and quiet. Down on the dirty shore, which is strewn with debris from ships and rotten fish and garbage, Judah helps the girls into a little boat. Out on the water, the view is beautiful, and Abigail takes in the sight of the bustling Sydney Harbor, which is even busier than it usually is in her own time.

Abigail asks what the ships in the harbor transport, and as she and Judah find themselves in yet another discussion about the innovations of the future, Judah laments that so much money is spent on electric trains and trailers when “the sea and the wind are free for all.”

Judah pulls the little boat into a craggy cove, and instructs Abigail in how to track the shellfish and dig for them. As Abigail wanders the shore, she feels very strongly that this day is going to be her last in 1873. She knows it has something to do with Judah deciding whom he loves—however the decision comes up, though, Abigail vows that she will not be the one to broach it. Exhausted, Abigail sits on a rock and watches Judah and Beatie hunt. Beatie approaches Abigail after a while and accuses her of gawking at Judah, but Abigail has not been lusting after Judah—she has been considering how difficult his life must be, and how hard he works on behalf of his family.

Judah suggests they all get back into the boat and go to another cove, but Beatie insists she wants to climb the rocks. Judah orders Beatie to get in the boat, but Beatie refuses to go. Abigail sides with Beatie, saying she doesn’t mind staying a while longer, but then Beatie turns on her, and tells her that her opinion isn’t asked or valued. Judah asks Beatie why she’s in such a foul mood. Beatie insists that she wants to play Robinson Crusoe, and kicks Judah in the shin. Judah tells Beatie to stay on the shore while he takes Abigail for a boat ride. Judah places a wet sack over the cockles and tells Beatie to mind them, offering her one last chance to join them on the ride—Beatie replies only that she hopes the boat sinks.

Abigail and Judah shove off from the shore. Out on the water, Judah admires the land he knows as New South Wales—he believes humanity has not yet spoiled it. Abigail looks at Judah lovingly. Judah nudges Abigail playfully with his foot and asks why Abigail seems sad. She tearfully says she’s afraid that today is her last day with the Bows. Judah embraces Abigail and begs her not to go. Abigail cries and strokes Judah’s cheek. He pulls away from her and teases her for weeping on such a beautiful day, calling her his “little one.” Judah leans in and kisses Abigail, and her head whirls with pleasure. After the kiss, though, Judah looks bashful, and says that though it was wrong of him to kiss her, he does not regret it.

Abigail tells Judah that she loves him, but he does not answer her. Abigail quickly tells Judah that she knows about Dovey, and that how she feels about him is not for him to worry about. Judah confesses that he is confused, and doesn’t know how he feels. Behind them, there is a sound like a seahawk—they turn toward the shore and sea Beatie up on the rocks, throwing stones at the ocean. Judah realizes she has seen the two of them, and hopes aloud that she will not tell Dovey.

Judah rows the boat back into shore, where Beatie meets them in a horrible rage. Judah lifts the tantrum-throwing Beatie into the boat. Beatie threatens to punch Judah “yeller and green” for betraying Dovey, but Judah—either speaking out of truth or simply to calm Beatie—tells her that there is nothing between himself and Abigail at all.

In the boat, Abigail attempts to put a hand on Beatie’s shoulder, but Beatie shakes her off, and says that they should have left her in the whorehouse all those weeks ago. Judah leans forward and shakes Beatie, chastising her for speaking so cruelly. Beatie replies only that she is “sick to the belly with disgust” over her brother’s betrayal.