Show Me a Sign

Nancy and Mary continue following Andrew. When he reverses direction, they take shelter in an apple tree. They find Sally, Thomas’s daughter, already seated on a higher branch. She says that she has been watching Andrew too because she doesn’t trust him. Once Andrew leaves the area, the three girls jump down, and Nancy goes home.

Mary continues to walk with Sally. She thinks, “Even a year ago, I would not be seen walking with her. But if Papa doesn’t treat Thomas differently from other men, why should I treat Sally differently from other girls?” (113). Back at home, Mary finds that Andrew is there, and he has charmed her mother into loaning him all of George’s books. Mary’s special map was among the papers. Her mother assures her that Andrew will return everything he borrowed.

Mary is determined to get her map back, so she sneaks into Reverend Lee’s house to search Andrew’s room while he is out. The housekeeper is downstairs, and Mary fears being discovered: “I try to quiet my breathing and hope my stomach doesn’t growl […] Deaf people can easily make sounds without ever realizing it” (119). Although she doesn’t find her map, she comes across a letter to Andrew from someone who encourages his research and suggests that Andrew bring back from his travels a person who is deaf.

By the time Mary arrives home later, she finds her parents entertaining Andrew as well as her schoolteacher, Miss Hammond, and Miss Hammond’s suitor, Mr. Pye. Mary’s mother is acting as an interpreter for Andrew. He explains his theory that something in the water might cause deafness, just as unclean water causes yellow fever. Andrew equates deafness with disease, although Pye challenges his theory and points out that there are some advantages to not hearing: “In some ways, I have always considered my deaf neighbors luckier for the less than melodious sounds they escape. Roosters, screaming infants, and the like” (131).

Andrew continues to pity people who are deaf because they live in a “reduced state” (131). He says that humanity must strive for perfection and that anything less is unacceptable. The dinner conversation grows increasingly tense, and Mary’s father ends the discussion by banning Andrew from the house in the future.

As Mary prepares for bed that night, she realizes that her parents are having an argument. The vibrations in the floor sound like people stomping around angrily. She steals back downstairs and witnesses their silent conversation.

Her father insists that he must defend their family from the likes of Andrew. Mary’s mother claims that she has no family left since George died. Mary is devastated to see her mother declare that Mary was jealous of George. Mary breaks into the conversation and apologizes, saying she was always proud of her brother and that it was her fault that he died. Mary’s mother continues to weep while Mary’s father takes his daughter upstairs and explains that George’s death was nobody’s fault.

Very early the following morning, Mary awakens from a nightmare. Still afraid to confront her mother, she dresses and goes outside for a walk. She sees Andrew ahead of her on the road. He has apparently packed, and his ship is waiting in the harbor. Still intent on getting George’s map back, Mary follows him and breaks open his satchel, searching for the paper.

She doesn’t find it and turns to go, but Andrew follows her. Frightened, Mary runs for Ezra’s cottage, but Andrew tackles and subdues her before she gets there: “With one hand, he removes the handkerchief from his breast pocket and a bottle from his satchel. He frees the cork with his teeth, soaking the handkerchief with its contents. He places it over my nose and mouth. What is it?” (150).