In Chapter
2,and Charles leave their home and go separate ways. Each of them has been hired out to work in
order to pay off debts their mother owes on their property. The land has been rented to a
neighbor, Mr. Westcott, to farm, and he is to have their horse and cow as well. Lyddie and
Charles close up their cabin, piling logs in front of the door to prevent a return of the bear.
They discuss what to do with their calf. In their mother's absence, they had bred the cow, and
their mother doesn't know about the calf, so she didn't promise it to Mr. Westcott.
As they near the farm next to theirs, which belongs to the Stevens family, the neighbor
greets them. When he finds out what has happened to their family, he's filled with compassion
for the two young people, which embarrasses them. He purchases the calf from them, at a generous
price, and invites them to dinner. Luke Stevens, one of the sons, offers to give the two a ride
to their respective workplaces. Lyddie is cool and even rude to him, brushing off his offers to
help them.
Luke stops at the mill to drop Charles off, and Lyddie parts from
him, nearly crying. Luke then drops her off at the tavern where she will be working. He offers
to go in with her, but she refuses because she doesn't want to be seen with a Quaker. Luke is
not offended by Lyddie's poor manners; he continues to be kind. He promises to keep an eye on
their house and to look in on Charles.
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