Angle of Repose Part 2, Chapter 2 Summary

How It All Goes Down

  • For the first few days, Susan doesn't do much except write letters to Augusta. It isn't until the fifth day that she receives a letter back, however, and it's bad news: Augusta's child has died.
  • Susan desperately wishes that she could head home, but she just doesn't have the money. This makes her feel incredibly "trapped" (2.2.20).
  • It doesn't help that Susan doesn't have much to do all day. Luckily, she does have the occasional art assignment—she's currently using Lizzie as a model for an edition of The Scarlet Letter.
  • Still, given that Oliver works a ton, Susan still has oodles of time to burn. She spends most of it simply observing life on this wild mine in the middle of California.