How we cite our quotes: (Part.Paragraph)
Quote #1
As their mother's pension was small, they depended on Rose, who worked in the office of Davis's Mills; her wages paid for most of their needs. (1.86)
For all intents and purposes, Rose is the one keeping the Lacey family together. With her father dead, her brothers in England, and Eilis just a hair too young to get a good job, Rose has no choice but to bring home the bacon. Luckily, she does it the same way she does everything else—with panache.
Quote #2
She did not know if the other two also realized that this was the first time they had laughed at this table since Jack had followed the others to Birmingham. (1.121)
Wow—a happy little family these folks are not. Still, it's mostly due to circumstances: the family has endured quite a few hardships over recent years, including the death of its patriarch. Regardless, it's a testament to the strength of their familial bond that they manage to stick together through thick and thin.
Quote #3
"Oh, it'll kill me when she goes," her mother said. Her face wore a dark strained look that Eilis had not seen since the months after their father died. (1.218)
This is the first time that Eilis' mom admits that she'll be bummed out when Eilis leaves for America. While this seems like a pretty obvious kind of thing to us (BREAKING NEWS: mother loves daughter), you have to remember that Eilis' family doesn't talk about their feelings, like, ever. In that context, this is a pretty big deal.