How we cite our quotes: (Book.Chapter.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #1
House and barn under the same roof?... She said no more, but fell into deep and troubled thought… Man and beast in one building? How could one live that way? (1.2.8.13)
Beret is skeptical about Per Hansa's plan to build their stable and home under the same roof. While Per is just being practical, Beret still has certain standards of civilization she'd like to live by.
Quote #2
It seemed plain to her now that human life could not endure in this country. (1.3.11.5)
Beret takes one good look at the American prairie and figures that there's no way the land will support human life. For starters, they'll have no protection from storms because there are no trees anywhere. Second, how will they stay sane with nothing but flat, brown land in every direction?
Quote #3
Suppose [the children] were to grow up here, would they not come to be exactly like the red children of the wilderness—or perhaps something worse? (1.3.11.6)
Beret worries that the longer her family stays in Dakota, the more her children will grow up to be like Native American kids. She's totally showing off her racism here, but what she's thinking about deep down is what (if any) vestiges of their former lives her family will be able to keep if they stay on the prairies forever.