The stir of Floyd’s return had hardly stilled, and the pleasure of his presence had only begun to seem unremarkable when Rooster returned from his business trip to Savannah. It had, he confessed to Leon, been a disappointing one. Because cotton prices were low, he had decided to sell only what he needed to get ready cash. Part of the remainder he had stored in a Savannah warehouse; most of it he had sent back to Highboro, where he knew Leon and Felix would hold it for him in their warehouse. Penelope came from Savannah with Rooster, and the tutor they had chosen together for his sons. Driscoll Proctor was a solemn man of thirty-two whose manner was deliberate, even awkward, in a way that was not unwelcome. He was said to be especially “strong” in Latin and geography.

Penelope settled in to what had come to be considered “her old room.” Nell and Felix came for a day to welcome her and stayed a week. Edna brought Annabel and Doreen on the first morning they were to attend Roman’s school, and spent the day, taking the girls home to Oaks in the buggy late in the afternoon. Henceforth, they would be accompanied by Violet, who was thus allowed to see her husband Sugar more often now that she was pregnant and not so casual as she had been about her marriage.

It was that time of year just before people settled into their winter routine, which was so much slower and easier than plowing and planting and growing and harvest times. This year harvest energy had grown near to frenzy, because the rewards for the year’s labor were so uncertain.

The price of cotton being half what it usually was, Leon and Felix found themselves, having ginned the cotton of the smaller farms of the surrounding county, storing it free in their warehouse with their own, waiting for the price to rise, and in the meantime extending credit or guaranteeing payment for goods bought at local stores, acting, indeed, as agents. When the gin finally shut down its operation for the year, the warehouse was full. Rex was excused from his winter work on the plantation and sent to live in a shanty back of the warehouse and act as watchman, taking his main meals in Nell’s kitchen.

Although times were hard and people said so, they did not worry overmuch. The harvest was in, their winter provisions were assured, seed waited for spring—and next year prices were certain to rise. Since everyone was poor, no one felt poor. And the usual parties and dances were enjoyed, as well as such diversions as quilting bees, corn-shuckings, livestock judging and selling, now and then horse racing. People began to feel a comfortable anticipation of Thanksgiving and Christmas.