City of Orphans

Maks discourages Willa from leaving, explaining that Bruno is just as likely to be after her now as he is for Maks. It will make no difference to them that she is a girl. He wants her to stay to distract the family from their worry over Emma. Willa remembers Maks’s mother’s comments on her appearance and asks if she can wash before dinner. He leads her by candlelight back to the pump and privies, and she washes her face clean. Maks sees that behind the layer of grime is a thin, frightened girl. They move back into the tenement and up the stairs as Maks further explains why Bruno seeks revenge on them, but Willa exclaims that Bruno knows nothing of her. She appears weary and troubled.

The Geless family flat is small but cozy, with not much decoration save two paper pictures of Queen Louise of Denmark and President Lincoln and a wooden clock. Agnes is reading and Papa and the boys have gone to their bedrooms. Maks announces Willa will be staying for dinner and sleeping there for the night. Mama does not appear to care and is sobbing as she cooks the meal. Maks and Agnes discuss her book, Every Girl Her Own Clerk: How to Get a Job in a Fine Business, as she is trying to move beyond working in a factory.