The Stone Diaries

In 1936, Daisy is now a widow, and the story of her husband's death is well-known. Mrs. Hoad discovers that the marriage was never consummated, declares Daisy "an unnatural woman of profound frigidity" (126), and scorns her.

Despite the market crash, Mr. Cuyler Goodwill is doing well financially in the stone cutting and carving business. He visits Italy in search of more carvers and returns with a new wife named Maria who is "anywhere between thirty-five and forty" years old (127). Because Maria does all of the housework, the Goodwills’ housekeeper, Cora-Mae Milltown, quits. Daisy also has issues with Maria, and between them "grows an intricate rivalrous dance which can never, never be brought to light" (130). We also learn that Beans is now married with two children, and Fraidy has moved out of her parents’ home to live on her own.

Wishing for anonymity and for "something" eventful to happen in her life, Daisy travels to Canada, a country she calls "a healing kingdom" (133), during the summer to visit the place where she was born and to see Barker. Again, Barker remembers how he harbored sexual feelings for Daisy when she was younger, and he rehearses what he will say to her.