His Family
Confides about Joe Bolini and immerses herself in school work.
I
Roger's second daughter, who stayed at home and helped rouse his interest in life after Judith's death.
Chapter II
Returns home tired from work, discusses Bruce and George with her father, advocates for progressive education, then plays piano to relax.
III
Mentioned as the daughter who reads modern Russian novels and refuses to speak to Laura about her rouged lips.
IV
Reveals she went dancing with Allan Baird, questions Laura about her engagement, attends a concert with Roger, and speaks of youth and education.
V
Observes Laura's engagement with affection and dismay; discusses Laura's future with Roger and acknowledges their neglect.
VI
Cares for Edith's children; engages in philosophical talks with George; tries to broaden Baird's perspective by taking him to her school and foreign cafés.
VII
Actively involved in rearranging the house for the wedding, advocates for personal freedom and modern education.
VIII
Reestablishes her old relationship with Roger, bringing a deep reposeful feeling to the house.
Chapter IX
Pale and distressed, she reveals her anguish over Joe Bolini's death sentence and discusses the limitations of her school work.
Deborah's Big Family
Shows her father around the school, handling administrative duties, counseling immigrant mothers, and managing the daily chaos with authority and compassion.
XI
Shows her father the neighborhood and introduces him to Johnny Geer and Isadore Freedom, revealing her dedication to social reform.
XII
Suffers a sudden collapse with chills and numbness; diagnosed with acute indigestion from nervous exhaustion; has had previous attacks.
XIII
Recovering from illness but insists on continuing her school work; resists her father's and sister's pressure to rest or marry.
XIV
Accompanies Roger to the farm, discusses her educational work in the city, questions Roger about his school memories.
XV
Immersed in her school work, rarely home; secures wider freedom for her educational experiment; works day and night.
XVI
Persuades Laura to run a dramatic club, feels disturbed by Laura's selfishness, and is subtly influenced by her sisters' marriages as she considers marrying Allan Baird.
Chapter XVII
Deborah is deeply committed to her school and career, showing resistance to Baird's advances and jealousy over her work.
Chapter XVIII
Celebrates her professional victory but then turns her attention to her relationship with Allan; she asks to wait before marrying, wanting to think through the balance of work and motherhood.
XIX
Engaged to Allan Baird; agrees to keep close with Bruce and Edith; admires Bruce's resolve.
Chapter XX
Calls her father with news of the accident, helps comfort Bruce, and stays by his side.
Chapter XXI
Deborah takes charge of funeral arrangements and finances, gently guiding her father and sister through the crisis, and postpones her own wedding plans.
Chapter XXII
Informs Roger that Edith's furniture has been stored; plans to marry at the end of August, mindful of not hurting Edith.
XXIII
Arrives for a visit despite family tension, focused on her work and upcoming marriage, but avoids discussing it due to Bruce's death.
Chapter XXIV
Argues for keeping the business open to support employees, faces budget cuts to her schools, and postpones her marriage to Allan Baird.
XXV
Works doggedly on her school project; silently disapproves of Laura and Harold's war profiteering; embodies pioneer spirit.
XXVI
Mentioned as having left the house and being busy with school work; Edith suspects her involvement in the changes.
Chapter XXVII
Deborah tries to reach out to Edith but is met with resistance; she is deeply involved in her reform work and prepares to preside at a Cooper Union meeting.
XXVIII
Mentioned as having a meeting and being involved in child welfare; Roger reads about her in the paper.
XXIX
Returns from a successful mass meeting; agrees to tell John to leave; argues with Allan about love and debt.
A Season of Quiet
Dines out; previously helped resolve the conflict over John's presence in the house.
XXXI
Deborah listens to Laura's confession about her marriage and divorce plans, grappling with her own feelings about love, work, and independence while trying to support her sister.
XXXII
Deborah mediates the crisis, informing Roger of Laura's situation and arranging for Laura to stay. She shows practicality and emotional restraint.
XXXIII
Informs Edith about the impending divorce and tries to maintain geniality at Christmas dinner.
XXXIV
Argues with Edith about household expenses, advocating for domestic science and taking in a boarder; feels her social work is undervalued.
XXXV
Struggles with her decision to end her relationship with Allan Baird after witnessing Bruce's illness, realizing she would prioritize her own child over her work.
XXXVI
Emotionally torn between her career and her love for Allan Baird; listens to her father's plea and agrees to think over marrying Baird.
Chapter XXXVII
Deborah consults her father's physician, decides to marry Allan Baird, and marries him the next day. She reconciles with her sister Edith and plans to move into the family home.
XXXIX
Reveals she is pregnant, continues her work in education, and brings the spirit of the school into the home.
XLI
Deborah endures a dangerous childbirth and later a crisis when her infant son falls ill. She reveals deep bitterness about her past work affecting her body, but ultimately recovers and embraces motherhood.
XLII
Deborah, recovering from childbirth, asks to see John and senses his condition. She is described as a mother figure to him.
Chapter XLIII
Deborah is upstairs with her baby, and Roger visits her and the child. They share a lighthearted moment during the baby's bath.
XLIV
Appears in the dream with a baby, part of the growing family tableau.
