Mary withdraws to the house in preparation for the tobacco farming. Though Dick implores her to help him with the planning, she leaves him alone for several reasons. She does not want to anger him and cause him to get defensive. Moreover, she does not like when Dick is helpless and dependent on her. She wants him to be the strong man she thought she married. Mary places her hope in the idea that the tobacco crop will raise them out of debt, as it has done many other farmers. In fact, both Dick and Mary put their hopes in tobacco. After a time, however, drought hits the land, and it affects the Turners more than other farmers. Dick eventually says what they have both been thinking, but dreading: their tobacco crop is a failure.

Mary is crestfallen at the disaster and becomes increasingly depressed to the point of walking around the house like a zombie, void of all emotion. Dick is partly happy that the tobacco crop was not his suggestion. Mary becomes so desperate and in need of hope, of something to give her attention to, that she one day asks Dick if they might have a child. Dick is delighted at the news.