Voyage In The Dark

Laurie receives a letter from Ethel and gives it to Anna, who is now staying with her. Ethel claims Anna “is a very deceiving girl” who owes her money and brings in anybody “she picks up in the street” (142). According to Ethel, Anna has revealed her pregnancy too late for Ethel to help her, has destroyed the room she rented from Ethel and still owes Ethel money.

Anna says Ethel actually owes Anna money, and does not understand why Ethel has approached Laurie. In the meantime, Anna has attempted other techniques to get rid of the baby she carries. As she starts to get sick again, Laurie mentions she knows a person who can successfully conduct an abortion for Anna but wonders if it may be too late. For that, Anna needs more money than she currently has, money she has gained from selling her fur coat. Laurie urges her to write Walter, as her time is limited, and he may be able to aide her during this crisis. Laurie advises her to be vague about her condition: “‘When you’re asking for money you don’t want to give people the idea that you’re down and out, you want to puzzle them a bit’” (144).