A mill worker named Len Parkinson, Len's elderly mother, and Len's young wife Eleanor move onto Anna and Merk's street. Anna names the three new neighbors the 'chicory neighbors,' because they moved onto the street during the first days of the chicory bloom, when the drought had just begun. When they arrive, Anna tells her husband, Merk, that it seems like the Parkinsons are city people and have no idea how to live on a farm. While Anna is judgmental of these new people, Merk decides that they need help. He gives the Parkinsons two of his calves so that they will have some meat during the winter. When Eleanor and Len's mother take the calves away, Anna comments on how incapable the women seem of taking care of the animals. Every evening, the sound of Eleanor playing the violin comes from the Parkinson's house, which Anna complains about. One evening, Merk decides to sneak around to the back of the Parkinson's home and release the calves that he gave them from their enclosure. The Parkinsons have not been taking care of the animals, and Merk knows they will be better off if they are let free. Merk opens the gate of the calve's enclosure, and the next morning, the calves are gone. Eleanor and Len's mother walk across the street to Merk and Anna's house to tell them the animals are gone. Merk assures them that the calves will come back, but they do not. When Anna goes into Boston for the day, Eleanor and Merk meet in Eleanor's orchard. As they talk, they see Len's mother watching them, and Eleanor says she needs to go. In the weeks that follow, Eleanor's violin-playing ceases. One evening, Merk walks to the Parkinson's backyard, where Eleanor comes out to meet him. Merk puts his lips to her hair, and Eleanor asks him why it has taken him so long to come see her. Merk sees Anna approaching, and he tells Eleanor that she and Len should leave the neighborhood for good. Merk walks away abruptly and joins Anna in their home. Anna tells Merk he should just 'say it,' but Merk is silent. Anna pours coffee and talks about tomorrow, when they will go over the farm's accounts together.