Early the next morning, Theo walks down Broadway and finds that news of Ellen’s disruption at St. James has already spread. At the Verbivore, Tony excitedly presses Theo for details, half hoping the story is as entertaining as rumor suggests.

Theo refuses to mock anyone and recounts both Ellen’s earlier “bestowal” at the Fedder and the Sunday morning incident at church in a calm, respectful way. He frames the events as less scandalous than others claim, implying he has seen many people like Ellen before and doesn’t share the town’s shock.

Tony grows serious and says he is glad Theo was there for Ellen, sensing she has suffered deeply. Tony explains Ellen often comes to the shop to read, but the public library revoked her card after fines and disruptive run-ins that ended with police removing her; Tony believes losing the card upset her.

Tony reveals the Promenade informally watches out for Ellen and that the Verbivore created its own “library card” for her, letting her borrow books under a special arrangement. He then slips back into gallows humor about Ellen’s sharp insults during the church incident, imagining the parish leadership’s reaction.

Before leaving, Theo asks for William Saroyan and buys a thick anthology. Later at home, Theo reads “Rescue the Perishing,” the story Ellen had mentioned, and confirms key details Ellen referenced, including the bicycle’s exact cost and Saroyan’s praise of the bicycle as a noble invention.