Spoilers are off. You have been warned.
How did they go from attacking each other at the throat to this?
- Even though the Murrays are a Big, Screwed-Up Family, Emily has a protector in Jimmy and an advocate in Laura, and even Ilse supports her against her cruel aunt's tactics.
- Ilse goes from fighting Emily to viewing her as a Cool Big Sis, and when Emily's script is torn up by Aunt Elizabeth, Ilse gives a spectacular performance as the Lady of the Wind at the play anyway, having memorized the script by heart.
- Even though Emily won the laurel wreath at the competition, when she gets home from school she gives it to Perry, who's aunt now supports his right to education.
- When Aunt Elizabeth grounds Emily for going ice-sliding with Ilse (and coming home late), Jimmy sneaks her a plate of Christmas food while Catherine is over. Jimmy knows he'll get in trouble, but he doesn't care.
- Francis Carpenter is a kindly man who never pushes down the potential of any child he sees, student or not. He encourages Emily to keep writing poems, makes an exception for Perry to join the school contest despite not going to their school and is a steadfast supporter to the kids even as they're out of school. It's telling that as he lays dying, Emily is there for him - she views him as a surrogate father after years of utmost kindness.
- How Perry finds out Teddy likes Emily; while browsing through his artwork he finds a secret, hidden portrait of Emily. He instantly becomes a Shipper on Deck to the two and one day, takes Ilse aside so Teddy and Emily can speak alone. Teddy confesses he likes Emily and wants to be with her.
