Newton is the setting in which the Barber family discovers that the end of Jacob Barber’s trial does not end its consequences. Though no longer facing prosecution, Jacob remains a social outcast in town, and the family keeps him out of school, continuing his education at home as it weighs whether to leave.

Reputation After the Trial

The trial’s abrupt end leaves Newton’s neighbors with judgments that do not fit neatly into innocence or guilt. Many regard Jacob as not guilty but not wholly cleared in their minds: they have heard about his knife, violent fantasies, and family history, and some find the sudden conclusion of the case suspicious. His continued presence in town unsettles and irritates them. Even people who are kind hesitate to bring him into their children’s lives, unwilling to risk being wrong or to incur the stigma of association. Whatever the legal outcome, Jacob has become a pariah in his community.

Home Education and Isolation

The family does not dare send Jacob back to school in Newton. He had been suspended when first indicted, prompting the town to arrange home tutoring; after the trial, the Barbers rehire Mrs. McGowan to continue the arrangement. She becomes their only regular visitor, arriving each morning at nine to work with Jacob at the kitchen table and insist that he complete his homework. Laurie also takes an active role in his lessons. Andrew sees her patience and kindness as evidence that she should return to teaching.

For Jacob, the isolation seems less like a deprivation than a relief. He says he does not miss school or his friends, and values receiving the academic content without the complications of other students and school life. He is content in a solitary routine, a composure Andrew describes as both serene and difficult to read. Jacob sometimes becomes angry, sullen, or withdrawn, but does not visibly fall apart; Andrew admires his even temper while recognizing that classmates may find it unsettling.

A Possible Departure

The family discusses moving from Newton, considering places such as Florida, California, Wyoming, and Bisbee, Arizona, as well as the possibility of leaving the country. Laurie doubts they could escape the publicity surrounding the case and says that her life is in Boston. Andrew, by contrast, is eager to go and says he has no attachment to a place apart from Laurie. Jacob is the most enthusiastic about moving, preferring the farther and more remote possibilities, including Bisbee.

The Town’s Continuing Hold

Newton remains more than a backdrop: its neighbors’ suspicion shapes where Jacob can study and whom the family can safely approach. The legal case has ended, but the town’s informal verdict continues to govern everyday life. The Barbers’ contemplated move offers the possibility of beginning again, yet Laurie’s attachment to Boston and the case’s lingering publicity leave that escape unresolved.