Yeah, Stephen's dad perhaps did not make the wisest decision there—but it all makes for more drama... I'm looking forward to your thoughts on the rest of the book, and also on Extraordinary Women, which I think I should probably read at some point.

(I was amused that Stephen has the same name-backstory as Shirley in Charlotte Brontë's novel, thus giving me more fuel for my femslash shipping in that book...!)