Lyddie learns that her friend Diana is leaving the factory because she is pregnant.

As Chapter 19 begins, Lyddie is upset because her brother Charles has come to get Rachel and take her home with him.  Lyddie feels alone and upset, because she wanted her family to be together and it seemed as if that was never going to happen.

Without her sister there, Lyddie threw herself into her work.  She felt like she had no one to work for anymore, but work was all she knew.  She noticed that Diana seemed to be sick looking.  Lyddie told her that she wanted to sign the petition.  Diana’s response was “we’ll see.”

Lyddie showed up at a meeting ready to sign.  It was not what she expected.

It was hard for Lyddie to follow the discussion. They were planning something for some sort of rally at the end of the month. She kept waiting for someone to mention the petition, so she could declare herself ready to sign, but no one did. (Ch. 19)

Lyddie couldn't sign the petition because the petition had already failed.  She learned that Diana was going to leave the factory. 

She was silent for a moment as though sifting the words she needed from the chaff of her thoughts. "I'm going to have a child, Lyddie." (Ch. 19)

Diana was pregnant, and the father was the doctor.  Pregnant girls couldn't work in the factory, and children were not allowed.  Diana had to leave.  She couldn't get married either, because the father was already married.

With both Rachel and Diana gone, Lyddie really does have no family left.  As soon as she got up the courage to sign Diana’s petition for shorter work hours, she found out that Diana was leaving.  The factory requires more and more of the workers, and the battle for worker’s rights is a difficult one.