How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Section.Paragraph)
Quote #4
It was not her husband to whom she wanted to run for protection—it was her father, her smiling understanding father, dead these twelve years. (8.2.46)
Even though her father has been dead for more than a decade, Carol still thinks of him as the moral center of her life. He's the one she turns to for guidance—even though he's not exactly in a position to give any. Carol thinks it would be nice if she felt this way about Will, but, well, she just doesn't, and she can't force it.
Quote #5
Then, for three years which passed like one curt paragraph, she ceased to find anything interesting save the Bjornstams and her baby. (18.7.4)
For three years, Carol has nothing interesting in her life except her son Hugh and the Bjornstam family. So it looks like in some ways, she's able to take some satisfaction in the idea of family. But then again, her son might be more of a distraction than a source of fulfillment.
Quote #6
Miles had turned respectable. He had renounced his criticisms of state and society; he had given up roving as horse-trader, and wearing red mackinaws in lumber-camps. (19.1.2)
Once he has a wife and child, Miles Bjornstam cuts out his usual criticism of Gopher Prairie and tries to blend in more. He does this because he's now responsible for more people than just himself, and he doesn't want his wife or son getting mistreated just because people have a grudge against him.