How would you interpret ‘betwixt the rock and the rail’ in the context?
It was this road that brought Mr. Shepherd to town, when his parkway ended without further ado. After driving day and night through high-mountain vistas, he would have found himself in the long tunnel through Swannanoa Gap, then spit out from darkness into the valley. He stopped at one of the large houses on the Tunnel Road that had been made a boardinghouse. That was Mrs. Bittle’s, a widow lady with children all grown who found herself betwixt the rock and the rail in ’34, so began to take in boarders. I was her first one. She had a sign made to put out in the yard whenever she had a vacancy: “Clean To Let With Meals $10 Week, Only Good People Here.” Somehow the wording of it struck Mr. Shepherd. Those words changed his course, brought his long drive to an end.

How would you interpret ‘betwixt the rock and the rail’ in the context?
Thanks!
And it’s from The Lacuna by Kingsolver.

Question

How would you interpret ‘betwixt the rock and the rail’ in the context?
It was this road that brought Mr. Shepherd to town, when his parkway ended without further ado. After driving day and night through high-mountain vistas, he would have found himself in the long tunnel through Swannanoa Gap, then spit out from darkness into the valley. He stopped at one of the large houses on the Tunnel Road that had been made a boardinghouse. That was Mrs. Bittle’s, a widow lady with children all grown who found herself betwixt the rock and the rail in ’34, so began to take in boarders. I was her first one. She had a sign made to put out in the yard whenever she had a vacancy: “Clean To Let With Meals $10 Week, Only Good People Here.” Somehow the wording of it struck Mr. Shepherd. Those words changed his course, brought his long drive to an end.

How would you interpret ‘betwixt the rock and the rail’ in the context?
Thanks!
And it’s from The Lacuna by Kingsolver.

Answer

I have always her it "between a rock and a hard place"  Meaning between two difficult situations, or no easy way out of the situation that you are in.  It is a fairly common idiom used in English.

Answer

Hey Gordon,

This is a very antiquated expression, which I've never seen or heard, but I can see what it means from the context. The more contemporary expression is "caught between a rock and a hard place". It normally means, to have to make a decision between two equally unappealing choices. In this context however, it seems to mean merely "in an uncomfortable position" or "struggling to find money".

I hope that helps. Have a great day!