Final answer:
Zora suggests that Amy should move in and live with her as a practical way to seal their friendship, offering a mutually beneficial arrangement based on convenience and companionship. Amy's acceptance of this proposal marks an adaptation to Zora's utilitarian outlook while maintaining her own sense of morality.
Step-by-step explanation:
Within the narrative context, Zora suggests that Amy (referred to as she and her), should come and live with her as a way to seal their friendship. She offers this idea based on practical considerations, like the economic benefit of sharing living expenses and the mutual support they can provide each other. Zora is not proposing a traditional friendship pact but rather a pragmatic arrangement that benefits both parties.
Amy, though initially taken aback by Zora's utilitarian approach to relationships, eventually accepts and adapts to Zora's view of looking out for herself. This decision is rationalized by Amy's recognition of her need to be self-sufficient and Zora's need for companionship. Through this arrangement, Zora shows her gratitude, especially towards Amy's tolerance of her temperament, while Amy carries out her part of the bargain faithfully, cutting down on waste, renovating Zora's clothes, and posing for her.
However, Amy does not completely adopt Zora's viewpoint, as seen in her interactions with the children south of Washington Square, where she displays a more compassionate attitude than Zora. Despite Zora's callousness, their friendship develops based on a mutual acknowledgment of their needs and what they can provide each other, rather than a deeply emotional or traditional sense of friendship.