Nan’s child is born. She spends ten days at the hospital with her baby. She considers escape but knows that trying would make things worse. They both return to the convent, though her baby, Genevieve, sleeps in the nursery downstairs. In the morning Nan is allowed to go down and feed her, and she begs Mary Clare for a chance to work as a night nurse and take care of the children. The next day she is offered the job. She refuses to sign away her child for adoption, instead holding onto the hope that Finbarr will come. Fiona’s baby is born and quickly taken away. Nan takes care of the children, and Genevieve grows healthy and beautiful from Nan’s treatment.

Later, Nan sees a wealthy man come and go from the convent. She hurries to the nursery and finds her baby gone. Mary Clare enters, and Nan understands that she orchestrated their separation. Mary Clare informs her that the baby has been adopted by an English family. Nan reacts in rage and tries to strangle Mary Clare. She is distracted by a crying child and lets go. She runs away and escapes the convent through the hole in the fence.