Madame Beck cares for her own children’s well-being and future but is not affectionate or loving towards them. Madame’s oldest child, Désirée, is troubled and requires constant supervision. She is violent and often steals others’ belongings. Madame does not discipline her and even covers for Désirée’s crimes. The next oldest daughter is Fifine, who is kind and resembles her dead father. There is also a third child Lucy later reveals is named Georgette.

When Fifine breaks her arm, Lucy recognizes the doctor treating Fifine as the handsome Englishman who helped her (Lucy) on the night of her arrival. He is temporarily filling in for Dr. Pillule. “Dr. John” makes several more visits to the school to care for Fifine and Désirée, who is pretending to be ill. Lucy carefully observes Dr. John, but he never speaks to her. One day he notices her watching him and inquires about her staring. Lucy does not answer, leaving him to wonder what she is thinking.

Several students, including Désirée, take ill with fever, so Dr. John becomes the permanent physician at the boarding school. Some parents take issue with the decision, but Madame handles their concerns easily. Many in town gossip that she wants to marry the doctor, who is 14 years younger than Madame: Madame is lovely for her age and always dresses nicely for Dr.