XI. Past: The Bonny Bonny Road Summary

Servants prepare for the arrival of Sir Edward and Lady de Breville and their new baby. The baby is named Esme. One day, while a servant takes baby Esme for a walk in a pram, Maude Potter steals baby Esme from the carriage.

Maude has lost five babies of her own, and after she brings home baby Esme, Maude's husband, Herbert, sees newspaper articles about the stolen baby. Maude says she will name the baby Violet Angela. As Violet Angela grows up, she displays an aggressive, sometimes mean, nature. When Violet Angela is twelve, Maude and Herbert agree that she is out of control. Herbert molests Violet Angela, and when Violet Angela is fourteen, a neighbor catches Violet Angela with her husband. Maude questions Violet Angela about the incident with the neighbor, and...