Summary

Chapter 24 starts with Father John coming to visit. Maureen spends a few minutes chatting with him before he asks to see Evelyn. Evelyn goes out into the living room to talk with him. He starts to greet her as “Sister Evelyn,” before correcting himself, which pains her. He asks her about her accusation in the motherhouse chapel. After a few tries, Evelyn admits that she knows about Father John’s “proclivity for men” (314) which is a sin in the Catholic church. He tries to deny the accusation, then asks Evelyn if he’s next on Hawkins’ crusade. Evelyn admits that she knows his secret is safe. Father John wants to know if it’s his fault that she was excommunicated. Evelyn says that she thought her secret against Hawkins would help keep Mercy House open, but she was wrong. Father John asks...