Little Nursing Sisters' convent

After Jim's suicide, Annie begins working for the Little Nursing Sisters' convent, mainly working in Sister Illuminata's laundry room. Sally grows up with the Sisters, and is taken care of by Sister Jeanne while her mother is away. Eventually, when Sally discovers that she might want to become a nun, she goes out with Sister Lucy on her visits of people's homes. The convent offers Sally a place to learn and discover herself through imitating the nuns of the convent. It isn't until she leaves the convent and goes on a train ride to Chicago, that she begins to learn more about her desires in the world.

Sister Illuminata's laundry room in the convent is its metaphorical center. The laundry room represents a place of cleansing and purity, where Sister Illuminata first recognizes Sally's potential as a novitiate when she dresses her up in Sister...