Summary

When Lib arrives at the O’Donnells’ house, Anna is still sleeping. Watching her, Lib is once again struck by her seeming innocence. She wonders whether it is possible to consider children—even though the Church says that seven is the age of reason--in the same way as reasonable adults. Looking again at Florence Nightingale’s Notes on Nursing, Lib reads a sentence that serves as a rebuke: was it truly her place to have spoken to William Byrne about Anna the night before? When Anna wakes up, she and Lib go out for a walk, even though it is barely day. While they are out, they meet Dr. McBrearty, who is solicitous for Anna’s welfare. He and Lib agree that Anna looks very well for someone who does not appear to be eating. When they have almost reached home, they run...