Chapter 8, Madame Beck Summary

Lucy is given some food to eat, and then Madame Beck escorts her through the dormitories to the nursery where her three children live, attended by a woman dressed in showy silks that do not fit properly. The woman is asleep in her chair, and the air reeks of whisky. Madame Beck ignores it, though, and simply points Lucy toward a bed. Lucy thanks God for leading her to this place, and she soon falls asleep. In the middle of the night, Lucy awakens to find Madame Beck in the room. She checks on her children and then stares at Lucy a long time, while Lucy pretends to sleep. Madame Beck even goes so far as to glance through Lucy's things. She takes the keys to Lucy's trunk and writing desk and makes impressions of them in the soap...