The Foundling

This is an epistolary chapter with a series of letters between Mary and Jake, a letter from Dory, and a letter from Sister Rosemary, who raised Mary in the orphanage. Mary learns that Lillian married a man named Tom Henning two years ago and was expecting a child. Mary notes that Tom is “vulgar” and turned his father’s blacksmith shop into a speakeasy. Dory reports a rumor that Lillian worked at Tom’s speakeasy and notes that Lillian was cruel to the other girls at the orphanage.

Betty asks Lillian to pick up some eggs from the barn. When she gets there, there is a thunderstorm, and Mary and the dairy girls are all scared of the thunder and lightning. Mary sees Lillian milking a cow and praying like they used to at St. Catherine’s. Lillian almost knocks over her bucket when Cloris, the attendant, calls out her name. Cloris is a gruff but friendly character. She chitchats with Mary and gives her cream and eggs.

The next day, Mary wants to see Lillian and tells Betty that they are low on butter as an excuse to visit the dairy house. Mary is disappointed that she doesn’t see Lillian, but when Mary receives her basket of butter, cheese, and eggs, the cloth covering the eggs is plain white rather than Betty’s usual checked pattern.