Summary

Chapter 17, “Bramble,” begins the third part of the novel. Mary ran toward the valley, sobbing uncontrollably, until she reached Peg’s home. There, she admitted before the entire family that Nance drowned Micheál. When Peg arrived at the Leahy cabin, she saw Nóra drinking by the fire alone. She was distraught that she had not found Micheál, her actual grandchild, in her cabin. Peg tried to coax out the events of the morning when Fr. Healy arrived on the doorstep. He warned that he sent for a constable to record their statements. Before the policemen fetched her, Nance dreamt that her anger toward her accusers bubbled until she cast curses upon all of them. As the two women and the girl were transported out of the valley, the news of the Micheál’s murder had traveled through each of its...